X-sheets are also known as dope sheets or exposure sheets. They are used by animators to record all necessary information relating to how the animation should be shot. A standard x-sheet consists of several columns that run from top to bottom, and 100 rows that run from left to right.
Each row represents 1 frame of animation. If the animation is to be played back at 25 frames per second, 100 frames will span 4 seconds of animation.
The dialogue column contains the sounds that are relevant to the animation. Often, it pertains to the dialogue spoken by the characters. In animation, the dialogue is recorded first. It is then ‘broken down’ – that is when the sound track is reviewed frame by frame. During this process, where each word starts and ends, and where the major vowel and consonant sounds are, are of vital importance. These are then marked on the x-sheet in the sound/dialogue column, frame by frame. It then becomes clear that at a certain frame, a particular sound is made.
The action column contains instructions on when a given piece of animation will start and end.
