How can I create animated videos with limited artistic skills?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around creating animated videos to illustrate 3D physical motions, specifically focusing on depicting an array of Ferris wheels turning co-axially. The original poster expresses concerns about their limited artistic skills and lack of experience with animation and video production, seeking recommendations for suitable tools and software.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • The original poster is intimidated by the learning curve associated with animation and has limited artistic skills.
  • One participant suggests starting with Pencil, highlighting its resources for beginners.
  • Another participant proposes using Processing IDE for more control over the animation, noting its 3D libraries for shape rotation.
  • The original poster later clarifies that they are using a Chromebook, which may limit their options for software.
  • A participant mentions the possibility of running Linux apps on Chrome OS, which could expand available tools.
  • Another suggestion is to use Glowscript, emphasizing its suitability for physics-related animations and ease of use for those focused on physics and math rather than graphics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants provide various recommendations without reaching a consensus on a single best tool. Multiple competing views on suitable software options remain, reflecting different preferences and technical requirements.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes limitations related to the original poster's platform (Chromebook) and the potential need for specific software compatibility with Chrome OS.

anorlunda
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I would like to produce an animated video to demonstrate some 3D physical motions. I'm a bit intimidated. My artistic skills never got beyond stick men. I have zero experience with video, or animation. I'm worried about the learning curve.

My specific ambition is to depict an array of Ferris wheels, turning co-axially side by side. I could make a non-animated image of that setup; but doing that in perspective view would be challenging for me. This would be a one-off project.

I found the following.
https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/best-free-open-source-animation-software/

What would PF members recommend for me?
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
Interesting list of tools. I would start at the top and try Pencil. It looks like it has a lot of resources to teach you how to use it.

Alternatively, I would've tried using the Processing IDE and program the image I wanted using Java. It would take longer for sure but then you have full control over every aspect. Processing has 3D libraries that support rotation of 3D shapes.

https://processing.org/tutorials/p3d/

https://processing.org/

and Processing has many other cool libraries and examples.

From the Wikipedia description:
Processing is an open-source graphical library and integrated development environment (IDE) built for the electronic arts, new media art, and visual design communities with the purpose of teaching non-programmers the fundamentals of computer programming in a visual context.

Processing uses the Java language, with additional simplifications such as additional classes and aliased mathematical functions and operations. It also provides a graphical user interface for simplifying the compilation and execution stage.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Processing_(programming_language)
 
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Ay ay ay. I left out an overriding fact. My platform is a Chromebook, running a variant of Android. I need to search the Google Android Play Store for tools.
 
Try Glowscript (the web-based version of VPython).
Glowscript was developed by physicists for physics students.
If you don't want to work at glowscript.org , you can work on trinket.io .

In VPython programs, you worry about the physics and the math.
VPython handles the 3-d graphics and the graphical views, animations, and user interactions.https://www.glowscript.org/#/user/GlowScriptDemos/folder/Examples/program/Stonehenge-VPython
1583292780606.png


https://www.glowscript.org/#/user/GlowScriptDemos/folder/Examples/program/BinaryStar-VPython
1583292864818.png
https://www.glowscript.org/#/user/GlowScriptDemos/folder/Examples/program/Gyroscope-VPython
1583292950953.png


https://www.glowscript.org/#/user/m...tterandinteractions/program/03-double-pendula
1583293271707.png
 
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