What Are Figure 8 Curves and How Do They Fit in With the Movements of Characters

There are things you can do to your shot to really enhance it's fluidity and rhythm. Different types of movements can call for different types of arcs; for example faster movements usually benefit from more circularmovements (like tying a bow really fast for example). Figure 8 curves are another type of curve that enhance a movement to keep the motion alive.

Gesturing with the hands for example in a figure 8 movement (the sides of the "8" don't have to be equal, in fact it may add more texture if you have a big loop and then a smaller one or vice versa) is a way to move movethe arms in one direction, then reverse the direction in a pleasing visual way.

Again, tying a bow or similar faster movements are examples of using a figure 8 curve to change direction quickly but fluidly.

- Guest Blogger Keith Sintay

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