GSoC - project proposal - feedback appreciated :)

[Benjamin Donoghue <ben.donoghue@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,

I've been working on a series of animation plugins scripts for GIMP that I would like to expand for GSoC.
If anyone would be willing to mentor I would be very excited about doing this project. Any feedback about my proposal would also be greatly appreciated

Here is a piece of animation I have created with some of the plugin I've scripted so far.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/9srrlf5100ahpvy/bunnybounce.xcf

open and use 'playback' to see animation.

The Gimp GsoC Proposal

“Traditional 2d Animation Package” by Benjamin Donoghue, Mar 2011

ABSTRACT

I am currently a 2D Animation Student and work traditionally on paper. More and more animators are using digital tools for inking and colouring but there is yet a software that emulates the way we animate on paper.

This plugin will create a cheap and quick alternative to animating on paper. This will allow Professional Animators to hone their skills whilst maintaining the same skill base and workflow.

It will also allow Educational Institutes to use Gimp as a free software to teach 2D animation with little set-up.

Along side this I would like to create an animation community with easy to follow tutorials and peer to peer feedback to allow animators of all abilities to develop.

Plugin aim

To be an Animation package specific for traditional 2d animators, students and enthusiasts that can be used as both an educational tool and within professional 2D Pipelines emulating animating with paper and a lightbox whilst streamlining the process.

(this in no way is meant as a replacement for GAP but as a strip down and extension)

Core goals of plugin

• Treat layers as pieces of animation paper

• Change timing and reorder frames

• Onion skin and “scroll” through layers

• 'Line test' animation via playback

• Allow separate rough line, clean up and colour layers that can be composited together for playback

• Create scene information panel

• Export frames based on timing for use in proffessional pipelines

• Export animations as video files usable on websites ie youtube / vimeo

• Create easy to use UI

• Implement along side GAP

Some of the above have already been implemented but as yet not together in a unified (and simplified) way directed specifically at 2D animation.

About myself

I will be graduating this summer from Ba(Hons) Animation Production in the UK.

I have a thorough knowledge of both 2D animation principles and proffesional pipelines and feel this plugin would have strong use within the 2D animation community.

I have a background in maths and understand the core concepts within coding. I have written tests scripts in Scheme that are working and I have create successful animations using them.

If it were more appropriate to code this in another language I would be very happy to dedicate my summer to learning it and coding this plugin with GsoC.

I am currently using my test scripts in a graduate 2 minutes short animation and are already being used by other students.

I would greatly appreciate any feedback.

Many thanks,

Benjamin

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