onion skinning
Ghosted frame overlay
Onion skinning is an animation technique that displays faint images of previous and subsequent frames while working on the current one, like seeing through layers of translucent onion skin.
Animators use it to track movement and ensure smooth transitions between frames: Turn on onion skinning to check the arc of that arm swing.
The technique originated in traditional hand-drawn animation and carries over to digital tools.
Fixed animation reference point
- tweeningAutomated in-between frame generation
- frame-by-frameOne image at a time
- interpolationEstimating between known values
- inbetweeningGenerating intermediate animation frames
ghosting · timing · spacing · overlap · follow-through · cel · flipbook · smear
Stacked levels or coatings
- transparencyState of being see-through
- opacityImpermeability to light
- overlayCovering placed atop
- PhotoshopProfessional graphics manipulation program
Flash · After Effects · drawing tablet · digital art · vector · raster · canvas · brush
Permitting diffused light passage
- vellumPrepared calfskin for writing
- tracing paperTranslucent medium for copying
- lightboxBacklit translucent display surface
- transparencyState of being see-through
overlay · semi-transparent · see-through · drafting · sketch · outline · reference · registration
keyframe
Fixed animation reference point
- tweeningAutomated in-between frame generation
- frame-by-frameOne image at a time
- interpolationEstimating between known values
inbetweening · ghosting · timing · spacing · overlap · follow-through · cel · flipbook · smear · anticipation
layers
Stacked levels or coatings
- transparencyState of being see-through
- opacityImpermeability to light
- overlayCovering placed atop
Photoshop · Flash · After Effects · drawing tablet · digital art · vector · raster · canvas · brush · stroke
translucent
Permitting diffused light passage
- vellumPrepared calfskin for writing
- tracing paperTranslucent medium for copying
- lightboxBacklit translucent display surface
transparency · overlay · semi-transparent · see-through · drafting · sketch · outline · reference · registration · alignment
timeline
Ordered display of events
trim · splice · cut · transition · fade · dissolve · montage · post-production · rough cut · frame-by-frame
- animationanimation, animator, animators, cartoon, cartoons
- Stop Motionstop motion, claymation, armatures, plasticine, frame by frame
- stop-motionanimation, stop-motion, frame-by-frame, frames, keyframe
- FlashAdobe Flash, ActionScript, movie clip, timeline, keyframe
- frame-by-framestop-motion, cel animation, keyframing, flipbook, claymation
- pixel artpixel art, sprite, sprite art, pixel perfect, dithering
onion, skinning, onionskin, onionskins, onion skins, onionlike, onion skin