Switch scene script

[Greenlaw]

I'm not aware of one but if you just want to change camera positions with a hard cut, you could use a Step key between scenes.

Another alternative is the render out your scenes and import the footage to a new Moho project. You can then using Moho like a non-linear video editor and edit your clips in the Sequencer.

The most common workflow, however, is to use a video editing program to cut or 'switch' between rendered Moho scenes. My workflow is described in detail elsewhere in the Lost Marble Forum, but in brief...

1. Create an animatic in a video editor.
2. Render out each scene for visual and timing reference footage.
3. Import the reference footage to Moho and animate the scene to match the timing.
4. Export the scene from Moho.
5. Import the scene to the video editor and replace the animatic scene with the finished Moho version.
6. Make editorial adjustments in the video editor as desired, and edit/re-render Moho scenes if necessary.

Once all the animatic scenes in the video editor have been replaced with Moho footage, and I'm happy with the edit, I'm done.

There are actually more steps involved in my workflow (compositing, effects, audio mix) but the above covers the essentials. FYI, I like to use Vegas Pro for video editing but there are many good video editors out there and some of them are free.

[Greenlaw]

my system for now isnt strong on video editing

Oh, that's Strider2000's video. It sounds like his script was something he created for personal use, and in the video he's mainly talking about how you can improve your workflow by writing your own scripts. If you really need his script, I would get in touch with him directly and ask if he's willing to share it.

For this particular scene switching technique, you can more or less do the same thing using a Smart Bone Action to control all the Switch Layers at once. It's unclear in the video how this script improves on using a Smart Bone, but I'm guessing it's because he uses a naming convention that his script recognizes so this might might be for a very specific workflow.

But for editing between scenes, I still say it's better to create separate Moho projects for each scene, especially if your computer is low-spec. If there's one thing that will slow down Moho, it's adding a lot of extra rigs to a project. Moho's performance will be significantly better if you have only what you need in the project for a given scene.

A typical video editor shouldn't requires a powerful system unless you're working with FHD or higher-res footage. For example, my first Moho short film Scare Plane was mostly drawn and animated in Moho (ASP 9.5 at the time,) composited in Fusion, and edited in Vegas Pro, using a small laptop with a Core 2 duo processor, 4GB of RAM, and a low-res display (1200 x 800.) I think I rendered and comped everything at HD res (1280 x 720) and it was fine for that.

A few years ago, I was looking around for free and low-cost video editors. There are actually a lot of them out there and some are designed to work well on low-spec systems. There are even a few practical video editors for iOS devices. I would look up 'best free video editors for 2022' in Google and see what turns up. For editing animation shorts, you really don't need anything fancy.

[Greenlaw]

As mentioned earlier, you can technically use Moho as a video editor. But I don't recommend it for this purpose. Just as 2D animation is easier in a dedicated 2D animation program, I think video editing will always be easier in a dedicated video editing program, (and 3D animation will be easier in a dedicated 3D animation program, compositing easier in a dedicated compositing program, etc..)

[synthsin75]

You can also use switch layer references to do the same thing. As long as all the switch sub-layer names match, switching the original will also switch all the reference switches to match.

[SimplSam]

There was also this technique from Poptoogi:

"A blank template to set up and switch scenes easily": https://poptoogi.gumroad.com/l/fowbK

[Greenlaw]

thanks plz do ask him and will also chk out video editors out there

Sorry, I'm not going to do that. You will have to ask him yourself. I don't know Strider2000 personally but he is a regular poster/contributor in this forum and he seems very approachable.

As for video editors, as mentioned, the one I like is Vegas Pro but that's probably more complicated and costly than what you're looking for. There are simpler and more affordable ones out there, and some of them are even free. I would google something like 'affordable video editor', read the reviews, download the ones that sound good and try them out.

[Greenlaw]

Here's an article with a current list of some free video editors...

https://www.creativebloq.com/buying-gui ... g-software

Both LightWorks and OpenShot have been around for a while. LightWorks is meant to be a pro level tool but I've never used it myself. I tried OpenShot a few years ago as a possible tool for my child to use, and back then it seemed pretty basic and easy to use. I would download these and see how they work for you.

DaVinci Resolve is actually a high-end commercial program from Black Magic Design, but they offer a free version that includes most of the features found in the commercial version...and no water mark! I don't use Resolve but I've been using Black Magic's compositing program Fusion for film and TV production since the late 90's, and it's still top notch! Note that these two are advanced programs but well worth learning and using. (BTW, the skills you pick up from using Fusion translate almost directly to using Nuke, another high-end compositing program.)

Hope this helps.

[MrMiracle77]

I used Lightworks for a few years and early on for some animation. It works well, but only exports to 720p h.264 on the free version, and doesn't allow you to tune the bitrate. It's a bit of a jump if you're used to more friendly, built-in editors like iMovie or Windows Movie Editor, but the software bears a greater resemblance to something professional.

DaVinci Resolve is also free, but be prepared for an assault of options and features. It can do a lot and supports up to 4k, but there is a lot to learn. Pros seem to love it and there are quite a few positive reviews on youtube.

Hitfilm Express is technically free, but there are a few paid add-ons that many editors consider essential. It's still costs a lot less than a full professional editor, supports most of Moho's export formats, and lets you control the bitrate of the final product. I've been with it for a year and a half, and aside from some mouse-finnickiness in the timeline, I've been happy with it.