Anime Studio and Flash

[NarbeVoguel]

I don't know if this was asked before, or if this is the correct board to post this topic to (if not, then my apologies)

But I want to know if there's a way to import flash *fla files to Anime Studio, as in, for example, drawing a character with the pencil tool, and when importing the fla file, be able to edit that line as if it were a stroke.

It takes quite a bit for me to create a character in Anime Studio, whereas in flash I just take a couple of minutes, so I was wondering if importing files is possible like that. Or if there's an easier way to create characters in anime studio (vectors) that would be most helpful

Thanks in advance!

[dkwroot]

Anime Studio wasn't designed with freehand artwork in mind, it's painfully obvious to anyone who tries. Unfortunately, you can only export FXG and SWF vector files from Flash, which aren't supported by Anime Studio ... not that it would matter, because Anime Studio tends to butcher artwork when it converts bezier curves to its own system. I don't mean to be a negative Nancy, but that's just the state of the program at the moment and it's a problem that I'm personally wrestling with.

You can use Adobe Illustrator to import FXG files from Flash and then save them as Illustrator 8 format or SVG which can be imported, but as I said previously, your image will get butchered during the conversion so it's not really worth the effort.

At the moment, your best bet is to draw your pictures in Flash or whatever program you prefer and then import them into Anime Studio as JPEG or PNG. You then need to go through the image and manually trace it. It's tedious, it sucks, but it's going to give you the best results.

You could also go to View>Select Trace Image and select an image that you wish to trace over. Use View > Show Tracing Image to show or hide the trace mask.

[dueyftw]

Ditto:
You have to trace using the add points tool. The freehand tool is useless. But the add points tools is not that bad once you get use to it. I just posted a video on my webinar thread on how I'm speeding up copying artwork.

Dale

[NarbeVoguel]

That's kind of a shame, I guess I'll have to get used more to that tool haha

And yeah, freehand tool feels faster at first, but it adds too much points imo, and removing the extra ones takes more time than just adding one at a time, I'll use that from now on

Thanks for the responses!

[InfoCentral]

You can use Flash files with Crazy Talk Animator but not with Anime Studio.

[wizaerd]

You can use Flash files with Crazy Talk Animator but not with Anime Studio.

You can only use SWF files with CrazyTalk Animator, not Flash files themselves (*.fla). And the support for SWF files is limited for animated or non animated props and character limbs (saved individually).

[InfoCentral]

And the support for SWF files is limited for animated or non animated props and character limbs (saved individually).

Really....

[wizaerd]

And the support for SWF files is limited for animated or non animated props and character limbs (saved individually).

Really....

You proved my point exactly. Animated and non animated props, and only for SWF files. You only showed those specific things and not the individual character limbs, but either way, you proved my point.

[InfoCentral]

Yep, that's pretty much what constitutes a scene, characters and props.

[wizaerd]

Yep, that's pretty much what constitutes a scene, characters and props.

Reread the OP. They were asking if there was a way to import a character as a FLA file. Your response was CrazyTalk can use Flash files, which was completely misleading in context of the OP. CTA cannot import FLA files.

And for the sake of full disclosure, only the Pipeline version will import a full character, must must follow a very rigid and strict template, which quite frankly is a huge PITA to put together.

[dueyftw]

Yep, that's pretty much what constitutes a scene, characters and props.

Reread the OP. They were asking if there was a way to import a character as a FLA file. Your response was CrazyTalk can use Flash files, which was completely misleading in context of the OP. CTA cannot import FLA files.

And for the sake of full disclosure, only the Pipeline version will import a full character, must must follow a very rigid and strict template, which quite frankly is a huge PITA to put together.

That's the reason I stay with AS. You can do almost anything. An octopus in CTA? Nope. But AS eight arms is no problem.

Dale

[InfoCentral]

Yep but FLA is a Flash native file format just like XAR is the Xara native file format. Both are for working within the program and not designed for use outside the program. You can always keep a FLA file for later adjustments and export to the SWF for use in other programs. Of note is that CTA will only import SWF files and uses the Flash FLV format for export. I think where we are in disagreement is with the "support for SWF files is limited" statement. I think the ability to build characters and both animated and static props as well as Fx makes it pretty robust.

Of course compared to ASP it is very limiting. Like Dale has pointed out the use of non-biped characters is not even supported. There are some decent workarounds for using the biped template for four-legged animals. But the original question was from someone who primary uses Flash and wants to work with these files within a dedicated 2D animation program. ASP really isn't a good match. CTA would be a very good match but power wise not nearly as feature rich. There is the trade-off in a nutshell.

[wizaerd]

I think where we are in disagreement is with the "support for SWF files is limited" statement. I think the ability to build characters and both animated and static props as well as Fx makes it pretty robust.

The limitations are in the fact that the full character template is very rigid and strict as well as extremely prone to errors, and if you don't have the pipeline version to import a full character, it's a very tedious and long process to import each body element individually. Especially if one wants a fully 360 degree character.

[InfoCentral]

TIP: Make sure to get the pipeline version. If you want to create characters with Flash make sure to get Puppet Producer as well.

I view CTA in the same class as Poser and Daz Studio. Its and animation program for people who don't want to create their own content. Reallusion has its store set-up so users can buy characters, scenes, and props all royalty free for use in their video creations. As a matter of fact CTA, like Poser, doesn't have any content creation tools. You have to build assets in another program and import them in i.e. Flash. But, like Poser, if you want to create you own content you can do it as well as motion capture files.

[wizaerd]

TIP: Make sure to get the pipeline version. If you want to create characters with Flash make sure to get Puppet Producer as well.

I view CTA in the same class as Poser and Daz Studio. Its and animation program for people who don't want to create their own content. Reallusion has its store set-up so users can buy characters, scenes, and props all royalty free for use in their video creations. As a matter of fact CTA, like Poser, doesn't have any content creation tools. You have to build assets in another program and import them in i.e. Flash. But, like Poser, if you want to create you own content you can do it as well as motion capture files.

I have to admit, this is by far the best and most accurate description I've seen for CTA. It's not about unique or new content, but using RL's content to quickly produce animations. Even their latest content pack is being billed a a Presentation Pack, geared towards business presentations more so than entertaining cartoons.