Tutorial
iOS/Android
Make Animations and Cartoons with Animation DeskHow to Manage Colors in Animation DeskHow to Control Speed and Motions with FramesHow to Create Animation Faster with the Selection ToolsHow to Draw Animation on a Live-action VideoHow to Animate with LayersWhat is Onion Skin and How to Use it in 2D AnimationHow to Export Your Animation as Storyboard, Video, GIF and PSDWindows
Animation Desk app for Windows 10: Interface NavigationHow to Control Speed of Your Animation- FPS and Frame RepetitionHow to Design Color Palettes in the AppHow to Create Animations Efficiently with the Selection ToolsHow to Import Video and Image Using LayersHow To Track Motion With Onion Skin in 2D AnimationHow to Use RulersHow to Export Animation and StoryboardHow to Lip Sync or Add Music to Your Animation VideoShould I Get a Surface Dial? How to Use Surface Dial in Animation Desk
iOS/Android
Make Animations and Cartoons with Animation DeskHow to Manage Colors in Animation DeskHow to Control Speed and Motions with FramesHow to Create Animation Faster with the Selection ToolsHow to Draw Animation on a Live-action VideoHow to Animate with LayersWhat is Onion Skin and How to Use it in 2D AnimationHow to Export Your Animation as Storyboard, Video, GIF and PSDWindows
Animation Desk app for Windows 10: Interface NavigationHow to Control Speed of Your Animation- FPS and Frame RepetitionHow to Design Color Palettes in the AppHow to Create Animations Efficiently with the Selection ToolsHow to Import Video and Image Using LayersHow To Track Motion With Onion Skin in 2D AnimationHow to Use RulersHow to Export Animation and StoryboardHow to Lip Sync or Add Music to Your Animation VideoShould I Get a Surface Dial? How to Use Surface Dial in Animation Desk
Tutorial
iOS/Android
Make Animations and Cartoons with Animation DeskHow to Manage Colors in Animation DeskHow to Control Speed and Motions with FramesHow to Create Animation Faster with the Selection ToolsHow to Draw Animation on a Live-action VideoHow to Animate with LayersWhat is Onion Skin and How to Use it in 2D AnimationHow to Export Your Animation as Storyboard, Video, GIF and PSDWindows
Animation Desk app for Windows 10: Interface NavigationHow to Control Speed of Your Animation- FPS and Frame RepetitionHow to Design Color Palettes in the AppHow to Create Animations Efficiently with the Selection ToolsHow to Import Video and Image Using LayersHow To Track Motion With Onion Skin in 2D AnimationHow to Use RulersHow to Export Animation and StoryboardHow to Lip Sync or Add Music to Your Animation VideoShould I Get a Surface Dial? How to Use Surface Dial in Animation DeskiOS/Android
Make Animations and Cartoons with Animation DeskHow to Manage Colors in Animation DeskHow to Control Speed and Motions with FramesHow to Create Animation Faster with the Selection ToolsHow to Draw Animation on a Live-action VideoHow to Animate with LayersWhat is Onion Skin and How to Use it in 2D AnimationHow to Export Your Animation as Storyboard, Video, GIF and PSDWindows
Animation Desk app for Windows 10: Interface NavigationHow to Control Speed of Your Animation- FPS and Frame RepetitionHow to Design Color Palettes in the AppHow to Create Animations Efficiently with the Selection ToolsHow to Import Video and Image Using LayersHow To Track Motion With Onion Skin in 2D AnimationHow to Use RulersHow to Export Animation and StoryboardHow to Lip Sync or Add Music to Your Animation VideoShould I Get a Surface Dial? How to Use Surface Dial in Animation DeskHow to Use Rulers in Animation Desk
Drawing Animations with Rulers
Animation Desk offers a linear ruler, quadrilateral, ellipse, triangle, and protractor. You can transform and resize the shapes to meet your needs.
Draw a Straight Line
Click the "Ruler" button on the top-right corner of the canvas. Click and drag the dot on the long side to resize the ruler. Click and drag the dot on the short side to rotate the ruler.
Draw a Quadrilateral and Triangle
Select the "Quadrilateral" and "Triangle" in the menu to place shapes on the canvas. Click the cross in the center of a shape to move it around. Click and drag the dot to rotate and resize the shapes.
Righ-click on the shape (or long-tap on the screen, or double-tap on the touchpad) to open the action menu. Click "Transform". Drag the dot to change the angle of the quadrilateral and triangle shape.
Draw an Ellipse and Circles
Select the "Ellipse" in the menu. Click the cross in the center to move the shape. The two dots on the frame represent the minor axis and major axis. Drag the dots to adjust the length of the axes.
Select "Protractor" to draw a circle. Click the dot to adjust the size of the protractor. Click the cross in the center to move the protractor around the canvas.
Reset the Rulers and Shape
If you wish to undo the transformation, right-click (or long-tap on the screen, or double-tap on the touchpad) on the shape and click "Reset" to start over.
Inspiration: Shapes and Emotion
Studies have shown some relationships between shapes and emotion. We can divide shapes into,
- Geometric: structured and symmetrical shapes
- Organic: curves and uneven
- Abstract: simplified shapes or a combination of different shapes
Here are some examples of how shapes present emotion.
- Triangle: dynamic, aggressive, tension, direction
- Square: rationality, structured, organized
- Circles: Love, peace, protection
Do you agree with the description? You can incorporate these ideas in character design.
