Morphing animation: what is it?

 

 

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An effect known as morphing involves the seamless transformation of one shape or object into another. Although there are various methods, morphing still means the same thing in its most basic sense.

 

Using powerful computers and innovative software like Gryphon Software Morph and Image Master, Hollywood directors and special effects teams first used morphing in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

 

 

One typical instance is the transformation of a face into an older one, an animal, or even an alien form. The method produced some iconic moments in popular culture, like the liquid metal T-1000 character from Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991).

 

However, as technology has advanced, morphing as a technique has grown in popularity and scope. Today, using creative software, people can produce morphing-style effects at home.

 

 

 

Tweening versus morphing

 

Although they are distinct from one another, morphing and tweening are frequently used interchangeably. While morphing is defined as a special effects creation method used in the film industry, tweening is more about animation and adding movement.

 

 

Technique

 

Definition

 

* Morphing

* Morphing

Technique used in visual effects to smoothly transition from one shape to another.

 

* Tweening

 

Images are inserted between keyframes as part of the animation effect to give the impression of movement.

 

* Wrapping

 

wrapping the subject in background light in post-production to focus it.

 

 

* Wiffle pan

 

a transitional style that joins two shots into one.

 

 

 

varieties of morphing

 

In the film industry, morphing is primarily used as a visual effects technique. In other forms of media, like animation and 3D modelling, it is also utilised. There are various methods for morphing.

 

 

 

speeding up the morphing.

 

This kind of morphing is frequently seen in movies. Things can change while they're moving. The spacecraft in Flight of the Navigator is one illustration. It is simpler to cover up any minor inconsistencies by morphing moving objects because they are moving quickly and are less likely to be noticed.

 

 

 

Simple morphing

 

For simpler animations, morphing is another option. For instance, to change a straightforward line-drawn shape into a different shape. To switch from a square to an animated circle in Adobe Animate, use the shape tween feature.

 

 

 

3D morphing

 

Another strategy is 3D morphing. It is a 3D modelling technique, not a film industry technique. These morphing animations are employed to change between various motions. A morph target specifies each gesture or posture. It's employed to give motion to non-skeletal objects.

 

 

 

Animation that morphs through time.

 

a silhouette of a movie crew illuminated by neon.

 

In Hollywood, morphing animation first appeared in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The method evolved as digital technology started to change how movies were made and edited.

 

 

Early digital morphing techniques were used in 1986's Flight of the Navigator to produce the special effect of a spaceship that transformed from chunky to aerodynamic as it accelerated. A group at Omnibus Computer Animation, including Bob Hoffman and Bill Creber, produced this.

 

 

Fantasy epic, 1988 With its seamless transformation of a goat into an emu, a peacock, a tortoise, a tiger, and finally the human sorceress Fin Raziel, Willow set new standards in visual effects.

 

 

One of the most recognisable scenes in contemporary film was produced in 1991 with the help of morphing for the blockbuster sequel Terminator 2: Judgement Day. The movie's antagonist, the T-1000, transforms into furniture, objects, and the ground.

 

 

1992. MORPH, a programme from Gryphon Software, introduces potent visual effects software to the Apple Macintosh home computer. Bringing morphing technology to the general public, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and PC World magazines all published articles on it.

 

 

Why does morphing happen?

 

By converting one image into another, morphing operates. It's a difficult process that requires exact measurements and pixel counts. Here are some crucial details:

 

 

Target and source images.

 

Each animation morph has a target and a source image. The original object, such as Robert Patrick's face in Terminator 2, is the source image, and the new element, whether it be an animal or liquid metal, is what you want to send to it.

 

 

Please list the features.

 

To establish precise measurements, the precise shape of your original source material, such as an actor's head, must be mapped. These are then used to make models or locate video of the target of the morph.

 

 

 

Simple animation of a head tilting upwards.

 

Aligned feature points.

 

A series of points in both the original and morphed objects will be recognised by specialised software. This makes sure that important areas, like an individual's eye, match. In-between frames then swap the pixels from the old object for the new one after these points have been fixed.