Newbie Question Freehand or not to Freehand

[Neoranma]

Ok, Moho looks great, and I've been experimenting with it.

First off, I was using Macromedia Freehand to do some tests. I seem to be able to draw alot better in that than using the freehand tool. Not that I'm that great anyways. Closer to suck actually.

Also try searching for information on Freehand... is there a good way to tell the Macromedia freehand topics from the freehand tool topics?I normally search forums more, but I spent over an hour or two tring to figure it all out. I think I drove myself insaine.

My moho traces look pretty bad, very jaggid compared to the other vector drawing apps. I know I have a deathgrip on the tablet pen, which can't be good. Would adjusting the pixle and andle tolerance help? If so, what would be a good pixle and angle tolerance on the tool?

Also I came to the quick realization that the imports into moho would have to be layer by layer. I did limbs, torso, head seperate. I would have to bring in one layer at a time, and rezise each. Not a happy prospect. In fact I feel like I am so close to comming to a final solution, yet.. I am at a dead end.

[Neoranma]

Almost forgot to add..

I drew a face, and hair. I used the same line for the border of the face as well as the hair. My shapes were all closed, the face was no problem to create shape. The hair was a nightmare. Would you sugest drawing each shape seperate, or draw face, then draw hair, weld ends of hair to face.

[Lost Marble]

If you need to import separate layers into Moho, you've already realized that the Import Illustrator File command imports them all as one layer. What you can do, though, is to separate the parts you want in Illustrator (or whatever program you're importing from) so that they don't touch. For example separate out the arms legs, body, etc, into an "exploded" character. Then import this into Moho. Then it will be easy to select the separated parts and cut/paste them into different layers. Or, you may not even need different layers - see Tutorial 3.4 to see what I mean.

With the Freehand tool, don't worry about welding the hair to the head. Too many welds can get you into trouble with lots of looping, interconnected shapes. Use welding primarily for curves that are part of one closed shape.

[7feet]

Just a small bit - my brother just sent me some .AI's that were drawn in Freehand for on of his comics that I'm thinking of animating. They seem to import pretty well. Seems to be his drawing prog of choice, and he was happy with what I whipped back to him, so there you are.

[Neoranma]

Works like a charm! Thank you so much!

I chose macromedia freehand, because Freehand seems to be alot easier to use thank Illistrator. Freehand can also export into Illistrator 7.x which kept my line stokes just fine.

Tutorial 3.4 was what I was going for anyways. I don't know why I just didn't think of doing it before I got it into moho.
Also I found that duplicate layer, select what I wanted, select inverse, Delte was alot faster than create new layer, switch to origional layer, select, cut, switch to new layer, paste.

Ok, time write up the next post.