Hello All,
First off, let me thank you all for a great job you're all doing. I've been on this forum for a couple of days and I think there's real effort put in here.
I'm a complete idiot when it comes to using Anime Studio -or any other animation software for that matter- but I came across PLENTY of good reviews and comments about it.
Browsing around this forum -and searching the net for help on the software- though I only found bits and peices of info and help with a single topic. I came across requests on this forum requiring a step-by-step tutorial, and the convincing replies that there is not a single way to do any single thing. Fair enough. Still, for someone like myself or someone approaching the software for the first time, any good way would do . The way I see it, everyone answering a question or explaining an issue is always assuming something. Assumptions that the user understands the basics of using the software, the user knows how to animate or that the user knows what the speaker is talking about in general.
What would it take to convince the gurus in here to come up with something like "Anime Studio 5.5 for dummies" sort of tutorial? A lot of the work is already done throughout this forum and others, so if only someone who understands what they are talking about would compile it and simplify it a bit, the job would be almost done.
Anyways, this is my first post, so Hi to all
The basic online tutorials in AS are pretty much "AS for Dummies" -- nothing real complicated, even walking through the bones and switch setups. I think if someone goes through each and every one of them you should stop being a "dummy" and become someone who will then be able to take advantage of all the advanced stuff the gurus around here offer.
Thanks for the sarcasm. Really not helping though.
I've read every tutorial in the help of the software, as well as the online tutorials (5 or 6 they are providing). I now understand pretty much the basics of how everything works. Still, what I was suggesting here was something that "Puts together" everything in one place from start to end. This would help people know how to go about learning the software, how it is applied with the concepts and where to go next. The info in the tutorials is very basic and not covering everything. And the more advanced stuff is scattered everywhere over this forum and in very limited places on the net. That was why I suggested to come up with a single document containing everything.
Anyways, it was just a thought that would work for me. I'm sure there are more like me that have the same idea -since I already found some posts with the same concept- but hey, if it's not a popular idea, forget it.
Thanx.
I don't think mkelly was being sarcastic (is that who you meant or was it 1999? I never understand him anyway. )
Check out Fiziwig's beginner tutorials. Everyone is raving over those. Maybe if you ask him he will do some requests. He is a NEW user as well. He is not a "guru" yet but is well on his way.
When I give out advice or help I MUST assume some small basic level of knowledge with AS and animation otherwise I am repeating the same things over and over that is already in the help and tutorials. When trying to explain something that isn't getting through I discover someone has no idea how key frames work... from a basic level. That is hard to get past. How can I explain how AS key frames work if someone doesn't know what a key frame is?
I get very frustrated (although I try to hold it back) when someone asks for help or criticizes the lack of it when the information is RIGHT THERE IN THE HELP FILE... if they just looked for it.
The "gurus" weren't always "gurus". The gurus started out with the help file and did the tutorials. If I am considered a guru I can assure you... we don't get paid, and we don't have huge throbbing over sized brains either. If you have read the help from front to back, done ALL the tutorials and STILL need an "AS for Dummies"... I wouldn't know where to start.
So many people complain about how the help is so skimpy and has no information... and yet... those same people don't even have the limited basic knowledge it contains. Suck all the info you can out of those limited resources. I still refer to the help and tutorials. Sometimes I forget exactly how to do something. It's all in there. The basics anyway.
I will gladly hand out information but I expect someone to read the help and do the tutorials for the basics. It's like homework when you were in school. If you can't walk how can you learn to run?
I wonder if maybe you (or maybe even 1999, who seems to live in his own little world) are looking for something more along the lines of the kinds of tutorials I've seen on some software which take a completed project and break it down step by step.
I know when I was first starting with AS the biggest problem I had was not with the various tools, or how to do something, but in just how to go about working out my workflow. That is, what kinds of character parts I'd need, how would I set them up, how would I make them walk and animate them against the moving background, etc. Perhaps that's what you meant when you said "there is not a single way to do any single thing".
I haven't seen Fizzi's (Gary's) tutorials other than glancing at one where he talks about boning a character, but it looks like he might come the closest to this approach. Workflow is pretty personal, and what works for one might not even come close for another, and perhaps that's why folks are reticent to share.
Then again, maybe that "official" guide to AS that's now available will have exactly what you want. I think I'd at least check that out and see if I were you.
i agree that the help files and tutorials in AS are not
organized all that well, and that a tutorial that put together
a simple cartoon in a smooth step by step fashion would
be very helpful.
Please don't take this the wrong way, I'm a newbie myself when it comes to animation and i was asking some of the same questions you are about a month ago when i was wondering what animation package to use, let alone purchase.
1. FIRST, DO THE TUTORIALS NO MATTER HOW SIMPLE AND STUPID THEY LOOK! You will learn how all the tools work very quickly and believe it or not ideas will pop into your head as to how you can accomplish more sophiscated tasks for your own projects based on these easy examples. I know, they are boring, boring, boring! You can't learn to fly if you don't have wings. The tutorials are your WINGS!
2. SECOND, There is an Anime Studio Manual (Anime Studio The Official Guide) that was just released. It's on Amazon and it's not back ordered until March like everyone is saying, I got mine in about 4 days after ordering. Author: Kelly L. Murdock. This person is a manual writer/programmer/animator. He has written many manuals for various software applications on animation such as Poser, Maya, LightWave etc.. I received mine yesterday and already read the first 100 pages or so last night. The first 40 pages cover the History of, the interface, and workspace. It's a fairly easy to read manual but there are certain topics that will require some studying and practicing to understand them completely if you are going to master this program. I don't think any manual is fun to read, but it also explains how everything works in the program including all the underlying settings,with examples, in Full Color! The layer settings alone can be confusing without a good explanation. Again these can translate into very complicated works of animation if your heart desires. YOU HAVE TO READ IT!!! AND PRACTICE IT! Just like the tutorials. Take it from me, I wasted a month playing with animation programs because i was just to stubborn/lazy to go thru the tutorials or read the online manuals. Do you know how much animation i created, NONE, not one frame!
IMPORTANT: This manual is also for Anime Studio Pro. It differentiates what tools are part of the ASP version v.s. what is not included in the AS version. It covers all the advanced features of the Pro software package so don't go by the name! Each chapter is full of TIPS, NOTES & CAUTIONS, in boxes to help you. They're nice to know. There are TONS of Full Color screen shots in every chapter! Nice! It even covers some of the quarks between Windows & Mac version. If you are a newbie like me or don't know this program like the back of your hand or are looking for a good reference book on AS & ASP, BUY THIS MANUAL!!!!!! It's cheap and worth every penny.
The forum is mentioned in the manual also: heyvern, myles, & genete receive great praise!!!!! page 78. Vern your a star!
3. Third: There are video tutorials on e-frontiers web site if you look under tutorials for Anime Studio; check them out. My mac browsers won't play them though; tried downloading different plug-ins and all i get is audio; maybe you will have better luck.
4. Fourth and last: Sorry, I tend to get long winded. But I can tell these animation gurus on this site have been doing this for a long time and are very helpful, but they are not going to take you by the hand and go over every aspect of this software package from A to Z. That's your job. Hey you picked the hobby! In all honesty, THIS SHIT IS TIME CONSUMING!!!!!! If you don't have a lot of free time to learn the basics of animation and learn all the functions of a new computer program then find another hobby! Simple tasks are going to take hours to learn. Your going to get frustrated. I'm a fairly good artist and have a background in computer science and architectural drafting, and things still look like shit most of the time! There's no way around it. This is a totally different animal in terms of artistic expression / ability and computer technology. Unfortunately you have to master 2 elements. You need to practice, practice, practice; did I say practice....
You need to learn animation also and I don't just mean drawing characters. No program is going to create all the gestures and movements and views that a character takes during an animation scene. This statement by one of the forum members to me hit home real fast. This and other programs are just a tool that makes it easier than the old timers way of frame by frame but you still need to understand how a character moves from point A to B. Can you create depth of field in a 2D space? Can you draw characters? The more I read the more i realize how much I don't know! No program is going to do all of that for you no matter how sophisticated. I've purchased about 5 other books on the subject of animation alone; Preston Blairs Book is good, Nancy Beihman (character development and storyboarding), The Animators Survival Kit. Books on cartooning are good to. No program is going to draw the characters for you! If you can't draw then your not going to get very far with this hobby unless you buy pre-drawn characters or just animate stick figures; to me that's not fun, to each his own. Anyway good luck with your animating and hang in there. Sorry if I sound discouraging, please don't send me hate mail, I'm really a nice guy! It is very time consuming though, I can't stress that enough. Don't want you to waste valuable time like I did in the beginning. There is no quick and easy way when it comes to animation. If there was we would all have our own PIXAR studio!
Guys, thank you all for your feedback. Although mostly in the other direction it still was insightful. Apparently the mistake is mine since you all answered in the same way, so I must have not been clear.
What I said was I DID read the tutorials and worked the examples. I know it's no joy ride nor do I want the info fed to me with a spoon. What I was asking for a consolidation to scattered information so people starting up on the software -and animation for that matter- would only have to spend the necessary time learning instead of wasting long hours and days trying to put together the peices of information necessary to get a simple job done.
Anyway, thank you all for the feedback. I appreciate your support and concern.
There is a new book just released for Anime Studio done by the same person who wrote the Poser book. Just do a search on Amazon and you'll be able to order it. I think that the pre-release price of 40% off is still active.
. The way I see it, everyone answering a question or explaining an issue is always assuming something. Assumptions that the user understands the basics of using the software, the user knows how to animate or that the user knows what the speaker is talking about in general.
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