Onion skinning

Onion skin of frame 7 ofthis imageshowing previous 3 frames

In2D computer graphics,onion skinningis a technique used in creatinganimated cartoonsand editing movies to see several frames at once. This way, the animator or editor can make decisions on how to create or change an image based on the previous image in the sequence.

In traditional animation, the individualframesof a movie were initially drawn on thinonionskinpaper over a light source. The animators (mostlyinbetweeners) would put the previous and next drawings exactly beneath the working drawing, so that they could draw the 'in between' to give a smooth motion.

In computer software, this effect is achieved by making frames translucent and projecting them on top of each other.

This effect can also be used to createmotion blurs,as seen inThe Matrixwhen characters dodge bullets.

See also

• Anime Studio
• Adobe Flash
• TVPaint
• 3ds max

External links

• Onion Skinning in I Can Animate
• Shape Shifter at Aniboom.To see onion skinning, press 'o' then create a shape, add a frame, move your shape, and repeat.