Timing and Spacing

Timing and spacing are two essential principles of animation. Timing refers to the number of frames needed to create an animation, while spacing refers to the way an object moves between frames. The proper use of timing and spacing can make an animation look more realistic, while poor timing and spacing can make it seem choppy and unrealistic.

Timing

Timing can be used to create a sense of weight and motion in an animation. For example, a heavy object will move more slowly than a light object, so the timing of the animation should reflect that. Similarly, a character's movements can be timed to match their emotional state or mood. For example, a character who is sad or depressed might move more slowly than one who is happy or excited.

Spacing

Spacing is the way an object moves between frames. When an object moves, it doesn't move at a constant speed. Instead, it accelerates and decelerates as it moves. This can be achieved in an animation by using more frames at the beginning and end of a movement and fewer frames in the middle. This creates a sense of acceleration and deceleration that makes the movement look more natural.

An example of timing and spacing can be seen in the animation of a bouncing ball. The ball will move quickly as it bounces off the ground, then slow down as it reaches the top of its arc, before speeding up again as it falls back down. By using more frames at the beginning and end of the bounce and fewer frames in the middle, the animation creates a sense of acceleration and deceleration that makes the movement look more realistic.

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