Animation/Camera workflow?

[Sercheli]

Like the big productions, the small ones too use storyboards prior to animation.
Doesn't need to be a fancy, elaborated storyboard, after all, it's just for you!

But this is a well know advice. Never go direct to the computer to animate without a plan of the shoots. If you are not a drawing person, you could create a floor view, or a top view of the scene, indicating the position of the objects, cameras and lights, including their movements.

Some people like to animate first, and then decide where to put the camera. In this case, you will need to animate everything, and light everything properly... it's a lot of work.
I really don't recommend that workflow.

I always plan my shoots before sitting in front of the computer. This way, I model, ligh and animate only the necessary parts. :)

First I create the models....
Then I create the cameras in the right positions....
Then I iluminate my scene and make some render tests....
Then I animate the scene and the camera movements.

You can always come back to any stage and make the needed adjustments.

Hope it helps! :)

[JamesLane]

I agree with just about everything that sercheli said. Sometimes, however, I do find myself doing them both at the same time. Well, Ill set up a really rough camera angle/move planned out in pre-production, then depending on how elaborate my poses get....adjust the camera accordingly.
I also reccommend animate what you are going to see.

[CKPinson]

Good advise from both- I, like Lane, often throw together a story board onto papper or Adobe while I have Maya up so I can pan, tilt and zoom -etc to get a first hand view- Storyboards are used for a reason- you can come up with some basic camera flows for your scene with a storyboard- see my cheesy M$ Paint I did here at work- this is my general flow for my camera pan to follow the action.:) Please don't crit this too too much- it's the general concept.

[Sercheli]

Hey guys,

Saltiva... like i said, if it works for you, so that's fine!
And Lane, I have to admit that sometimes I myself do it too (animate the camera togather with the charaters and everything else).

But to create great line of actions, arcs, silhuet, etc, you definetly need a camera to work with... :)

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