what is a good free program to use for animations?

stuh505 · Thu 27/05/2004 01:38:18

no text needed..

strazer · Thu 27/05/2004 02:08:22

Do you mean for GIF animations?
I use Microsoft Gif Animator.

Edit: Fixed link

stuh505 · Thu 27/05/2004 04:02:59

1) This says it's for Win95. Does it run properly in XP using the integrated Win95 emulator?

2) I'm not sure if this is what I wan't. Sorry I'm not so specific...but I have never done this before so I'm not crystal clear on the process.

I keep seeing people post walk-animations and such in the C&C forum. I understand these are GIFS. But AGS requires still frames, not GIF...people just convert to GIF to show the animatoin for C&C right?

So what I'm interested in is not converting the still frames to GIF, but a tool to make it easier to draw the still frames in the first place...I'm assuming there are more efficient ways than drawing 1 frame in MSPaint and then copything that to a new file and modifying it etc for each frame...

Gilbert · Thu 27/05/2004 04:10:16

Quote from: stuh505 on Thu 27/05/2004 04:02:59
people just convert to GIF to show the animatoin for C&C right?

Yes, you need to import still frames into AGS.

For a tool I suggest you may find a programme with layers, that may help with drawing the frames, there're lots of such programmes depending on your need, like Photoshop, PSP, teh GIMP, etc.

Moox · Thu 27/05/2004 04:12:41

I use paint and modify it frame by frame, i use barbarosa gif animator found on download.com to animate tho

strazer · Thu 27/05/2004 04:16:53

1.) It's an old program, but it runs flawlessy on my Win2k, so I suspect it will run on WinXP as well.

2.) I'm not sure I understand what you mean. An animated gif consists of frames too.
For this particular program, you have to save each animation frame in gif-format before assembling the animation, yes.

Quotemake it easier to draw the still frames in the first place

Personally, I use a lot of layers when drawing animation frames in PSP.
For example, I create an extra layer, paint the arms moving a bit, then I can save a copy of that pic as the new animation frame without having to draw the body again.
Also, that makes it easier if you decide to change some things later. Just hide/show the needed layers and re-save the animation frame.

stuh505 · Thu 27/05/2004 04:32:44

Okay...I have photoshop, I'm familiar with layers...I can do this, I just assumed there was a better way to go about it.

I was more expecting to find some kind of interpolation software that allows you to define arms and legs and movements and then have it draw the frames for you...

...or perhaps more general, to let you draw multiple frames and then define edges and have it draw middle frames using either linear or logarithmic or sinusoidal interpretation...

strazer · Thu 27/05/2004 04:39:11

I think Moho is what you're looking for. It's not free though.
It's a vector-based paint program. Never used it myself, but I have seen some nifty animations done with it.

shbaz · Thu 27/05/2004 05:24:54

You have and know how to use 3ds.. why not animate with it?

Mr Jake · Thu 27/05/2004 06:55:47

I use Paint Shop Pro and built in Animation Shop :/

stuh505 · Thu 27/05/2004 07:44:55

thanks for input guys

QuoteYou have and know how to use 3ds.. why not animate with it?

yeah, I can animate with max...but, im not sure if i want to render all the backgrounds...im good at some stuff, but certain scenes ill spend like 100 hours on and then just realize that i could do an oil painting in 30 min that looks 10 times better. so im considering switching to sketching/painting/photoshoping....and if i do that, 3d characters might look out of place.

Barbarian · Thu 27/05/2004 09:07:50

Hi Strazer. I tried that download link you posted for the Microsoft GIF Animator, but it wouldn't connect for me.
But I found another place to download it from:
http://www.jhepple.com/gif_animator.htm

Ã,Â Ã,Â I'm running Windows XP, and it works fine.
It's a simple little program, nothing much fancy about it, but it helps to quickly splice together your frames to make an animated gif image. Good for testing how your completed animated image will look.
Thanks for the suggestion.

*Salutes*
--- Big Don, the Barbarian.

("Big Don's Adventure!" in production:
http://www.agsforums.com/yabb/index.php?topic=14181.0Ã,Â )

Peter Thomas · Thu 27/05/2004 09:14:07

Moho might not be free, but you can MAKE it free. If you know what I mean. Or, alternatively, if you know the right sites to visit...

veryweirdguy · Thu 27/05/2004 09:16:15

Pete, for someone who does not support warez in any way, you do seem to recommend it a lot....

strazer · Thu 27/05/2004 09:40:17

Agreed.
Every program can be cracked somehow, but we should make an effort to point out free, legal alternatives if possible.

No offense, Peter, but I'm actually surprised that attitudes such as yours are tolerated around here.
Most forums I've visited so far had strict non-warez policies, rightfully so in my opinion.

Haddas · Thu 27/05/2004 10:31:05

Yes, Buy any spftware you need.

Mr Jake · Thu 27/05/2004 10:33:04

yes well, most sites are up-tight and controlled by about 5 people who visit once in a month anyway

erm, what was I saying.... Oh yea, not everything can be cracked

and if you have the.... 'money'

PSP7+animation shop are great

shbaz · Thu 27/05/2004 23:16:31

I haven't visited the site, but last time I used it it was actually very cheap for it's capabilities (it's pretty much just as good as Photoshop).

An entire game done in oil paints would be very cool, IMO. I think Quest For Glory I was done that way, but the resolution at the time didn't really show it.