Expert: Joseph Silver - 7/23/2008

Question
Any way to do frame by frame (traditional) animation on After Effects?

I recently got the program and appreciate any help.

Answer
hi jim - you can scan your artwork into your computer, then import the sequenced artwork into after effects. for example, you can create a sequence of PICTs or JPGs to import into after effects. it is important that these sequences are numbered properly and with leading zeroes (i.e. art001.jpg, art002.jpg, art003.jpg...) so that after effects can sequence them properly. sometimes you might want to layer the artwork in photoshop and import a layered comp into after effects.

there is also a paintbrush tool in after effects, and you can draw frame by frame, but i don't find the paintbrush that effective. and after effects is not really an effective ink & painting tool. however, you may want to play around with the paintbrush tool and see if that gives you the results you are looking for.

after effects can create hold key frames (as opposed to linear or bezier keyframes), and in many ways you can use hold key frames to emulate the look of traditional animation. you can use hold frames (which look like a square in the after effects timeline) to animate on 2s and 3s.

time remapping can also be used effectively to animate in a more traditional way. this is a pretty sophisticated technique if you are just starting off. but if you are curious about it, let me know and i will give you the details.

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