Production: Keyframing (2D and 3D)

Once models, rigs and armatures are ready, the animation process can begin. For 2D and 3D computer animation, an important process called Keyframing is used to help define where movements are going to be. Keyframing means to make one movement at the first frame and however long the frame length of that movement is, the final movement will be keyed. Before computer animation, the Keyframing process was to place inbetweens until all the frames have been filled between the first and last frames. The shorter the Keyframe, the quicker the movement is. Below are how Keyframes look in Adobe Flash and Cinema 4D.

2D

In Adobe Flash, the Keyframes are highlighted on the image to the left showing that the next movement would occur at frame 10. These would then be animated by a way called "Tweening", which is shortened by inbetween. 

3D

In Cinema 4D, there are two ways of keyframing. One is the traditional way in computer animation, which is to go to a frame, make a movement and click the keyframe button, or auto-keyframe movements by going to a frame and making that movement. Both are equally good at keyframing.