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Animation arsenal:
Mastering the skill of preparing asets

A journey from sketch to animated reality, where every stroke becomes a part of a bigger story

About the course

Our workshop “Animation Arsenal: Mastering Asset Preparation” is an intensive experience designed to provide artists and animators with a deep understanding of the process of preparing assets for animation projects. By diving into three main areas – backgrounds, characters for dialogue, and game icons – workshop participants will learn the ins and outs of creating high-quality, efficiently organized, and easily integrated assets that contribute to smooth animation and audience engagement.

In the course of the workshop, we will consider the following aspects:

Technical preparation of backgrounds: Participants will learn the key principles of preparing backgrounds, including working in Adobe Photoshop, organizing layers, moving graphics, and choosing the best file formats and resolutions for different types of animation projects.
Character expression for dialogues: This workshop will focus on the intricacies of preparing characters for dialog scenes, with a special focus on facial expressions and emotions. Participants will learn how to create multidimensional emotional states using rigging and facial animation techniques.
Development of game icons: Particular attention will be paid to the creation of icons, which are an important element in the gaming and animation industry, including their design, style, and functionality in the context of gameplay and animation projects.

Each block of the master class will be accompanied by practical workshops where participants will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained in practice, receiving individual advice and feedback from experienced instructors. This master class will be an indispensable resource for those who want to improve their skills in preparing animation sets, expand their creative horizons, improve their technical skills and optimize their workflow. During the workshops, participants will work on real projects, which will allow them to better understand the nuances of preparing assets, from concept development to final export for animation.

The workshop covers the following key elements:

Concept development: Participants will learn how to turn initial ideas into detailed visual concepts ready for animation.
Optimization techniques: A deeper dive into techniques for optimizing layers and assemblies to ensure smooth animations and efficient workflow.
Working with the software: In-depth study of Adobe Photoshop tools and features specific to preparing assets for animation.
Team collaboration: Understand the importance of effective communication and collaboration between artists and animators to achieve the best results.

During the workshop, each participant will receive personalized guidance and feedback to help them improve their projects and technical skills. We will focus on practical tasks that are as close as possible to the real working conditions in the animation industry, so that participants can feel real challenges and gain valuable experience.

This master class is designed to inspire participants to new creative achievements, improve their professional level and teach them effective techniques for preparing assets that will undoubtedly be used in future projects.

Who is suitable for the course

If you are an artist and work with animators

This course is designed specifically for artists who want to deepen their skills in creating assets for animation. If you specialize in creating detailed backgrounds, expressive portraits, and iconic game elements and want to learn how to optimize your artwork for animation projects, this course will provide you with the knowledge and techniques to prepare your assets efficiently.

If you are an animator

For 2D animators looking for ways to improve their understanding and collaboration with artists, this course offers a deep dive into the technical aspects of preparing assets. From preparing emotional expressions for dialogue scenes to optimizing backgrounds and game elements for dynamic animations, you’ll learn how to effectively collaborate with artists to create assets that seamlessly integrate into animation projects.

Course program

Bloc 1

Working with the software

Working with software: We will look at the Adobe Photoshop program and the tools used to prepare backgrounds for animation projects, and analyze a working file.

Bloc 2

Work with layers and moving graphics

We'll discuss the importance of working with layers and motion graphics in animation projects. You'll learn how to organize your background elements on different layers for easy animation and editing.

Bloc 3

Formats and resolutions

We'll look at the different file formats and resolutions used in animation projects. You'll learn how to choose the best formats and resolutions for your background, taking into account the requirements of your project and target audience.

Bloc 4

Preparing the face for rigging

We'll look at the tools to best prepare a face for rigging in layers, how to choose and prepare a character's face for animation, and how to create a basic face for expressing emotion.

Bloc 5

Emotions, facial expressions

We will discuss the basic principles of creating different expressions and emotions. You'll learn how to achieve expressive emotion and emphasize important points in dialogues.

Bloc 6

Preparing the body for animation, additional stats

We'll take a look at the main layers you need to prepare the character's body for, as well as additional character states that may be needed in the animation.

Bloc 7

Preparation and optimization

Let's look at the order of layers, naming, and analyze the structure of the file that will be used for the animation.

Bloc 8

Export and prepare files for animation

We'll look at the process of exporting backgrounds by layers and naming files in a project. You will learn how to properly configure the export parameters to ensure high-quality work and thus make it easier for animators