What’s the difference between using frames and drawings with the Onion Skin?

There are specific modes in the Onion Skin that can be adjusted to better support and benefit different types of animation. The following article will explain the differences between these modes and how they are best used. If you’d like to see how to switch the onion skin mode, please see How do I change my Onion Skin mode?

What is the Onion Skin By Frames mode?

This is the default method that activates the first time you select the Onion Skin tool. When we use this, we are setting how many frames we see over time. In other words, we are seeing what’s on every frame in the motion or exposure, regardless of the number of drawings involved. 

This is great for cut-out animation because it includes both static frames and interpolations. Interpolations show movement on ones, so the Frames mode is able to lay out the full interpolated motion in the onion skin on either side.

This mode makes use of handlebars on the timeline to increase or decrease the onion skin range.

What is the Onion Skin By Drawings mode?

When using the Onion Skin By Drawings mode, we are seeing each individual drawing as an image in the onion skin. Exposed drawings are also included and are shown as a bolder image in the onion skin, but have to be added to the skin just like any other drawings. 

This is great for paperless animation techniques, as keyframes and interpolations are ignored and only the separate drawings on the drawing layer are shown in the onion skin. We can also choose to display marked Keys, Breakdowns or In-betweens for further clarity while animating. 

This mode makes use of buttons on the Camera view toolbar to add or remove a drawing from the range of the onion skin.

Onion Skin modes Summary 

Below is a point by point list of the differences between the onion skin modes.