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We live in the world of computers. Tasks that were impossible to perform some ten years ago now can be easily accomplished with the help of computer. For such a short time, some things have changed so significantly that new kinds of art have emerged due to the development of new software programs, which became commonly used in the entertainment industry that became inevitable part in our daily lives. Today, probably everyone has played some computer games; saw a computer animated cartoon, or a movie with special computer effects. Even though using computer as a tool for animation has been for a short period, it will be hard to imagine our lives without computer animated cartoons, which possess much better quality than traditional and besides are easier to create.
The world of computer games has drawn the interest of many people. Some prefer just to play and enjoy these games; others have to create them and have to use innovative technologies in order to make them more realistic. This pursuit for the reality is responsible for the development of computer animation. Animation as a form of art exists already almost for a century. It started from simple hand drawn cells and of individual pictures that were strung together and advanced to the use of 3 D virtual worlds that become more real with each day.
Stuart Blackton originally developed animation in 1906. The illusion was created with the help of a simple method of drawing comical faces on the blackboard, which were shot on camera then erased and drawn again. This created the illusion of movement and was called stop-motion. However, today technologies are not that primitive, but the idea remains the same. It all just became much easier with the help of computer. If a person possesses good skills in computer programs that are used for animation, the single thing that it is required is to have a good imagination and creativity, because it is art too.
Who knows, maybe in 300 years from now people will collect primitive computer games of the XX century in which they might find something creative and interesting, just like today the paintings of Picasso and other artists, which are highly valued. Animation is an attempt to come closer to the reality. Some things in this world cannot be seen and are just imaginary, while there is an opportunity to depict imagination with the help of computer animation. The modeler contains the power of creation, while animator gives the illusion of real life.
The complex software is used to make objects to move. Most animation positions are in TV commercials and computer games. Some jobs are available creating animated simulation rides or virtual environments for amusement parks. Animators can also join a studio or a special effects house that create computer-generated sequences in feature films.
The process of animation starts in the same manner as traditional animation. The first step is the creation of concept and the development of an idea. After this, the idea is illustrated in the form of storyboard. With the help of storyboard, an animator can set the key points of the movement that the object will be given in the future. Then the computer makes the motion for each object one frame at a time.
The result is the form of fluid movement. Everything starts from the creation of three-dimensional models of objects that will be animated. This task can be achieved by representing these objects using wire-frames, surfaces, and solids. Wire-frame is a certain set of line segments (mainly they are the edges of the created object). However, not always it becomes possible to use wire-frame, because it cannot produce very realistic objects, but it is the best tool for just looking how the object will move and fit in a certain scene. The surface is represented with the set of primitive features from which it will be possible to create a complex objects.
These primitive figures are used for the development of the model objects that are quite practical, because it can take forever to create a perfect and smooth surface of a certain kind. However, this was just about the creation and development of 2 D objects that do not look as good as 3 D ones, but are much easier to create. Today using 2 D graphics is considered obsolete. 3 D objects with use of color and light really are able to create illusion. There are different kinds of software used for this purpose, but 3 Dmax and AutoCAD are considered the best ones for modeling and there is other special software for animation of models (3 Dmax supports animation, but is not the best choice). With the help of sophisticated software, it is possible to rotate, move, scale, add shades to the objects etc. The main requirement for the user of this software is being able to imagine every single component that will result into the creation of composite object.
All the elements should be consistent with each other and be structured. Mental visualization is here of a vital importance. In order to create a realistic 3 D scene rendering is used. It even allows creating images just like photographs. Computer is given the directions by the user and calculates all the data, which makes the objects to be visible in the way modeler wants. Despite the power of todays computers, and the innovations used to accelerate traditional animation processes, modern computer animations require still faster and more powerful computers to exploit new techniques and potentially photo realistic effects.
Future visionaries will continue to come up with new ideas and technology to continue to make the computer graphics field grow and expand into unlimited possibilities. However, like always human imagination is required to create something new. I feel that I have good skills in the creation of computer animation from raw geometric figures to the complete objects able to move. Besides, I possess the imagination and a real desire to explore the world of computer animation.
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Research essay sample on Computer Animation Computer Games
