Core Modules
Core modules that come with every Animo license include Scan, Color Styling/InkPaint, Director and Render. Further functionality is provided with a selection of Optional modules which can be purchased as required.
Optional Modules
Optional modules for Animo include SFX, ColorCorrection, Scene III, Regging, PencilTester and SoundBreakdown. Both PencilTester and SoundBreakdown can also be used standalone or in conjunction with other animation software.
How it Works
Many of our digital production techniques emulate traditional methods. As with traditional animation production, there are key stages in the digital process. Animo addresses each of these stages.
• Stage 1: Color Modules
Character reference drawings are scanned into the computer where the color stylist is able to choose precise colors from a limitless palatte in Animo's Color Styling/InkPaint module. Drawings can then be painted and annotated.
Animo provides tools to create multiple palettes for each color model so that painted drawings can be automatically recolored without having to be repainted. Animo's ColorCorrector module allows subtle or extreme color corrections to individual colors or complete palettes. These corrections can be done on a model of a single character or on multiple characters. Animo provides the ability to reference all characters in a scene as well as backgrounds and overlays.
The creative process can be time consuming - especially if film tests are required prior to final approval. Animo's ability to change palettes without repainting ensures that painting can be completed well before the final decisions are made. Fine-tuning of color selection can take place at any time up until the scene is rendered.
• Stage 2: InkPaint
• Using the latest high-speed document scanners, Animo can rapidly scan batches of peg hole punched animation drawings on paper sizes up to A3. Using off peg scanning method, Animo automatically identifies the peg holes and aligns the scanned images correctly. Off peg, manual or autofed scanned images can be easily combined without loss of registration. Tools are provided to ensure that sets of drawings of varying density can be scanned to the best quality and can be easily numbered, moved, copied and deleted.
• From the animator's original drawing lines, Animo derives a region map of the areas to be painted. Using the region map, unwanted gaps can be automatically closed. This technique, unique to Animo, allows for very fast painting, yet still uses the original scanned lines which can be stored at a higher resolution than many other systems. The animators' lines are faithfully preserved and automatically composited over the digital painting once completed.
• The wide range of specialised ink and paint tools in Animo allows users to work in a variety of ways. Autofill, gap fixing, cleanup and color locking tools make painting a quick process. A variety of display modes enables users to easily check completed work by showing areas of missed or incorrectly placed ink and paint.
• Stage 3: Backgrounds
• Stage 4: 3D Object Cartoon Shading
• Stage 5: Compositing & SFX