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So if we're not actually drawing frames other than keyframes, how do we communicate where they should go? With beautiful little charts!

Animators typically include spacing charts on every keyframe. However, there is no need for a spacing chart in the first keyframe of a cut, since there are no previous drawings that need guiding. When it comes to in-between guides, don't worry about adding spacing charts since they are already included in the keyframe spacing charts. The beginning shows the previous keyframe's number, the endpoint is labeled with the current keyframe.

Important note: Be careful about one thing: in the western animation industry, this is different, as you'd put these (well, not exactly these, they're little different) charts on the first frame of the action, not the last.

The center of the chart should always be shown to help the douga artist measure how the spacing relates to that point, even if there's no actual inbetween at the exact center (they call this ghosting the inbetween). The actual physical distance between these points is what gives your chart its spacing. Usually, you should divide each new space in half each time you add an inbetween tickmark. You can create uneven spacing, but it's always helpful to keep the ghost inbetweens so douga artists know what you're trying to do.

(TODO: create composite image)

Tsume shiji gif

"But wait!" I hear you say. "What the hell is spacing? Why do I need these!?" Well, spacing is pretty simple. It's the distance between two drawings. Close spacing makes it feel like something is moving slowly. Distant spacing makes it feel like something is moving quickly. Spacing has nothing to do with timing (which is what the timesheet is for), instead, it lets you take the same timing and change how it feels. The little example gif to the right shows this: the timing for each new drawing of the circle is the same, but it feels like it moves through the first space faster since the spacing is farther apart.

There are three general kinds of spacing you'll see. Even, ease out, and ease in. They can be mixed and matched as needed.

Even spacing Slow out Slow in
Even spacing creates an even movement, like a ball rolling on a flat surface at a steady rate. Ease out increases the spacing near the end, creating a sense of acceleration, a ball rolling down a slope, increasing speed. Ease in decreases the spacing near the end, creating a sense of deceleration, a ball losing energy as it rolls up a hill.

You can also use individual spacing charts for parts of a character (even ones on the same cel) if they move at different rates. Just make sure you label or otherwise indicate what part of the character the chart relates to.

Some really common motions–especially walks, runs, blinks, and lip flaps – break these spacing chart rules. I'll be explaining them in more detail down in the Standard Animations article.

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