Animation frames work by being individual still images displayed in rapid succession, creating the illusion of movement.
Animation relies on a fundamental principle: presenting a sequence of slightly different still images, called frames, one after another very quickly. When these images are shown at a sufficient speed, our eyes and brain perceive them not as separate pictures, but as continuous, fluid motion.
The Role of Frame Rate
The speed at which these individual frames are displayed is known as the frame rate. As noted in the provided reference, "frame rate refers to the number of images shown every second." This is typically measured in frames per second (FPS).
Understanding FPS
- Each FPS value indicates how many distinct images are displayed within a single second of animation playback.
- The higher the frame rate, the smoother the perceived motion generally appears, as there are more steps (images) shown in the same amount of time.
- A common example provided in the reference is "a frame rate of 24 frames per second or 24 FPS". This means that for every second of animation, 24 unique images are flashed on screen.
Creating the Illusion of Motion
It is the rapid display of these frames that tricks our visual system. The reference highlights this perceptual effect: "Quickly we stop seeing the individual images. And start perceiving motion". By making small changes to the content of each subsequent frame and displaying them rapidly, the viewer's brain connects the images, interpreting the differences as movement over time.
In essence, animation frames are the static building blocks – each frame a distinct image representing a specific moment in time – that, when played back in sequence at a defined frame rate, construct the dynamic experience of animation.
