Animation frame Rate... Again

[aleph-zahir]

I'd go for output framerate, which is to say it's dependent on what format you're targeting.

My "day job" is multimedia design, which involves video but not from-scratch animation per se.

If you're targeting multiple output platforms, the "best" thing would be render a new sequence at each rate.

If you want a single rate which is most suitable for different dvd and broadcast formats 23.976 is probably best as far as the mathematics of conversion are concerned.

[DJ-Nicke]

The frame rate you animate it at is completely separate from the frame rate you will render it at.

I prefer to always animate at 24fps. Then, when the animation is final final FINAL! I change the frame rate in my 3d app to whatever I will be rendering at.

In fact, you can usually change the timeline back to your original frame rate and the keys will be re-spaced for you.

I guess, unless you're animating in Cinema 4D or something. If you're using Max, Maya, XSI or MotionBuilder this should be built in.

[MolemanSD7]

Aigh... if you're animating by hand... character animation and the like, 24 is usually optimal. This allows the given keys of basic animation cycles to be spaced really well. And its usually how everyone is taught. So, animate in what you know, then change on export.

[aleph-zahir]

Good point. It didn't even occur to me that he could be talking about the timeline framerate. But then why would that affect the rendering times?

Megalodon:

Which software are you using, and which framerate do you mean?

[Megalodon]

We are using Lightwave, but that really doesn't make too much of a difference. I would like to know what professionals use - 24fps, 25fps, 30fps? Obviously they don't render at one resolution and then again at another resolution for a different delivery format - due to the considerable rendering times for many scenes. I'd just like to know if professionals use 24fps MOST of the time even if they are doing primarily TV work or do they render primarily at 30fps?

I guess I'm surprised that there is no real definitive answer. I would think that perhaps movies like Ice Age and shows like Battlestar Galactica have standard frame rates. What are they?

[DJ-Nicke]

Oh, I'm sorry for misunderstanding your question.

24fps is the industry standard for film. So if you see it in a cinema = 24fps

For TV in the USA = 30fps (NTSC)
For TV in Europe = 25fps (PAL)

Those are the definitive standards used.

Here's a little insider tip: We have been conditioned to relate 24fps with high quality and 30fps/60 fields with "low budget".

Think about it, every major motion picture is filmed on film at 24fps. Even most major tv shows are filmed at 24fps, as are big-budget ads.

When we see high frame rates, as we do when we see video that has 50 fields per second (PAL) or 60 (NTSC), we associate it with home video and "low budget" productions. This is subconscious.

Many new, high-quality video cameras have a "cinema mode" on it which makes it capture "full frames", meaning no fields. This gives it that "cinema look" by capturing full frames rather than fields and makes it look more professional.

Many DVD players also offer "Progressive Mode" which combines the separate fields into one frame.

So basically, if you want it to look more "professional" then render it at 24 frames per second and have your video editing packing deal with the conversion. It just might have a more professional feel.

:beer:

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