Onion skinning, in

2D computer graphics 2D computer graphics is the computer-based generation of digital images—mostly from two-dimensional models (such as 2D geometric models, text, and digital images) and by techniques specific to them. It may refer to the branch of computer ...

, is a technique used in creating

animated cartoons Animation is a method by which still figures are manipulated to appear as moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Today, most anima ...

and editing movies to see several frames at once. This way, the animator or editor can make decisions on how to create or change an image based on the previous image in the sequence. In traditional animation, the individual

frame A frame is often a structural system that supports other components of a physical construction and/or steel frame that limits the construction's extent. Frame and FRAME may also refer to: Physical objects In building construction *Framing (con ...

s of a movie were initially drawn on thin

onionskin Onionskin or onion skin is a thin, lightweight, strong, often translucent paper. Though not made from onions, it superficially resembles their thin, papery skins. It was usually used with carbon paper for typing duplicates in a typewriter, for ...

paper over a light source. The animators (mostly

inbetweeners ''The Inbetweeners'' is a British coming-of-age television teen sitcom, which originally aired on E4 from 2008 until 2010 and was created and written by Damon Beesley and Iain Morris. The series follows the misadventures of suburban teenager ...

) would put the previous and next drawings exactly beneath the working drawing, so that they could draw the 'in between' to give a smooth motion. In computer software, this effect is achieved by making frames translucent and projecting them on top of each other. This effect can also be used to create

motion blur Motion blur is the apparent streaking of moving objects in a photograph or a sequence of frames, such as a film or animation. It results when the image being recorded changes during the recording of a single exposure, due to rapid movement or lo ...

s, as seen in ''

The Matrix ''The Matrix'' is a 1999 science fiction action film written and directed by the Wachowskis. It is the first installment in ''The Matrix'' film series, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, and Joe Pantolia ...

'' when characters dodge bullets.

External links

Onion Skinning in I Can Animate

Shape Shifter at Aniboom
To see onion skinning, press 'o' then create a shape, add a frame, move your shape, and repeat. Animation techniques Computer graphic techniques {{Compu-graphics-stub

See also

External links