If I could make a list of all the minor inconveniences that bug me, it would probably start like this:
1.) Flavored coffees that taste like lies
2.) Automatic doors that can't seem to sense that I'm there until my face is smooshed up against the glass
3.) Continuously failing to spell the word, "inconveniences"
But in the world of animation, my greatest (though not that thrilling) battles have always started with these chilling words:
"Add to Render Queue"
There are many reasons for this, the first being that REGARDLESS of how many times I watch and re-watch my animation, I will ALWAYS find something that I missed and need to change after it is rendered. And this leads me to my second reason:
It takes soooo stinking long!
You see, depending on how complicated your animation is (i.e. how many layers, effects, lighting elements, etc), a render can take anywhere from 2 minutes to the end of time. Do you know what it is like to render something for three hours and watch it just to find out that something you moved off screen randomly peaks in for 2 frames?
It feels like pain. That's what it feels like.
Okay, so let's say you've managed to get passed the multiple renderings and feelings of disillusionment. Now you have to upload that baby to the internet so people can actually SEE IT.
It's like in a video game, where you defeat the boss only to discover there is a SECOND BOSS.
Why's that? Well, just because something looks super neato on your media player DOES NOT mean it will look the same way when you upload it. It might look darker. Or pixelated. Or the sound might not sync up right. Suddenly you are a doctor trying to find a cure for your patient. If it's dark, you can adjust the color of the composition and re-render (which actually doesn't take as long so it's okay.) If it is pixelly, you may need to fiddle around with the settings in a free compression software like Handbrake. If the sync is off, well, that means ANOTHER THREE HOUR RENDER, YOU LOSER!
So as you can see, rendering and uploading are my least favorite parts of animating. But when it's done, when it is finally 100% done... ahh, the feeling of accomplishment!! Why... I feel like I could rule the Earth!
Much love,
Nicole
"Rule the Earth"