How to do Frame by Frame on Animate?

To create frame-by-frame animation in Adobe Animate, follow these steps:

1. Select a Layer and Starting Frame: Click the desired layer name in the Timeline panel to make it the active layer. Then, select the specific frame on that layer where you want your animation to begin.

2. Insert a Keyframe: If the chosen frame isn't already a keyframe, insert one. Go to Insert > Timeline > Keyframe (or press F6). A keyframe signifies a change in content.

3. Create Artwork for the First Frame: Use the drawing tools in Animate (like the brush, pencil, or shape tools) to create the artwork for the first frame of your animation sequence. This is the initial pose or image.

4. Create Subsequent Frames:

   • Select the next frame in the Timeline after the first keyframe.
   • Insert another keyframe (Insert > Timeline > Keyframe or press F6).
   • Modify the artwork slightly from the previous frame. This creates the illusion of movement.
   • Repeat this process (selecting the next frame, inserting a keyframe, and modifying the artwork) for each frame of your animation.

5. Onion Skinning (Optional): To help visualize the movement between frames, use the Onion Skinning feature. Enable it in the Timeline panel. This allows you to see faint outlines of the frames before and after the current frame, making it easier to create smooth transitions.

6. Test Your Animation: Scrub through the Timeline by dragging the playhead, or press Enter/Return to play the animation and see how it looks. You may need to adjust the artwork in individual frames to refine the movement.

Key Considerations:

• Keyframes vs. Frames: A keyframe indicates a change in the artwork. Standard frames contain the same artwork as the last keyframe before them.
• Frame Rate: The frame rate (frames per second, or fps) determines how fast your animation plays. A higher frame rate results in smoother animation. You can set the frame rate in the Document Settings (Modify > Document).
• Practice: Frame-by-frame animation requires patience and practice to master. Start with simple animations and gradually increase the complexity.
• Blank Keyframes: If you insert a blank keyframe (Insert > Timeline > Blank Keyframe or F7), the new keyframe will contain no content from the previous frame, allowing you to start drawing something entirely new.

By repeating these steps, you create the illusion of motion by rapidly displaying a series of slightly different images.