All posts tagged fundamentals

Smart Magnet Rigs have been around for almost a decade. While its core has remained unchanged since the inception, over this period the system has become very polished, commercially viable, extremely flexible and intuitive to use.

The goal of this article is to re-focus the attention on the interconnected tools, features and methods that will allow those who are already familiar with SMR and have experience with single-angle rigs to further their knowledge and explore a wider range of possibilities. Read more
For years we have refrained to give turnaround rigging prescriptions, because there are many IFs, and we thought that such advice has the potential to be misinterpreted.

When it comes to multi-angle rigging there are generally two possible approaches to organizing assets (or a combination of the two), and the choice is often dictated by personal preference or better suitability for a particular animation style.
The rig does not have some special intrinsic value. The meaning of its existence is to make animation faster and easier. Read more
A step-by-step guide to creating an edaptable rig from start to finish

Our free downloadable character rigs – KineFox and Smart Magnet Bot – have proven to be very popular with users. The article on Classic Tween Workflow has chapters dedicated to character specifics, but none of them covers the actual process in a step-by-step manner. Read more
A non-technical guide. Mostly...

This is not supposed to be an extensive study on the specifics of digital vector cutouts and how they differ from hand-drawn animation in regards to the application of animation principles, but there are such differences and I try to mention some of my findings.

The text is written in first person as it literally shares a personal approach and experience – a variety of techniques and methods, refined over many years to get the best results. Read more
We first introduced Smart Magnet Rigs in 2013 and since then countless studios and individual animators around the world have adopted this ground-breaking approach to flexibility, efficiency and control.

With chain selection, magnetic joints and automatic clean up of arcs, Smart Magnet Rigs are unmatched in the current Flash or Animate landscape. Read more
This foundational article is an attempt to describe the process of organizing a production in its complexity, focusing on character-related specifics and trying to cast light over areas that are usually not even mentioned in books about Flash.

We will be focusing mostly on the technical aspects of Flash animation production. The creative and artistic side of the problems will rarely be addressed.

The text below assumes that readers are already animators or people with interest and knowledge of animation, its specific vocabulary, methods and practices. Read more