5 Tips for Making Great Animations for 2D Games

5 tips for making great animations for 2D games

Ever since animation acquired the power to attract much attention, many animation and game designers usually strive to keep up-to-date with more sophisticated and trending animation and game designs. However, in order to achieve the best and make great animations, especially for 2D games, you have to consider some important aspects of importance concerning the same.

First and foremost, push the animation to the limit. In order for the animation to be more interesting, the designer has to use the extremes and this means embroidery and attractions without forgetting to think about the possible reaction from other people and ensure their limit is achieved. Additionally, if the animation uses real expressions and movements, it has fewer chances of succeeding since people are familiar with these moves and definitely will not be impressed. Intense animations will draw much attention and will have higher chances of succeeding.

Secondly, make everything in the animation effervescent and feel lively.  The animation should not appear as if they are stiff and made up of autonomous moving parts.  Even if the animation is as simple as drinking water, strive to make the hand look like it is picking up the cup and taking it toward the mouth. However, the main idea is that your animation should seem moving even if it is at a standstill and this can be achieved by adding some bounce to the character to make it give the impression that it is alive and kicking.

To add that, for the animation to be perfect, they have to contain strong keyframes. When animating your sprites, you should ensure that they have strong and extreme keyframes that depict a particular movement. To add on that, for the animation to be best, the sprites should also be in order according to the stated move.

Furthermore, to ensure that you get a good one, you should limit the animation keyframes. Even though sometimes most animators exaggerate the specified animation to achieve a visible move, some designers tend to over-exaggerate and therefore make the animation lose its desired meaning. It is however advisable to use a limited number of frames but boldly highlight the important moves.

Last but not least, do not give much care and attention to the craft. Many 2D game designers usually pay too much attention about the craft and end up losing sight over the entire content. However, great care is supposed to be directed to the whole image and take much care of what it transmits and also the message it posts to the viewer.

For more details about animation and 2D game design, contact us and we will ensure you acquire what you desire. Satisfaction is our priority.

Explore the Use of Illustration in Advertising

use of illustration in advertising

An illustration at first thought can be any artwork such as paintings, drawings, or any printed work that ideally expresses or conveys a message in the right order so as to create attention or sell a product. Illustrations are very vital these days when it comes to advertising and marketing. This is because they help simplify a complex idea into a simple one that people can relate to and understand and sometimes feel happy with the humor employed in some of them. Here are some factors to consider before using illustrations in your Advert.

Accuracy:  This is a factor that needs experts to portray well. It simply means correct representation of facts so as to avoid it being misunderstood. Hence for it to be well received, it should blend in with the theme of the advertising campaign that you are running to draw attention to the advert rather than distract viewers and cause discomfort.

Target audience: The target audience in many circumstances the one that defines your use of illustrations and graphics in an advert. Therefore before putting up a message on illustrations, one has to be aware of the age, lifestyle, and gender of the target audience. It’s essential to consider those things as you structure the message so as to touch them directly and embrace clarity.

Balancing of graphics: The act of balancing mostly checks on the text and illustrations, these things have to be looked into to avoid confusing a potential customer with too much text or illustrations. Let them be simple and expressively flawless so that the text and the illustrations sync in a good pattern which portrays quality and quantity in enhancing the effectiveness of the advertising campaign.

Lastly, you should monitor the advert and act according to the feedback from those who have viewed it so as to amend or make corrections that can suit your purpose and audience coverage. Let everything blend in and enjoy the illustrations advert. Find out the best illustrator now.

Factors Separating Good Animator from the Bad Animator

Factors separating Good Animator from Bad Animator

When we talk about animation, the key things that come into our mind are the art involved in making these animations, the qualities, and the skills that are employed in order to ensure one is a potential and good animator. However, not everyone who practices the art of animating is a good animator. As a result, we bring you the factors that one considers and hence separate a good animator from a bad one.

First and foremost, for one to be a good animator, one major aspect that an individual can bank on while separating a good animator from a bad one is the level of creativity and imagination. A good animator from the works of his/her art portrays a high level of creativity and imagination since the graphics that he animates are amazing, eye-catching, and attention-seeking. Thus for one to be such a good animator, the level of creativity and imagination should be good to ensure all his works are at the epic of animation.

Additionally for one to be characterized and separated from the rest as a good animator, the person has to be patient and ensure great attention is directed to the finer details of the art. This means that good animators not only do the animation tasks for rewards and wages but as well as the passion to do a good thing. This directs him to take his time and ensures he delivers a quality job rather than a shoddy job for the sake of final rewards.

Furthermore, a good animator is characterized by a sense of humor and his level of keen observation of an object before doing the job. This facet of humor is important since it helps to maintain the audience during the presentation and also it attracts and imparts interest in someone to know more about something.

In summary, from the above explanations of qualities of a good animator, just to mention but a few, a good animator has much that is expected from him/her. Furthermore, to be a good animator, one also is supposed to be conversant with a variety of computer software and graphic techniques.

Few Ways in Which Illustration Is Used In Effective Communication

Illustration Used In Effective Communication

An illustration is a decoration interpretation or visual interpretation of a concept or idea that is usually used in print media and other forms of communication. Illustrations have been used for many years especially in print media to help explain various concepts or ideas. Below are a few ways in which illustration is used in effective communication.

Since time immemorial, human beings have used illustrations in academics to show ideas that would have otherwise been difficult to explain by word of mouth, for example, the process of birth, or the stages of germination. Since images tend to be received and stored better than by the human brain, the learner would get a deeper understanding of the concept if illustrations were used rather than just hearing or reading.

Illustrations have also proved useful in sharing ideas in progress. This is especially useful in theatrics, filmmaking, and animation where visual ideas are expressed. Illustrations in the form of concept art are used to develop the main idea and character and even at times, are a sign of work in progress. They form the foundation on which the whole work will be based.

Illustrations can also be used in children’s books in order to help them understand the story. This is especially useful for children who have not fully learned how to read or have difficulties reading. The illustrations also offer relief from long moments of reading and offer another dimension to the story, hence making it more interesting.

Illustrations can also be used by technical experts to communicate with non-experts in certain ways. Examples include explaining to the purchaser how to assemble their new bed, or how to install their new surround system. This is especially useful if the product is a bit complex to assemble. It is certainly better than just written explanations. These explanations also break a language barrier being that they are in the form of images.

In essence, illustrations are a useful tool for effective communication to a wide variety of audiences.

Everything you need to know about comic book creation

Comic Book Creation

Being the author of a famous comic book is a dream that many creators aspire to. Like with any artistic venture, it’s easy to lose momentum and let your comic book ideas crumble into the monotony of time. Here are some basic pointers to make sure your comic book creation is successful.

1. Do it for the love of it

Not all comic books are commercial successes. In fact, very few of them are. If you’ve decided to make a comic book, then you need to be doing it for love and not money. Those making comics to benefit financially almost always fail. The most successful comic book creators take years to build a following and often make money from a different job.

2. Be ready for a hustle

As an independent creator, you need to wear all the hats of a businessman. You are in charge of promotions, finance, quality, and sales. Be prepared to hustle your way to the top. There is no place for humility in the cutthroat capitalist society of today. You will have to put yourself out there and face the odds.

3. Create a following

Seeing as you are a salesman now, you will have to learn about the importance of following. Before deciding to print or publish, find a way to grow a following on social media. Start a blog or offer content on Patreon – there are many ways to find your niche on the internet. The following will help give you the motivation and compensation you need to carry on creating great comics.

4. Invest in your art and story

Bad art or bad storytelling will quickly cripple your comic book. Readers are more educated than ever before so make sure you don’t disappoint them. Invest in art lessons and read blogs on effective storytelling techniques to get the most out of your comic book creation.

If you’d like your idea illustrated, please feel free to get in touch with us and we can help bring your imagination to life on paper.

5 Basic Principles of Animation

5 Basic principles of animation

Animators follow a strict guideline of 12 principles of animation to create the most believable movement. But 5 basic principles stand above the rest as the most important. Your animation will fall flat and look wooden if the key principles are ignored.

1. Squash and stretch

Squash and stretch give weight and believability to an object. Imagine a rubber ball bouncing on the ground. As it hits the ground it squashes and it comes back up it stretches. A metal ball on the other hand would barely squash or stretch. This is how you give weight to your animation.

5 Basic principles of animation

2. Anticipation

One of the most overlooked principles of animation, anticipation is important to give animations a sense of grounding. Before getting up from a chair, you need to position your body to help you move. It would be unnatural to get up without using your arms to help push your body up. This is why anticipation is so important.

Anticipation animation

3. Ease in ease out

Imagine a clock’s swinging pendulum. It slows down on each side before gaining speed. The swing from side to side would be fastest in the middle and naturally slow down on each side. This is the basic concept of easing in and out. It makes movement feel more natural.

Ease in ease out animation

4. Timing

The number of drawings for a given action will vary depending on the movement needed. Fast movements get less drawing while slow, complicated ones need more. Timing will give believability to the movement of your characters and objects.

Solid Drawing

5. Solid Drawing

Without solid drawing practices, an animator cannot animate effectively. Solid drawing means the animator understands the dimensions of the object in 3D space. Volume, depth, and weight can be conveyed by the necessary movement.

Solid Drawing

If you are having difficulty with any of these principles, it’s time to hire a professional.

Get in touch today and we will provide you with the best animation.

Six illustration styles you should know: Prayan Animation

Six illustration styles you should know

The act of presenting your ideas via examples or describing information in a visual manner can be termed an illustration. The illustration can be drawings, paintings, graphs, or photographs. In simple words, an Illustration can be termed as a visualization made by an artist in the form of an image.

Types of Illustration Techniques

An illustration can be categorized into traditional and modern styles. Changes happen in styles over time with better medium, outputs, and time consumption. Pen and paper are replaced by digital canvases with the help of illustrative software like Photoshop and 3D Max. Have a look at types of illustration techniques.

  1. Woodcutting
  2. Metal Etching
  3. Pencil Illustration
  4. Charcoal Illustration
  5. Lithography
  6. Water Coloring
  7. Gouache illustration
  8. Acrylic illustration
  9. Collage illustration
  10. Pen and Ink illustration

Illustration Styles:

Style represents either a particular design genre or the way of expression. Let’s discuss six illustration styles that you should know.

  1. Concept art
  2. Comics and graphic novels
  3. Books and publications
  4. Advertisement illustration
  5. Packing illustration
  6. Branding illustration

1. Concept art

Illustration for gaming, fantasy illustrations, and One-Pager fine illustrations are generally done on concept art. The artist creates several concepts for a particular theme and the client can choose from the created concepts for further development.

Concept art illustration

2. Comics and graphic novels

Comics are a medium that combines text and visual information to express stories or ideas. In short, comics can be defined as an artistic medium composed of images and text.

Comics and graphic novels illustration

3. Books and publications

Currently, book illustrations can be designed and printed easily using many techniques. The role of illustration in books is to create an eye-catching cover to grab the attention of readers.

4. Advertisement

Unlike books and publication illustrations, advertisement type of illustration is meant to steal the show and grab quick attention rather than sharing an idea. An illustration is chosen by a wide range of companies in order to make their advertisement better style and more attractive than photography.

advertisement illustration

5. Packing illustration

The importance of packing illustration arises in the differentiating products on the shelf during the business. Businesses such as jewelry, children’s products, and bakers choose illustration packing to grab more attention from the audience in an easier way. Elegance, custom feel, and personalized touch are the main advantages of illustration packing.

packing illustartion

6. Branding illustration

Branding illustration, especially the logotype of illustration requires specific skills and more attention to make sure the readability, message, and brand value. Logos should be small, simple, and memorable. The business also demands to create cartoonish characters or mascots for branding.

Branding illustration

Where to get a professional illustrator?

It’s really difficult to create your own illustration with a unique style and quality. Don’t worry Prayan Animation is ready to serve you with dedicated professional illustrators to meet your needs in different illustration styles.

Free 2D Animation Software

2d animation software

It is really fun to create a unique creative animation with your own effort and voice-over. Great animation software is essential in this field even if you are a beginner or an expert in animation. The requirement for free animation software is generally among students who are looking to create a great career. Currently, numerous free software’s are available online to create animation quickly and easily. But for a professional and best quality output, it is necessary to contact a perfect animation company that meets your needs. The best part is that the available free software is equally effective as paid ones. The following list consists of the top three free 2D animation software currently available online. Now turn on your ideas, and make your creativity, these free software will help you to create great quality 2D animations.

Pencil 2D

Pencil 2D is free open-source software available on Mac OS, Linux, and Windows that helps to create 2D animation very effectively with the least effort. Pencil 2D offers a wide range of stunning features available on most of the paid software. Still, this software is packed with numerous important tools; the interface seems simple and immaculate. Pencil 2D also helps to export graphics along with Flash videos, movies, and many other formats. Determining the frame rate, image import and sound, and adding colors are some of the features offered by Pencil 2D software.

CreaToon

CreaToon helps to create 2D animations in cut-out fashion and enables us to add a wide range of special effects very easily. The interface of creation seems very simple and outdated but is capable of performing complex tasks resulting in remarkable outputs. It is really easy to access the main features since the menus are displayed on both sides of the working area. You can determine the frame rate along with height and width but the interface cannot be customized on creatoon.

Plastic Animation Paper

Plastic Animation Paper is the best 2D animation software for an expert animator. The uncomplicated and powerful tools in this software help to convert your creativity into animations and cartoons for free of cost. The main attraction of this software is to manage your swift sketching movements and as a result analysis of work as well as real time corrections can be done easily and quickly.

Make your creativity happen. If you are looking for free 2D animation software please try these softwares to create good-quality animation outputs. But for a professional animation, it’s better to contact one of the best animation companies in India. Prayan Animation has been the leading 2D and 3D animation company in India for the past few years serving the best quality outputs at an affordable rate. Contact Prayan Animation now for more.

Most Popular Animated Characters Of 2017

Most Popular Animated Characters Of 2017

Animated characters are known as cartoons as well and mostly they’re popular among children but some of them are popular among adults as well and they also like to watch cartoons. Here are a few of the most popular cartoons in 2017.

Pokémon

Pokémon is a Japanese cartoon series that is quite popular among children and adults. The animation software used to create them features a few characters that are not the current cast of main characters.

Scooby Doo

‘Scooby Dooby Doo where are you?’ This is one of the most popular animated series for years now. Scooby Doo is an animated cartoon character, basically, a dog that makes people laugh through its actions. The dog though is not very brave but still, helps the team to solve various mysteries mostly due to funny accidents. Shaggy is the best friend and partner of Scooby Doo who is also not very brave just like Scooby Doo.

Doraemon

Doraemon is another popular Japanese cartoon character who became popular recently. In the last 2-3 years, Doraemon has become quite popular among kids all over the world. Currently, it’s the best-selling cartoon. Basically, Doraemon is a robot and a helper of Nobita who is a very lazy kid and runs away from all responsibilities and just likes to play with the Gadgets that Doraemon has.

Popeye-Popeye the sailor man

Popeye is one of the oldest characters who is an ordinary man and loves a girl. And in the constant struggle of winning her heart. He eats spinach which makes him a stronger person.

These were some of the characters that remained most popular in 2017 as well. Other than that, there are animated characters like Tom & Jerry, Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, etc. who are popular forever.

Planning to launch your own animated characters for business marketing? We at Prayan Animation are here to assist you with all such needs.