Flip Animation

In this section of the blog, I will be focussing on the aspect of different softwares in order to create my final design; in this case, flip-booking. This research will cover not only the theory side of flip-books, but the practical use aswell.

The following questions should be answered in this section:- 

1) An overview of your animation software
2) What you are going to use the software for
3) A PMI (positive, minus, interesting)
4) How to use the program (basic tutorial)
5) What type of animation the software is
6) An example of the software (embedded into your blog)
7) A short evaluation of the software based on your experience.

An overview of flip-books

A flip-book is a book, either hand drawn or electronically produced, with a series of printed images which create the illusion of movement when the pages of the book are rapidly flipped. The flipbook relies on a basic optical principle known as persistence of vision to create an animated image and could be considered one of the earliest forms of animation.

Many flipbooks consist of a series of illustrations. Small differences between the illustrations make a brief animated picture when they are rapidly flipped. Others rely on a series of photographs, much like the frames in a movie. The theme of a flip-book may vary, depending on the intended audience; it may illustrate a short story or a brief event.

What am I going to use Flip Book for

Flipbook is one of many programs that I will be testing. I will set my self a small design brief, which will allow me to test flipbook. I will be using http://www.benettonplay.com/toys/flipbookdeluxe/ 

Positive, Minus and Interesting

Positive
The program is free and very interesting and easy to use, especially because you can change the thickness of the 'brush' aswell as the myriad of colours available. You can also copy your previous scene. This will definitely make it easier for someone to create a flip-book. 

Minus
Apart from the colours and thickness of the brush, the programme has very limited features.

Interesting

The blog is an easy way to produce a great blog which can be embedded into my blog. 

How to use the programme

In the world of animation, a flip book is a collection of drawings of the same subject depicted in slightly different positions. As the viewer flips through the pages, the subject seems to take on life and move.  Flip book software takes a series of pages in PDF format and turns them into the electronic version of a book or magazine. Pages are divided into left and right images and laid out the way they would be for the printed version. The software then generates an image of a page turning that moves from right to left and one that moves from left to right. These animations are activated when the viewer clicks and drags the corner of a page or clicks one the appropriate button on the screen. As the pages seem to turn, the images on the underlying pages are exposed in a manner consistent with turning pages. The software creates a series of images that are revealed at a rapid rate in a specified order. This creates the illusion of a page moving that the eyes see.

What type of animation is flip book

A lot like drawing a flip-book, you use your mouse to draw on the provided area and use the arrows to add numerous frames or to go back to previous ones. 

Colors and different stroke widths have been added to give this software a wider range of expression and diversity. Another extra tool is the 'duplicate frame' button which makes the animation job a lot easier, as it copies your previous frame and adds it to the next one. 

How do I save my Flipbook?

You can use the 'save' button to save your work in progress without publishing it. You can reopen it again from 'my flipbooks' and keep working on the animation until you are ready to publish it. 

You can use 'save & publish' when you are ready to publish the animation. Once you publish an animation you can't work on it any more. 

You can even make multiple smaller Flipbooks! called 'scenes', work on them independently and them mash them together using 'build and publish' to create your final Flipbook. 

Example of  a Flip-book 

Evaluation of the software

Overall I am happy with the level of knowledge I have gained about flip books and hope to use this acquired skill in other projects. Although these animations are basic and easy to make, it can create interesting results. However, I will not be using this software for my main project as it does not offer a more diverse range of features that I was looking for.