P4 - Describe the software tools available for animation.

Layers

A layers is a separate element of an image. For example, a leg. When using animation and making a person move the arms and legs are separate to the body so they can be moved.

A layer is also when two images are seen together and they appear as one image. 

Using layers works like cel animation for hand drawn animation like Disney Films.

Frames

A frame is a single image in an animation. 

There are 24 frames for every single second of footage in the animation. Frames are played in a sequence at a specific rate, frames per second (fps). This creates an illusion of animation.

Key frames are special frames where an animation starts and finishes.

Motion Tween
A motion tween is a simple animation movement where one image is moved between two places. In motion tweening, you can either position, scale, shape or rotate an image.

Controls

The controls are different tools available to animate your animation (e.g. paint, shapes, pencil)

The common controls are usually contained within a toolbox on the sides or top of the application.

Symbols

Symbols are reusable objects.

There are a few different types of symbols which are Graphics, Buttons and Movie clips.