What are the best tools and techniques for clean-up animation?

1 Choose the right tools

The first thing you need to consider for clean-up animation is the tools you will use. Depending on your preference and budget, you can choose between different types of paper, pencils, pens, erasers, scanners, and software. Some of the factors to consider are the quality, durability, cost, and availability of the tools. For example, you might want to use a smooth and thick paper that can withstand multiple erasures and scans, a pencil that can produce a range of tones and pressures, a pen that can create clean and crisp lines, and a scanner that can capture the details and colors of your drawings. You might also want to use a software that can help you with editing, coloring, and compositing your clean-up animation.

2 Follow the rough animation

The second thing you need to do for clean-up animation is to follow the rough animation as closely as possible. The rough animation is the blueprint of your animation, and it contains the key poses, movements, expressions, and timing of your characters and scenes. You don't want to deviate too much from the rough animation, as you might lose the essence and personality of your animation. However, you also don't want to copy the rough animation exactly, as you might end up with a stiff and lifeless animation. You need to find a balance between following the rough animation and adding your own touch and style to the clean-up animation.

4 Be consistent and accurate

The fourth thing you need to do for clean-up animation is to be consistent and accurate with your clean-up animation. Consistency means that you keep the same style, quality, and level of detail throughout your clean-up animation. Accuracy means that you match the clean-up animation with the rough animation in terms of timing, spacing, and motion. You need to be consistent and accurate with your clean-up animation to avoid any errors, glitches, or inconsistencies that might ruin your animation. For example, you need to make sure that your character's features, expressions, and movements are consistent from frame to frame, and that your character's speed, direction, and position are accurate according to the rough animation.

5 Review and edit

The fifth thing you need to do for clean-up animation is to review and edit your clean-up animation. Reviewing means that you check your clean-up animation for any mistakes, flaws, or improvements that you can make. Editing means that you fix, change, or enhance your clean-up animation according to your review. You need to review and edit your clean-up animation to make sure that it is as perfect as possible. For example, you need to check your clean-up animation for any gaps, overlaps, smudges, or jagged lines that might affect the quality of your animation. You also need to check your clean-up animation for any inconsistencies, inaccuracies, or missing frames that might affect the continuity of your animation. You also need to check your clean-up animation for any opportunities to add more details, colors, or effects that might enhance your animation.

6 Test and finalize

The sixth thing you need to do for clean-up animation is to test and finalize your clean-up animation. Testing means that you play your clean-up animation in real time and see how it looks and feels. Finalizing means that you export, save, or print your clean-up animation in the format and quality that you want. You need to test and finalize your clean-up animation to make sure that it is ready for the next stage of your animation production. For example, you need to test your clean-up animation for any glitches, errors, or delays that might affect the performance of your animation. You also need to finalize your clean-up animation in the resolution, frame rate, and file type that suit your animation project.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?