Creating An Animation Sample Sheet As A Companion For Your Resume

What's a sample sheet, you ask? Well, it's a sneaky little add-on to your resume that lets you get around those situations where potential employers don't request your portfolio or demo reel. Sure, you can always just direct them to your website - but you can't be sure they'll actually click. If your sample sheet already comes part and parcel with your resume, though, it may just be your foot in the door to gain the notice you need for that animation job you really want. Is it cheating? Maybe a little. In this stiffly competitive job market, though, you'd do well to take (or create) any advantage you can.

Creating An Animation Sample Sheet As A Companion For Your Resume

What's a sample sheet, you ask? Well, it's a sneaky little add-on to your resume that lets you get around those situations where potential employers don't request your portfolio or demo reel. Sure, you can always just direct them to your website - but you can't be sure they'll actually click. If your sample sheet already comes part and parcel with your resume, though, it may just be your foot in the door to gain the notice you need for that animation job you really want. Is it cheating? Maybe a little. In this stiffly competitive job market, though, you'd do well to take (or create) any advantage you can.

Creating An Animation Sample Sheet As A Companion For Your Resume

What's a sample sheet, you ask? Well, it's a sneaky little add-on to your resume that lets you get around those situations where potential employers don't request your portfolio or demo reel. Sure, you can always just direct them to your website - but you can't be sure they'll actually click. If your sample sheet already comes part and parcel with your resume, though, it may just be your foot in the door to gain the notice you need for that animation job you really want. Is it cheating? Maybe a little. In this stiffly competitive job market, though, you'd do well to take (or create) any advantage you can.

Reader Question How Do I Get Into Animation School

Cora writes:

"I'm 17 and graduating high school in a year. I've always done really well in my art classes, and I think I want to be an animator. My mom says if I do I need to start getting ready now because it's a lot of work to get into animation school. Why is it so much work? What do I have to do to get into animation school? Is it more than just sending my application?"

Just a little bit more, but since you have a year until you graduate, you should have enough time to prepare yourself and your application materials to make the best impression possible.

Reader Question Difference Between AutoCAD and other 3D Programs

Santos writes:

"so look i hear people talking about autocad like its not a 3d program but it makes 3d models and that kind of stuff, right? so whys it not like other 3d software? how come its different from stuff like maya and blender and 3dsmax?"

The main difference is in functionality, and in capabilities. You can look at AutoCAD as just another 3D program - but it's a highly specialized 3d program with the tools and functionality necessary to optimize it for very specific purposes.

How to Use a Light Table for Animation

The purpose of a light table is fairly straightforward - but many times beginners don't have the experience to know the multiple ways a light table can be useful for animators, beyond the obvious. It's key to every step of the traditional animation process, and can drastically reduce the effort involved in producing clean, professional-quality animations.

Animation Careers Outside of Entertainment Science Engineering

Not every animator wants to work on the next big-screen blockbuster, or on bringing the next successful video game to market. The entertainment industry isn't the only place where we can find our niche, and one of the many places where animation skills come in handy is in various science and engineering sectors. Whether you're building working scale models of jet engines and animating them against physics constraints in a 3D test environment or simulating the birth of the universe, animators can use their skills in a variety of ways and in a variety of fields that let you get your techno-science geek on.

Reader Question How Do I Vary Line Weight In My Animations

Hannah asks:

"I can't get my animations to look liek the ones I like on TV. My teacher said I need to use more line weight to make more depth and vary it more. I don't understand what that means. I mean I look at it and I get it with the tapered lines, but I can't figure out how to do it. Help?"

It's not that difficult to vary line weight when you remember that line weight is just line thickness. There's more than one way to approach the issue, though, and a variety of tools you can use to create varied line weights in different mediums for a richer, fuller look to your art and animations.

Reader Question Freelancing SelfEmployed or LLC

George asks:

"I've been working as a freelancer for a while, and I'm getting to the point where I'm self-sufficient and taxes are becoming a problem. I know as a self-employed animator I have to handle all my tax expenses myself, but what if I register as an LLC or some other type of corporation? I've heard you can save a lot of money that way."

That can be true in some instances - but it really depends on your circumstances, and whether the benefits of registering as a corporation really outweigh the costs.

Getting Your Start in Digital Animation

So you want to learn to animate - but you don't want to go to school for reasons that could range from time to money to simply just wanting to learn as a fun hobby. But you aren't quite sure where to start, if you should just dive in or even what kind of animation you want to do. It's not that hard to learn to animate from home, and it's not even that expensive; it just requires time, patience, and an idea of your goals. Oh...and a few pointers in the right direction might not hurt too much, either.

Creating An Animation Sample Sheet As A Companion For Your Resume

What's a sample sheet, you ask? Well, it's a sneaky little add-on to your resume that lets you get around those situations where potential employers don't request your portfolio or demo reel. Sure, you can always just direct them to your website - but you can't be sure they'll actually click. If your sample sheet already comes part and parcel with your resume, though, it may just be your foot in the door to gain the notice you need for that animation job you really want. Is it cheating? Maybe a little. In this stiffly competitive job market, though, you'd do well to take (or create) any advantage you can.

Creating An Animation Sample Sheet As A Companion For Your Resume

What's a sample sheet, you ask? Well, it's a sneaky little add-on to your resume that lets you get around those situations where potential employers don't request your portfolio or demo reel. Sure, you can always just direct them to your website - but you can't be sure they'll actually click. If your sample sheet already comes part and parcel with your resume, though, it may just be your foot in the door to gain the notice you need for that animation job you really want. Is it cheating? Maybe a little. In this stiffly competitive job market, though, you'd do well to take (or create) any advantage you can.

Creating An Animation Sample Sheet As A Companion For Your Resume

What's a sample sheet, you ask? Well, it's a sneaky little add-on to your resume that lets you get around those situations where potential employers don't request your portfolio or demo reel. Sure, you can always just direct them to your website - but you can't be sure they'll actually click. If your sample sheet already comes part and parcel with your resume, though, it may just be your foot in the door to gain the notice you need for that animation job you really want. Is it cheating? Maybe a little. In this stiffly competitive job market, though, you'd do well to take (or create) any advantage you can.

Reader Question How Do I Get Into Animation School

Cora writes:

"I'm 17 and graduating high school in a year. I've always done really well in my art classes, and I think I want to be an animator. My mom says if I do I need to start getting ready now because it's a lot of work to get into animation school. Why is it so much work? What do I have to do to get into animation school? Is it more than just sending my application?"

Just a little bit more, but since you have a year until you graduate, you should have enough time to prepare yourself and your application materials to make the best impression possible.

Reader Question Difference Between AutoCAD and other 3D Programs

Santos writes:

"so look i hear people talking about autocad like its not a 3d program but it makes 3d models and that kind of stuff, right? so whys it not like other 3d software? how come its different from stuff like maya and blender and 3dsmax?"

The main difference is in functionality, and in capabilities. You can look at AutoCAD as just another 3D program - but it's a highly specialized 3d program with the tools and functionality necessary to optimize it for very specific purposes.

How to Use a Light Table for Animation

The purpose of a light table is fairly straightforward - but many times beginners don't have the experience to know the multiple ways a light table can be useful for animators, beyond the obvious. It's key to every step of the traditional animation process, and can drastically reduce the effort involved in producing clean, professional-quality animations.

Animation Careers Outside of Entertainment Science Engineering

Not every animator wants to work on the next big-screen blockbuster, or on bringing the next successful video game to market. The entertainment industry isn't the only place where we can find our niche, and one of the many places where animation skills come in handy is in various science and engineering sectors. Whether you're building working scale models of jet engines and animating them against physics constraints in a 3D test environment or simulating the birth of the universe, animators can use their skills in a variety of ways and in a variety of fields that let you get your techno-science geek on.

Reader Question How Do I Vary Line Weight In My Animations

Hannah asks:

"I can't get my animations to look liek the ones I like on TV. My teacher said I need to use more line weight to make more depth and vary it more. I don't understand what that means. I mean I look at it and I get it with the tapered lines, but I can't figure out how to do it. Help?"

It's not that difficult to vary line weight when you remember that line weight is just line thickness. There's more than one way to approach the issue, though, and a variety of tools you can use to create varied line weights in different mediums for a richer, fuller look to your art and animations.

Reader Question Freelancing SelfEmployed or LLC

George asks:

"I've been working as a freelancer for a while, and I'm getting to the point where I'm self-sufficient and taxes are becoming a problem. I know as a self-employed animator I have to handle all my tax expenses myself, but what if I register as an LLC or some other type of corporation? I've heard you can save a lot of money that way."

That can be true in some instances - but it really depends on your circumstances, and whether the benefits of registering as a corporation really outweigh the costs.

Getting Your Start in Digital Animation

So you want to learn to animate - but you don't want to go to school for reasons that could range from time to money to simply just wanting to learn as a fun hobby. But you aren't quite sure where to start, if you should just dive in or even what kind of animation you want to do. It's not that hard to learn to animate from home, and it's not even that expensive; it just requires time, patience, and an idea of your goals. Oh...and a few pointers in the right direction might not hurt too much, either.

Creating An Animation Sample Sheet As A Companion For Your Resume

What's a sample sheet, you ask? Well, it's a sneaky little add-on to your resume that lets you get around those situations where potential employers don't request your portfolio or demo reel. Sure, you can always just direct them to your website - but you can't be sure they'll actually click. If your sample sheet already comes part and parcel with your resume, though, it may just be your foot in the door to gain the notice you need for that animation job you really want. Is it cheating? Maybe a little. In this stiffly competitive job market, though, you'd do well to take (or create) any advantage you can.

Creating An Animation Sample Sheet As A Companion For Your Resume

What's a sample sheet, you ask? Well, it's a sneaky little add-on to your resume that lets you get around those situations where potential employers don't request your portfolio or demo reel. Sure, you can always just direct them to your website - but you can't be sure they'll actually click. If your sample sheet already comes part and parcel with your resume, though, it may just be your foot in the door to gain the notice you need for that animation job you really want. Is it cheating? Maybe a little. In this stiffly competitive job market, though, you'd do well to take (or create) any advantage you can.

Creating An Animation Sample Sheet As A Companion For Your Resume

What's a sample sheet, you ask? Well, it's a sneaky little add-on to your resume that lets you get around those situations where potential employers don't request your portfolio or demo reel. Sure, you can always just direct them to your website - but you can't be sure they'll actually click. If your sample sheet already comes part and parcel with your resume, though, it may just be your foot in the door to gain the notice you need for that animation job you really want. Is it cheating? Maybe a little. In this stiffly competitive job market, though, you'd do well to take (or create) any advantage you can.

Reader Question How Do I Get Into Animation School

Cora writes:

"I'm 17 and graduating high school in a year. I've always done really well in my art classes, and I think I want to be an animator. My mom says if I do I need to start getting ready now because it's a lot of work to get into animation school. Why is it so much work? What do I have to do to get into animation school? Is it more than just sending my application?"

Just a little bit more, but since you have a year until you graduate, you should have enough time to prepare yourself and your application materials to make the best impression possible.

Reader Question Difference Between AutoCAD and other 3D Programs

Santos writes:

"so look i hear people talking about autocad like its not a 3d program but it makes 3d models and that kind of stuff, right? so whys it not like other 3d software? how come its different from stuff like maya and blender and 3dsmax?"

The main difference is in functionality, and in capabilities. You can look at AutoCAD as just another 3D program - but it's a highly specialized 3d program with the tools and functionality necessary to optimize it for very specific purposes.

How to Use a Light Table for Animation

The purpose of a light table is fairly straightforward - but many times beginners don't have the experience to know the multiple ways a light table can be useful for animators, beyond the obvious. It's key to every step of the traditional animation process, and can drastically reduce the effort involved in producing clean, professional-quality animations.

Animation Careers Outside of Entertainment Science Engineering

Not every animator wants to work on the next big-screen blockbuster, or on bringing the next successful video game to market. The entertainment industry isn't the only place where we can find our niche, and one of the many places where animation skills come in handy is in various science and engineering sectors. Whether you're building working scale models of jet engines and animating them against physics constraints in a 3D test environment or simulating the birth of the universe, animators can use their skills in a variety of ways and in a variety of fields that let you get your techno-science geek on.

Reader Question How Do I Vary Line Weight In My Animations

Hannah asks:

"I can't get my animations to look liek the ones I like on TV. My teacher said I need to use more line weight to make more depth and vary it more. I don't understand what that means. I mean I look at it and I get it with the tapered lines, but I can't figure out how to do it. Help?"

It's not that difficult to vary line weight when you remember that line weight is just line thickness. There's more than one way to approach the issue, though, and a variety of tools you can use to create varied line weights in different mediums for a richer, fuller look to your art and animations.

Reader Question Freelancing SelfEmployed or LLC

George asks:

"I've been working as a freelancer for a while, and I'm getting to the point where I'm self-sufficient and taxes are becoming a problem. I know as a self-employed animator I have to handle all my tax expenses myself, but what if I register as an LLC or some other type of corporation? I've heard you can save a lot of money that way."

That can be true in some instances - but it really depends on your circumstances, and whether the benefits of registering as a corporation really outweigh the costs.

Getting Your Start in Digital Animation

So you want to learn to animate - but you don't want to go to school for reasons that could range from time to money to simply just wanting to learn as a fun hobby. But you aren't quite sure where to start, if you should just dive in or even what kind of animation you want to do. It's not that hard to learn to animate from home, and it's not even that expensive; it just requires time, patience, and an idea of your goals. Oh...and a few pointers in the right direction might not hurt too much, either.

Seven Ways To Tank Your Animation

You probably like posting your animations to YouTube. Maybe you still use Newgrounds, even. You spread the word on Facebook. You tweet about your latest video more than you tweet about your lunch and the subsequent bowel movements. You beg people to Stumble you. Your hit count climbs daily, but it just seems like other people are getting more high ratings than you. People are downvoting your animations, telling you you suck, calling you names in the comments. Considering this is the internet and it brings out the worst in people, that might not mean anything. Or it could mean that you've followed this handy-dandy guide to Seven Ways To Tank Your Animation, with surefire steps on how to make sure people hate everything you produce.

Animating With Purpose Giving Life To Your Animated Characters

Anyone can make animated characters move around a screen. It takes real storytelling talent to make those characters move with a sense of purpose that draws us into the story, and keeps us riveted to the screen while we follow those characters in achieving their goals. Purpose is a major driving force in infusing characters with life, believability, and empathy, and when you make sure every action that you animate has purpose, you add a layer of depth that makes your characters and their stories entirely unforgettable.

One of the Most Exciting Features of Adobe CS6 Subscriptions

One of my biggest gripes with newer versions of the Adobe Creative Suite has been the price. Even with the new features, the new functionality, and the great new enhancements with every version of the software suite, the cost of upgrading every 1-2 years can get a little steep and a little frustrating, and result in a tendency to cling to old versions that manage to get the job done, even if it's not as quick or as easy.

 
With CS6, though Adobe will be introducing their own version of SaaS in the Creative Cloud. For those who aren't familiar with the term, it stands for "Software as a Service," and allows subscription access to the full creative suite for a monthly subscription price - $50 a month for a yearly subscription, $75 a month on a month-to-month basis, with certain apps available for individual licensing for much less (as long as you pay on an annual contract). One obvious benefit is this allows content creators, who previously may have felt forced to pirate by the price point, to legitimize and use a legal version of the software with a more reasonable monthly expenditure.

The down side? Adobe isn't Rent-A-Center, and there is no rent-to-own option. You could pay on a monthly basis until you've completely covered the price of the software suite, and the software still wouldn't be yours; the second you cancel your subscription, you'd lose access. But this is rather a moot point, when it would take years to completely pay out the cost on a month-by-month subscription. By then we could be on CS7 or CS8, and can simply transfer the subscription without having ever paid full price for the CS6 suite. With cloud storage included in the package, that's not too bad at all.

I know I'll definitely be using the subscription service when I upgrade from CS5.5, though I haven't decided if I'll use it just for Flash and Photoshop, or go for the full suite. What about you? Do you intend to subscribe to Adobe CS6, pay full cost, or let it slide entirely?