The frame under the playhead appears in full color and apply color and alpha to differentiate between past and future frames. The previous and the following frames of onion skinning have default color tints.

To customize these colors, use the Advance Settings option. Click and hold the mouse on the Onion Skin button and select Advance Settings.

To modulate the opacity of onion skin frame on either side of the active frame, click and drag the Starting opacity slider. To decrease the delta of every onion frame by percentage, drag the Decrease by slider.

Click the Onion Skin button. All frames between the Start Onion Skin and End Onion Skin markers in the Timeline header are superimposed as one frame in the document window.

Onion skinning color coding helps you distinguish between the past, present, and future frames. Onion skin frames that move away from active frame appear with progressively decreasing transparency. Locked layers with a padlock icon are not displayed when onion skinning is turned on. To check how your onion skinning is coming along, hover the mouse across the entire span on the timeline.

Your animation plays in colored outlines giving you a precise preview of the changes. Legal Notices Online Privacy Policy.

User Guide Cancel. Create frame-by-frame animations. Click a layer name to make it the active layer, and select a frame in the layer where the animation is to start.

Create the artwork for the first frame of the sequence. Use the drawing tools, paste graphics from the Clipboard, or import a file. To develop the next increment of the animation, alter the contents of this frame on the Stage.

Creating frame-by-frame animations by converting classic or motion tweens. Right-click Windows or Ctrl-click Macintosh the tween span you want to convert and choose Convert to Frame by Frame Animation from the context menu. Use onion skinning. Enable and disable onion skinning.

Click the Onion Skin button to enable and disable onion skinning. To exclude or include frames, in the timeline header, right click any onion skin frame within the onion skin range. Click and hold the mouse on the Onion Skin button to view and select the options. Advance settings in onion skinning. Customizing range. Customizing Colors for Onion Skin Display. To customize the color of the onion skin frames, select the Onion skin frame in the Timeline bar.

Verdict: OpenToonz is a free version of the popular professional program for creating animations — Toonz. It is an open-source Adobe Animate alternative, which means that you can develop the program, adding new features and improving the graphical interface.

OpenToonz includes tools for creating the so-called skeletal animation and supports the traditional animation drawing. Being compatible with the TWAIN standards, the program can capture images from scanners and digital cameras. OpenToonz has a variety of palettes, paints, inks, custom brushes and other useful tools.

For example, you can change the style of an image, create an incident light effect, add a Distortion Wave, etc. Verdict: Despite being open-source software, Pencil 2D boasts powerful tools for producing vector and bitmap animation.

If you want to create a color project using a pencil, pen or brush, this Animate CC alternative will allow you to do this without any hassle. Due to a clear and intuitive interface, even a beginner can quickly figure out all features of the software. Pencil 2D enables you to work with layers, manipulate key frames in the timeline, use onion skin feature, adjust colors and pressure sensitivity, as well as rearrange workspace toolbars and panels according to your preferences.

The distinctive feature of this program is an uncluttered timeline where you can duplicate multiple frames, change the frame rate and create first-class animations without much effort. If you are a professional, you can do magic using even the basic tools. Verdict: Plastic Animation Paper is considered to be one of the best software for traditional 2D animations.

This is an indie project created by talented animators. Unfortunately, their other unfinished Animation Paper program has not been released yet. PAP 4. Besides the common drawing tools, light setup, onion skinning and layers, this free Adobe Animate alternative features blue and red pens to easily plan and draft poses and scenes.

Plastic Animation Paper has a relatively modest interface. But it has all the necessary tools for creating traditional animation. Verdict: Blender is an open-source 3D animation program that is sought-after among digital artists, game developers and animation lovers all over the globe. It has a steep learning curve, which means that it will be a bit difficult for beginners to figure out all the functions and capabilities of the software. Blender has a collection of tools for modeling, lighting and even more.

You can work with dynamic simulations and create such things as fabric, pouring liquids, etc. It is also possible to use Blender as a non-linear video editor. Verdict: CreaToon is a powerful software to create 2D animations in a cut-out style. What makes this program stand out from other free alternatives to Adobe Animate is an array of first-class special effects that allow you to create professional-looking projects. CreaToon features a Preview panel where you can play with animations.

This allows you to edit media without adding keyframes with different values manually. To achieve the desired result, just drag the keyframe sliders across the timeline and change the elements right on the Preview panel.

The program automatically creates individual keyframes to give elements smooth transition. It also supports the in-betweening of frames. CreaToon has a straightforward interface, but it is impossible to change the location of panels and interface menus to speed up the workflow.

Nevertheless, you will be blown away by stylish special effects that you can add to your animation. Verdict: Toon Boom Harmony is the worldwide-recognized 2D animation software that is designed for professional use. From popular animation companies to small studios, Toon Boom Harmonyhas been used to produce the best animated TV shows and games. With this Adobe Animate alternative, you can easily create a unique and interesting animated character using sprites and puppeteering.

Toon Boom Harmony is packed with advanced features and tools that allow you to customize every aspect of your projects. Due to a steep learning curve, the software is suitable mostly for experienced users rather than beginners. With the onion skinning feature, you can get greater control over the action you want to create by displaying a series of snapshots of animated objects underneath the next sketch.

This lets you improve the motion. Also, it is possible to choose either frame-by-frame or keyframe animation to automatically animate the steps between two points. This program is designed to create advertising banners, animated characters, cartoons and more.

 
 

 

Solved: Photoshop CC! How to enable onion skin? – Adobe Support Community – .Frame-by-frame animation with Animate

 

Verdict: Blender is an open-source 3D animation program that is sought-after among digital artists, game developers and animation lovers all over the globe. It has a steep learning curve, which means that it will be a bit difficult for beginners to figure out all the functions and capabilities of the software.

Blender has a collection of tools for modeling, lighting and even more. You can work with dynamic simulations and create such things as fabric, pouring liquids, etc.

It is also possible to use Blender as a non-linear video editor. Verdict: CreaToon is a powerful software to create 2D animations in a cut-out style. What makes this program stand out from other free alternatives to Adobe Animate is an array of first-class special effects that allow you to create professional-looking projects.

CreaToon features a Preview panel where you can play with animations. This allows you to edit media without adding keyframes with different values manually. To achieve the desired result, just drag the keyframe sliders across the timeline and change the elements right on the Preview panel. The program automatically creates individual keyframes to give elements smooth transition.

It also supports the in-betweening of frames. CreaToon has a straightforward interface, but it is impossible to change the location of panels and interface menus to speed up the workflow. Nevertheless, you will be blown away by stylish special effects that you can add to your animation. Verdict: Toon Boom Harmony is the worldwide-recognized 2D animation software that is designed for professional use. From popular animation companies to small studios, Toon Boom Harmonyhas been used to produce the best animated TV shows and games.

With this Adobe Animate alternative, you can easily create a unique and interesting animated character using sprites and puppeteering. Toon Boom Harmony is packed with advanced features and tools that allow you to customize every aspect of your projects. Due to a steep learning curve, the software is suitable mostly for experienced users rather than beginners.

With the onion skinning feature, you can get greater control over the action you want to create by displaying a series of snapshots of animated objects underneath the next sketch. This lets you improve the motion. Also, it is possible to choose either frame-by-frame or keyframe animation to automatically animate the steps between two points. This program is designed to create advertising banners, animated characters, cartoons and more.

Moreover, animations can be uploaded on various websites to enliven them and make more attention-grabbing. This GIF maker allows you to create an animation frame by frame. The program has an array of useful functions and tools. You can add visual effects to your animation to give it an extra vibe. The program is meant for creating animations, environments, motion graphics, virtual reality and characters. It is widely used in the TV and gaming industries. This Animate CC alternative has rich functionality for 3D animation, modeling, simulation, rendering, compositing and visualization on a highly extensible production platform.

Moreover, Maya features next-generation display technology, accelerated 3D modeling workflows and new systems for working with complex data.

Hi there, I’m Ann Young – a professional blogger, read more. Wick Editor. Synfig Studio. Pencil 2D. Plastic Animation Paper. Toon Boom Harmony. Easy GIF Animator. Easy to use Coding environment Can export finished projects in multiple ways Supports all common shortcut key commands Could have more tutorials Lacks search bar.

Feature-rich program despite being absolutely free A lot of helpful tutorials Easy installation Steep learning curve Lacks some features found in more expensive alternatives. Completely free of charge The basics of the program are covered in tutorials Great functionality May be difficult to use for beginners. Intuitive interface Suitable for beginners Completely free Comes with tutorials Not found. All frames between the Start Onion Skin and End Onion Skin markers in the Timeline header are superimposed as one frame in the document window.

Onion skinning color coding helps you distinguish between the past, present, and future frames. Onion skin frames that move away from active frame appear with progressively decreasing transparency. Locked layers with a padlock icon are not displayed when onion skinning is turned on.

To check how your onion skinning is coming along, hover the mouse across the entire span on the timeline. Your animation plays in colored outlines giving you a precise preview of the changes. Legal Notices Online Privacy Policy.

User Guide Cancel. Create frame-by-frame animations. Click a layer name to make it the active layer, and select a frame in the layer where the animation is to start. Create the artwork for the first frame of the sequence. Use the drawing tools, paste graphics from the Clipboard, or import a file. To develop the next increment of the animation, alter the contents of this frame on the Stage.

Creating frame-by-frame animations by converting classic or motion tweens. Right-click Windows or Ctrl-click Macintosh the tween span you want to convert and choose Convert to Frame by Frame Animation from the context menu. Use onion skinning. Enable and disable onion skinning. Click the Onion Skin button to enable and disable onion skinning.

To exclude or include frames, in the timeline header, right click any onion skin frame within the onion skin range. Click and hold the mouse on the Onion Skin button to view and select the options. Advance settings in onion skinning. Customizing range. Customizing Colors for Onion Skin Display. To customize the color of the onion skin frames, select the Onion skin frame in the Timeline bar.

Modify the color-tint of the previous and future frames. Outline and fill mode. Customizing opacity. Show keyframes only. In the Onion Skin Color option, select the color swatch buttons to customize and set colors for the Past, Present, and Future frames. Anchor markers. Simultaneously view several frames of an animation on the Stage.