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.

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.

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.