BetweenIT: An Interactive Tool for Tight Inbetweening

 

We present a novel technique for stroke interpolation from only two keys which combines a stroke motion constructed from logarithmic spiral vertex trajectories with a stroke deformation based on curvature averaging and twisting warps

May 3, 2010
Eurographics 2010

 

Authors

Brian Whited (Walt Disney Animation Studios/Georgia Institute of Technology)

Chino Noris (Disney Research/ETH Joint PhD)

Maryann Simmons (Walt Disney Animation Studios)

Robert W. Sumner (Disney Research)

Markus Gross (Disney Research/ETH Zurich)

Jarek Rossignac (Georgia Institute of Technology)

BetweenIT: An Interactive Tool for Tight Inbetweening

Abstract

The generation of inbetween frames that interpolate a given set of key frames is a major component in the production of a 2D feature animation. Our objective is to considerably reduce the cost of the inbetweening phase by offering an intuitive and effective interactive environment that automates inbetweening when possible while allowing the artist to guide, complement, or override the results. Tight inbetweens, which interpolate similar key frames, are particularly time-consuming and tedious to draw. Therefore, we focus on automating these high-precision and expensive portions of the process. We have designed a set of user-guided semi-automatic techniques that fit well with current practice and minimize the number of required artist-gestures. We present a novel technique for stroke interpolation from only two keys which combines a stroke motion constructed from logarithmic spiral vertex trajectories with a stroke deformation based on curvature averaging and twisting warps. We discuss our system in the context of a feature animation production environment and evaluate our approach with real production data.

Copyright Notice