Invalid Photoshop File

[Jkoseattle]

I am attempting to import a PSD file into Moho, but am receiving the error "Invalid Photoshop File". I wonder if this is because I am using an older version of Photoshop (10). What version is required? I dread the answer because it means more $$$ for this project...

Also, I went to File / Import and chose General Import, but the dialog doesn't see PSD files unless I type in *.psd in the file name box. That seems odd, considering Photoshop files are supported. Maybe I'm doing this all wrong?

[Greenlaw]

This is just a guess but maybe your PSD contains incompatible layer options.

Are you using Layer Masks, Clip Layers or Adjustment Layers? If so, make a copy of the file and try merging some of these effects layers into their own layers. Grouping should normally be fine and should translate to Moho but recently I had a PSD file that did not like the grouping structure and I had to break out the group. Layered PSD usually works but it's best to keep the layer structure in the imported file simple.

Most of the time, I just run one of the output layer scripts available for Photoshop and import PNG images instead. This method is generally more reliable since you can't get much simpler than that. BTW, I like Photoshop Output Layers To Files Fast. This one really is very fast. The only downside is that it does not overwrite existing layers so you need to be sure you delete the files you wish to replace before running the script a second time.

[Jkoseattle]

Thanks for the quick response. I read about the adjustment layer issues somewhere else online and I forgot to mention this is a very simple file. Basically I took a jpg, chopped it up into layers, saved it as PSD and tried to import. No adjustments or groupings - I didn't even bother to rename the layers.

If it's possible at this point, I'd like to avoid using scripts for now. Reason is I'm new to Moho and animation, and it's already fairly overwhelming. I would like to experience the inconvenience that these scripts solve so that I'm more intimate with their value somewhere down the line.

So, other ideas?

[jahnocli]

Well, I've got an even older version of Photoshop, so it can't be that! Try importing the psd file with File | Import | Image -- I don't usually have any problems...

[Greenlaw]

Thanks for the quick response. I read about the adjustment layer issues somewhere else online and I forgot to mention this is a very simple file. Basically I took a jpg, chopped it up into layers, saved it as PSD and tried to import. No adjustments or groupings - I didn't even bother to rename the layers.

If it's possible at this point, I'd like to avoid using scripts for now. Reason is I'm new to Moho and animation, and it's already fairly overwhelming. I would like to experience the inconvenience that these scripts solve so that I'm more intimate with their value somewhere down the line.

So, other ideas?

That's really odd. Like Jahnocli said, a simple 'old' PSD file should work fine....it's really the newer, advanced features applied to layers that might cause problems.

Can you upload a sample file for somebody to test? It doesn't need to contain your artwork, just a bunch of scribbles in each layer is fine. Oh, and which version of ASP or Moho are you using?

Which reminds me...are you using Debut? If so, note that Debut does not support multi-layered PSD files. That's a Pro feature. If you have Debut, you'll want to import individual PNG files with transparent backgrounds. (Which, IMO, is more reliable anyway, at least for character art that you expect to revise often. BTW, PNG files will update in Moho automatically when you change them too.)

Regarding 'scripts', it's not a big deal to use--in many cases, you just select the script from the menu like any other command. If you want, you can just use the native Export Layers To Files command. It works too, it's just really slow. I only mentioned an alternative because it's significantly faster than the Adobe version. Either way is much more efficient than saving the layers individually.

There is also the old Export Layers To Anime Studio script, which comes with ASP. This will output the layers and setup a scene file for you. (I'm not sure the current version can set up a Moho scene though.) I don't really recommend it though...I've had problems when replacing image layers with it.

[Jkoseattle]

Oh ok, it's a Pro feature, that's why. I really should have looked more closely into what is only offered in Pro before I decided to buy. I was dismayed to learn that onion skinning is a Pro only feature as well. And wireframes. Now this. Oh well, given recent events I have no interest in drawing pretty pictures anyway.

[Greenlaw]

If it's any consolation, Onion Skin is kinda useful but TBH I don't use it very often. Obviously it's very useful for drawing FBF but you don't really need it for most animations typical of Moho (i.e., rigged and deforming.) As a alternative, you can use something like the free Epic Pen tool which lets you mark up your screen like a marker or grease pencil. This is great for sketching out temporary guides and motion paths--I use it a lot when marking walk cycle positions and figuring out paths for flying/floating/waving animations.

I'm not sure wireframe is that useful. I don't recall using it very much in the years I've been animating with ASP/Moho.

That said, there are many very useful features in Moho, so if you find you really like using Debut and plan to work on bigger productions, upgrading to the Pro version might eventually be worthwhile.

But I think Debut is a pretty good place to start if you're not certain about what you want from the program yet. It still has many of the really important features that make Moho a unique and powerful animation program.