What to Learn After Animation

Animation is the technique of creating the illusion of motion in otherwise static images. It is an incredibly versatile skill, meaning that after you’ve learned animation skills, there are a lot of paths for you to take. If you already know how to use animation, you might consider learning video editing skills, advanced animation styles, and techniques, or perhaps AutoCAD for more technically-oriented animators. We’ll cover these training programs below so you clearly understand what skill you want to tackle next. 

What is Animation?

Most people have seen animated movies or shows, but what is animation? Animation is the process of photographing a still image—typically a drawing—then making slight modifications to the image while taking successive pictures. An animator will rapidly show these pictures to make it appear as if the image is moving. An animator would create a series of pictures to show, for example, a flower on a windy day, each with the flower in a slightly different position. When viewed quickly, one after another, the flower will appear to move back and forth even though it’s not actually moving. 

Animation skills are great to have in many different jobs; they’re just fun! Animators don’t just create movies or television shows. They also create moving graphics for websites, video games, or visual effects. Most animators now use software to create the graphics, though some still use drawings and sketches to bring their imagination to life.

Read more about what animation is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with Animation?

Learning animation opens doors to different fields. The most obvious field is filmmaking: producing visual effects, developing computer-generated special effects, or creating images for any media type. Movies, television, the internet, and (video) games all rely on Animators for their products. Yet, Animators can also work as Medical or Mathematical Animators, Illustrators, Games Developers, and VFX Artists. Illustrators focus on still images, both hand-drawn and computer-generated, while Medical or Mathematical Animators, Games Developers and VFX Artists develop 3D moving images. 

The software that Animators use day in and day out is just plain fun! After Effects and Premiere Pro are the go-to animation software for professionals. After Effects allows users to complete video compositing, motion graphics design, and animation projects. Animators also learn software like Photoshop and Cinema 4D. Each type of software performs a specific function, such as image generating or developing special effects; Animators using multiple types of software can layer them to create stunning work.

Video Editing

One of the common uses for digital animation is SFX design. Animators create computer-generated assets that are edited into films, and it may be productive for Animators to learn how to edit these assets into video files. Using tools they already have experience with, like Premiere Pro and After Effects, learning video editing skills will give animation students a leg up on the job market. In addition, knowing how to edit videos will let students work with increasingly complex animation projects.

Please visit Noble's website to learn more about video editing training courses.

Further Animation Skills

Since animation is such a wide and varied field, even students with extensive animation training will often find that there is more for them to learn. Students who have worked on 2D animation may want to learn 3D modeling skills. Students who work on web animation may want to consider learning film animation skills. Creatives looking to expand the canvas on which they can design don’t necessarily need to branch too far out from the field of animation. Simply learning a few more techniques and styles may be more than enough for aspiring Animators.

To learn more about the different types of animation training available, Noble Desktop provides students with an extensive selection of courses.

AutoCAD

Not all animators approach the field from a creative perspective. Some animators are medical or engineering animators, creating 3D animated models of projects or procedures. These students may benefit from learning AutoCAD, an industry-standard computer design tool for designing blueprints, layouts, models, and other technical designs across numerous industries. Anyone looking to translate their animation training to fields like bio-engineering, industrial design, or architecture will want to learn how to use AutoCAD.

To learn about the AutoCAD classes available to students, please consult the course offerings available through Noble Desktop.

Key Insights

• Students who have learned animation skills have many options for further training.
• One route students can take is learning video editing skills and the techniques needed to integrate their animated assets into video files.
• More technically-focused students may want to learn AutoCAD to expand their computer-aided design skills, assuming they want to learn more industrial-oriented techniques.
• Students won’t need to branch out that much to expand their animation skills, as there are numerous ways to learn more detailed and specialized animation techniques.
• Regardless of a student's route, Noble Desktop is there to provide them with comprehensive in-person or live online instruction.

Learn Animation with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Many experts agree that animation is much easier to learn when taken either in a live online class or in person. Noble Desktop provides animation classes, from their live online training taken anywhere in the world to their in-person courses in Manhattan, so students can easily find a class that enables them to gain animation skills. Class sizes are small; students are not nameless faces on a computer screen. Instructors can provide plenty of attention and feedback to students. The school is committed to student learning, allowing students to retake the course free up to a year later if they want to brush up on skills. 

In just a few days, students can learn how to use Adobe After Effects in Noble Desktop's bootcamp. This class is ideal for people new to the field of animation and motion design who want to start creating moving graphics with industry-leading software. 

If you have more time, you can learn what it takes to become an Animator in Noble’s comprehensive Motion Graphics Certificate course. This class teaches animation with Adobe After Effects, video editing with Adobe Premiere Pro, and audio editing with Adobe Audition. These three pieces of software blend perfectly to create a polished final product. Participants will leave the course with a solid portfolio demonstrating their skills to future employers.