What is the purpose of squash and stretch in animations?

2 How to apply squash and stretch?

To apply squash and stretch to your animations, you need to consider two factors: the amount and the timing. The amount of squash and stretch depends on the material and the force of the object or character. For example, a rubber ball will have more squash and stretch than a metal ball, and a fast-moving object will have more squash and stretch than a slow-moving one. The timing of squash and stretch depends on the speed and the direction of the movement. For example, a ball will squash more at the peak of its bounce, and stretch more at the end of its fall.

3 What are the benefits of squash and stretch?

Squash and stretch can help you enhance the realism and believability of your animations, as they follow the laws of physics and nature. This technique can also add personality and expression to your characters, as they can show their emotions and reactions through their shape changes. Squash and stretch can also create contrast and variety in your animations, making them more dynamic and interesting. Additionally, this technique can improve the readability and clarity of your animations, emphasizing the key poses and actions of your characters and objects.

4 What are some examples of squash and stretch?

Squash and stretch is a common technique used in many animations, both in 2D and 3D, and both in realistic and stylized styles. For instance, the bouncing ball animation is a classic exercise for animators to practice squash and stretch. Similarly, facial expressions of cartoon characters can be exaggerated to show emotions and moods through squash and stretch. Additionally, the jumping and landing of video game characters can demonstrate their weight and momentum with this technique. Finally, explosions and impacts of special effects can create a sense of force and energy with squash and stretch.

5 What are some tips and tricks for squash and stretch?

To make your squash and stretch animations more effective and appealing, you can use reference materials to observe how real objects and animals move and deform, as well as curves and arcs to create smooth transitions. Exaggeration and anticipation can create more impact and humor in your animations, while secondary actions and overlapping action will add detail and complexity. Additionally, use the scale and rotation tools to adjust the shape and orientation of your objects and characters.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?