Onion Skinning
What is Onion Skinning?
Onion skinning shows an animator ghost images of the frames before and after the one they're currently working on, so they can see exactly how a movement flows from frame to frame.
At a glance
- Also known as
- Ghost framesFrame ghostingOnionskin
- Used for
- 2D animation timingFrame spacing judgementArc consistency checkingIn-betweening guidance
- Common tools
- Toon boom harmonyAdobe animateProcreateKritaBlender (grease pencil)
- Related terms
- Cell animationKeyframeIn-betweening2D animationFrame rate
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How it compares
Onion skinning shows multiple frames simultaneously as static layered images, allowing the animator to study and compare positions while drawing. A playback preview plays the sequence as video, allowing the animator to experience the timing and flow of motion as the audience will see it. Both tools are complementary: onion skinning informs the construction of individual frames, while playback reveals how the completed sequence reads in motion.
Think of it like…
Onion skinning is like watching a slow-motion film through frosted glass, where you can see the ghost of each previous step still hanging in the air as you take the next one: helping you judge the rhythm and shape of the journey rather than just the point you're at right now.
Pro tip
When using onion skinning in digital animation software, reduce the number of visible frames and lower their opacity when working on complex scenes: too many ghost frames at high opacity can obscure the current drawing and make it harder to judge individual frame positions clearly.
Types and variations
- Standard onion skinning displays a fixed number of preceding and following frames at reduced opacity alongside the current frame.
- Colour-coded onion skinning differentiates past frames from future frames using distinct colours ( typically red for past and green for future ) allowing the animator to read the direction of movement at a glance.
- Adjustable opacity onion skinning allows the animator to control how transparent the ghost frames appear, useful when working with complex scenes where too many visible layers create visual noise.
- Long-range onion skinning extends the visible range to encompass many frames simultaneously, helpful for checking the arc of a slow or wide movement across a large number of steps.
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Try MorphicCommon use cases
- Onion skinning is used throughout professional and amateur 2D animation production to check timing, spacing, and arc consistency while drawing individual frames.
- It is particularly valuable during the in-betweening process, where the artist needs to position new frames accurately between established keyframes.
- Animators working on character performances, lip sync, and action sequences all rely on onion skinning to maintain the fluidity and physical believability of movement.
- In AI-augmented workflows, onion skinning features within animation software remain useful when reviewing, cleaning up, or refining AI-generated frame sequences.
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FAQs
The name comes from the semi-transparent paper that traditional animators used on light tables, which had a translucency similar to the thin outer layers of an onion. Placing one sheet over another allowed the drawing beneath to show through, giving the animator a reference for the previous frame.
Onion skinning is a standard feature in virtually all dedicated 2D animation tools, including Toon Boom Harmony, Adobe Animate, and Krita. Many digital illustration apps such as Procreate also include it in their animation modes. It is less common in 3D animation software, where the equivalent function is usually achieved through ghosting features in the viewport.
3D animation software typically offers a 'ghost' feature that shows translucent copies of a character rig at selected frame intervals in the viewport, serving the same purpose as onion skinning for evaluating arc and spacing. It is most commonly used in character animation workflows within software like Maya and Blender.
Most animators work with two to four frames visible on either side of the current frame as a starting point, adjusting based on the speed and complexity of the movement being drawn. Fast action may benefit from seeing fewer frames at close intervals, while slow arcing movement may require a wider range to judge the curve accurately.
AI video generation models do not use onion skinning in the traditional sense, but the concept of temporal consistency ( maintaining coherent movement from one frame to the next ) addresses the same underlying challenge. Some AI animation tools incorporate explicit temporal conditioning mechanisms that function similarly in principle, keeping the generated motion consistent across frames.
Yes. Onion skinning is one of the most immediately useful tools for animators at any level, as it provides direct visual feedback on timing and spacing that is otherwise difficult to judge without extensive experience. Beginners should turn it on early in the learning process to develop an intuition for how frame positions translate into perceived motion.
