Safe zone
Safe zone is a term used in animation that refers to an area on the screen where important information or characters should be placed to avoid getting cut off when the animation is displayed on different devices.
When creating animations, it is important to understand the concept of safe zones. Safe zones are areas within a frame that can be seen on all devices and screens. This is particularly important in animation as it ensures that important elements are not cut off or obscured by display issues such as overscan.
The safe zone is typically defined as the innermost rectangle of a frame, with a margin of about 5-10% from the edges. This means that any important element should be placed within this rectangle to ensure that it is visible on all screens. By following these guidelines, animation professionals can ensure that their work looks consistent across different devices and platforms.
In addition to ensuring visibility, safe zones also serve as a guideline for framing and composition. By placing important elements within the safe zone, animators can create a visually appealing and effective animation that effectively communicates its message. This is particularly important in advertising and marketing where the goal is to capture the viewer’s attention and convey a message quickly and effectively.
Safe zones are also important when creating animations for television. In the past, televisions used overscan which meant that parts of the image were cut off at the edges. While most modern televisions no longer use overscan, it is still recommended to use safe zones to ensure that important elements are not cut off or obscured.
When creating animations for different platforms such as social media or mobile devices, it is important to consider the aspect ratios of the screen. Different platforms have different aspect ratios which means that the safe zone may need to be adjusted accordingly. For example, vertical videos for Instagram stories, or Tiktok require a different safe zone than videos designed for YouTube.
By using safe zones, animators can ensure that their work looks consistent across different devices and platforms while also creating visually appealing and effective animations that communicate their message effectively.
