Vertex Animation
Vertex animation is a computer graphics technique where 3D models are animated by directly manipulating their vertices (the points that define the shape) over time, rather than using skeletal rigs or blend shapes. It involves storing or calculating the position of each vertex for every frame of animation, allowing for precise control over deformation and movement. This method is commonly used for effects like cloth simulation, facial expressions, and complex mechanical animations where traditional rigging is insufficient.
Developers should learn vertex animation when working on real-time graphics applications like games or simulations that require high-performance, GPU-friendly animations with complex deformations. It's particularly useful for effects that don't fit well with skeletal animation, such as morphing objects, fluid simulations, or detailed facial animations in VR/AR. Use cases include optimizing animations for mobile devices by reducing CPU overhead, creating stylized effects in indie games, or handling procedural animations in tools like Unity or Unreal Engine.