Blender Grease Pencil course

13. Object Transformations

Learn how to animate and transform the entire Grease Pencil object, leveraging the power of object movements combined with frame-by-frame animation.

With Blender's Grease Pencil, not only can you animate drawings frame-by-frame but also move and transform the entire object within which the drawings reside. This dual capability offers unparalleled dynamism to your animations.

Create a new Grease Pencil animation

  1. Make a 2D grease pencil animation

Create your desired artwork or animation using Grease Pencil. For instance, a simple animated sketch.

  1. Frame-by-Frame Animation

Use the keyframe animation feature to animate your drawings as shown in earlier lessons. Confirm the playback to view your animation.

Animating the Entire Object

Once the internal animation is set, the whole Grease Pencil object can be animated.

  1. Switch to the "Layout" Workspace

This mode will enable you to view and manipulate the entire object.

  1. Select the Grease Pencil Object

Use the selection tool to click on your Grease Pencil object.

  1. Move the Object

Position the timeline cursor at the desired frame, then move or transform the Grease Pencil object to a new location. This creates object-level animation.

  1. Keyframe the Movement

Don't forget to keyframe these transformations so they're reflected in the animation playback.

  1. Combining Movements

When you play back your animation, you'll see both the frame-by-frame drawing animation and the entire object's movement. This combination brings a deeper layer of dynamism to your work.

Benefits of Combined Animations

  1. Depth and Layering

By animating both the drawing and the object, you add a sense of depth and layering to your animation, making it more visually engaging.

  1. Versatility

This approach opens up a world of possibilities, from simple shifts in perspective to intricate choreographed movements.

  1. Efficiency

Instead of redrawing or making significant alterations frame-by-frame, moving the entire object can be a more efficient way to convey motion.

Conclusion

Blender's Grease Pencil doesn't just stop at allowing intricate frame-by-frame animations. By offering the capability to move and transform entire objects, it takes 2D animation to the next level. By mastering these techniques, you can bring more complex and multi-layered stories to life.