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Animation is a very creative and innovative way of presenting the illusion of movement through a series of still pictures in rapid succession. Both 2D and 3D product animations are available, and understanding their differences will allow you to select the option that is best for you.

An endless series of pictures or images are made in a two-dimensional space in 2D animation. Each image will be different from the other to convey the illusion of movement. The images are filmed at a specific rate which is usually 24 frames per second, although this aspect can vary. While these images were once drawn by hand, modern technology has allowed artists to draw these images digitally on a screen through the use of different types of software.

In 3D animation, objects are used instead of pictures to add depth to the scene. This makes 3D animation a lot more realistic when compared to 2D animation. The models or objects are digitally created on the screen and can be manipulated to move in a variety of ways to mimic lifelike movements. There are different types of software that can be used for 3D animation.

While 2D animation is great, the drawings are made on a flat surface, so the scenes may appear flat to the viewer, whereas in 3D animation, models can be viewed from a variety of different angles, so the scene will have depth. The techniques that are used are also very different, as is the software, because, in 2D animation, you will hear terms like anime, morphing and twinning. In contrast, in 3D animation, you will come across terms like appearance sketching, appearance modelling, texturing and rendering. Time is another key difference you have to consider as 3D animations require more time to create, and these are also generally more expensive. However, time and cost will depend on the assignment, the type of special effects needed, sound, music and the number of characters that will be involved, just to name a few examples.

Ultimately, the sense of motion in 3D animation is of better quality than 2D animation, especially when portraying movements and 3D animation is also far more appealing and realistic. You will notice better aesthetics when making product animation videos, and the models that you create can be reused in the future, so your cost will be reduced in this regard. While both options are about illusion and movement that are digitally created, 3D product animation is often the better choice because we are living in a tech-savvy world.

If you want to speak to professional 3D animation artists, the experts at EnDesign can help. We specialize in 3D product animation services and can help with all of your 3D rendering needs, so contact us today for more information!