Frame by Frame with Smart Bones

[dueyftw]

Now you can draw in actions using override tools. Just unzip and add z1_ to z6_ to your tool folder. The other tools are freehand mods I did for my tablet.

https://app.box.com/s/g1uh1tbh714v9ng5p3km

This method works, but needs improvement from Lost marble. I'm posting this so that LM hopefully add this as a feature on the next version. I figure if enough people use this that they will brake down and add it.
If you want some strange results draw in the bone layer. But if you stay to the switch layer there should be no problem, or very little.

Watch video before using.


Dale

[Yosemite Sam]

Thanks for sharing this, Dale. It's very interesting.

I did some FBF in my last animation with AS 9.5 as they have made some improvements in achieving it via a switch layer. If SM could find a way to truly incorporate a decent FBF aspect to AS that would really increase it's popularity I believe. However, my biggest concern is how stable the program would be.

Things improved for me when they upgraded to a 64x version in 9 and became even more stable in 9.5. Still, when I have too much information (to many points or very detailed BGs, etc.) AS really slows down. And I have a very fast computer, but unlike programs such as After Effects, Anime Studio isn't capable of taking advantage of higher PC specs. It seems to max out at a certain point, then no matter how fast your computer is, or how much you upgrade it, the performance of AS is not benefited.

So I wonder how far you could go with a more complex FBF animation (such as what you could create in Flash) until AS changes this. Or were you just thinking simple FBF animations?

[dueyftw]

The nice thing about this method is you end up with a Block of animation that can be incorporated into other animation. You could have the hair or hands of a character as FBF and the eyes with smart bones, but the whole body could be rigged. This is the best solutions for AS. So many people would like to have FBF similar to other programs. But AS doesn't work like other programs and it needs to have FBF that works with the tools that AS has.

Have you tried it?

Here is anther video.


Dale

[jahnocli]

This is actually a neat idea. Like you say, you have to have a FBF system that will work in conjunction with other AS tools, otherwise there is no point. This is something I will remember to use -- thanks for posting.

[dueyftw]

Another Video:


Dale

[Yosemite Sam]

Another Video:


Dale

That link doesn't work.

[dueyftw]

Sorry, fixed.
Dale

[Yosemite Sam]

Sorry, fixed.
Dale

Thanks!

[Danimal]

This is a great idea, and using it could possibly replace the countless exceedingly unrealistic head turns that have been out there. One or two keyframes and a smart bone controlling them would really look great.

I'll have to get in there and try this again, I had zero luck getting a smart bone to control a switch layer. It looks great when you do it though!

[Yosemite Sam]

This is a great idea, and using it could possibly replace the countless exceedingly unrealistic head turns that have been out there. One or two keyframes and a smart bone controlling them would really look great.

I'll have to get in there and try this again, I had zero luck getting a smart bone to control a switch layer. It looks great when you do it though!

What was your issue? I just create a SB, then move it a little and add a switch, then move it a little more and add another switch, etc. Works every time

[Danimal]

It would switch immediately when I moved the smart bone and not at the angle it should have, plus it wouldn't switch back when moving the bone back. Undoubtedly user error.

[dueyftw]

You don't have to draw in the smart bone actions. This method works fine if their is only one element. I got a project where I will take one pose and morph it to another. I'm going to make each new pose on top of the last. Then I will place the layers into a smart bone switch layer.

There has been only 5 downloads of the override tools. I'm disappointed that so few are willing to try something new. This has almost no chance of being past of the next version.
I will try to make a video of what I'm talking about.

Dale

[dueyftw]

Here is a video of the process. I added the switch layer and smart bone last. Copy each layer or group to make the next frame. Then add them to the switch layer.

This works but because you can not scroll through the layers it is hard to see the FBF action until you add the smart bone switch layer.



Dale