Difference between 2D and 3D !

                               2D

                                 

                                                 and 

             3D

As i told you we are going to discus all basics so now 1st understand what is 2D and 3D.

The first concept you must grasp is that 3D means 3 dimensional and 2D means 2 dimensional. Now before you think I'm stating the obvious, let me go on to say that the 3D and 2D in animation refer to the dimension in which the animation was created. Ahhhh. The plot thickens eh?

For 2D animation, everything happens on a 2 dimensional platform. Pictures are flat, without depth and offer only one perspective. Objects and characters are usually drawn without the subtle soft shadows we see in real life and colours have few varying shades. In 3D animation, everything happens on a 3 dimensional platform. Pictures have depth and offer multiple perspectives just like in real life and have soft subtle shadows casted on the objects and characters within.

In 2D, characters look cartoonish and unrealisitc. In 3D, characters can look cartoonish but realistic at the same time.

Another way to think of this is to think in terms of a painting and a sculpture. 2D is a painting, and 3D is a sculpture. 3D introduces "depth perspective," so we not only see a rectangle (2D) but a CUBE (3D). You may also want to think of it like being the difference between a photograph of a glass of water (2D) and being able to reach out and actually pick up the glass of water (3D).

Typically, 2D involves "drawing," or movement on, say, a flat surface (sketch pad, etc.) or in the vertical and horizontal planes. 3D involves "modeling," i.e., creating objects in 3-dimensions using a computer software, residing in an expansive virtual environment, complete with lights, reflections, other objects, shadows, etc.

You could start training yourself by comparing a cartoon like Bugs Bunny, Aladdin, Lion King (2D) to "Toy Story 1,2 & 3, "Finding Nemo" and "Incredibles" (3D). If you have not watched any of these great cartoons, than go back to your planet please... 

# 2D and 3D refer to the actual dimensions in a computer's workspace. 2D is 'flat', using the X & Y (horizontal and vertical) axis', the image has only two dimensions and if turned to the side becomes a line. 3D adds the 'Z' dimension. This third dimension allows for rotation and depth. It's essentially the difference between a painting and a sculpture. 

# The most familiar form of 2D animations can be found by watching Saturday morning cartoons with your kids, or even simpler animations every day when you surf the web. It takes on the forms of advertisements, e-cards, etc. The basic starting point for all animations is a storyboard that lays out the basic script in a visual format, much like an extra large comic strip.

                                 The main difference is the tools that are used to create animations, the effort and the price. Traditional 3D animation was more like claymations, and was done by using stop-motion filming techniques. Essentially, the true concept of 3D animations did not really catch on until the use of computers for animation became more cost effective and practical. 

# Now about Softwares:- actually many studio use there own softwares as per there requirement but you should know some other basic softwares to handle that.

2D softwares :-

 Genral- FLASH,PHOTOSHOP etc.

 *USAnimation OPUS  (www.toonboom.com),

 *ANIMO (www.cambridgeanimation.com), 

 *RETASpro (:http://www.celsys.co.jp),

 *CTP (http://www.cratersoftware.com),

 *DIGICEL (www.digicelinc.co),

 *AXA Softwar("http://www.netguru.com/index.aspx"
                      >www.netguru.com)

 *Animation stand (Visit: www.animationstand.com)

                       and 

       *Pencil 2d(www.blendernation.com)

All above are 2D softwares which are usd for personal and studio work. 

3D softwares:- * Autodesk 3D Studio Max

                 * Autodesk Maya

                 * Inivis AC3D

                 * Carrara                     
                 * DAZ Studio

                 *MAXON Cinema 4D

                 * Autodessys form-Z

                 * Houdini 

                 * LightWave 3D

                 * Grome

                 * MilkShape 3D

                 * Pixels 3D

                 * Massive

                 * Luxology Modo

                 * Relux Pro

                 * Poser

                 * Bryce

                 * Realflow

                 * Nevercenter Silo

                 * Avid Softimage|XSI

                 * solidThinking

                 * solidWorks

                 * TrueSpace

                 * Vue 6

                 * Pixologic ZBrush

                    

bla bla ... still there are many but above are more than necessary , personally i think you should be good in any one of them !