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Most used Animation Program

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Most used Animation Program

So Im a very interested artist and am contemplating seriously starting my own ventrues into the world of animation. I spent a month at USC studying animation techniques and learned the basics on cell, plain paper, stop motion, cut out ect. I was thinking the other day, in the animation world, what is the photoshop for animators? Is there a "Must Have" program that all aspiring 2D animators need to have? Toon Boom? Sort of like how 3D artists have Maya or Softimage ect.
Thanks guys!
O and are the images created in Toon Boom drawn and scanned in or do you do it all with a tablet in the program?

Thanks Vakis, I have looked them over already and they are interesting applications. Comparing them with what I already have, and barely use, so I think I will take a pass on getting one. There are features that I saw that I would love to have but in the future.

I don't quite understand what is the need for After Effects if one is using a program like TVPaint/Mirage already. What would you do with After Effects that can't be done with TVPaint/Mirage? Just splicing together finished segments -- joining MPEGs together?

So Im a very interested artist and am contemplating seriously starting my own ventrues into the world of animation. I spent a month at USC studying animation techniques and learned the basics on cell, plain paper, stop motion, cut out ect. I was thinking the other day, in the animation world, what is the photoshop for animators? Is there a "Must Have" program that all aspiring 2D animators need to have? Toon Boom? Sort of like how 3D artists have Maya or Softimage ect.
Thanks guys!
O and are the images created in Toon Boom drawn and scanned in or do you do it all with a tablet in the program?

If you want to put your animation on the web then Flash or Toon Boom studio is what you want since they are vector based. I don't use either one so I really couldn't tell you much about them.

For for more real media 2D animation program then there is Digicel Flipbook TVPaint Animation Pro, or even PD Pro which are all bitmap based and include life like pens and brushes as well realistic painting systems(none as good as Corel Painter but they get the job done). These programs can have the images scanned into them or can be drawn directly in the program with a Wacom Graphics Tablet(I wouldn't buy anything but a Wacom tablet).

But if you want to get into 2D animation(I do too) then these are the software programs you should look into. There are probably more out there but these are ones I have used.

Software: TVPaint Pro, Harmony Standalone, Storyboard Pro, Maya, Modo, Arnold, V-Ray, Maxwell, NukeX, Hiero, Mari, RealFlow, Avid, Adobe CS6
Hardware: (2) HP Z820 Workstations + 144-core Linux Render Farm + Cintiq 24HD Touch

I don't quite understand what is the need for After Effects if one is using a program like TVPaint/Mirage already. What would you do with After Effects that can't be done with TVPaint/Mirage? Just splicing together finished segments -- joining MPEGs together?

After Effects Pro can do alot more than TVPaint in the realm of compositing and motion graphics but TVPaint still has better traditional animation tools. I think the compliment each other well along with Photoshop and a Non Linear Video Editor.

Software: TVPaint Pro, Harmony Standalone, Storyboard Pro, Maya, Modo, Arnold, V-Ray, Maxwell, NukeX, Hiero, Mari, RealFlow, Avid, Adobe CS6
Hardware: (2) HP Z820 Workstations + 144-core Linux Render Farm + Cintiq 24HD Touch

I don't quite understand what is the need for After Effects if one is using a program like TVPaint/Mirage already. What would you do with After Effects that can't be done with TVPaint/Mirage? Just splicing together finished segments -- joining MPEGs together?

Personally i dont like to composite in Tvpaint, it's the biggest flaw it has in my opinion, for a simple pan it takes alot of time when compared to after effects, the closest thing i have seen to After effect's 3d camera is the camera in Bravo, you can navigate in the 3d camera and it very quick and easy to do so.
Also if you want to simulate a 3d room, you can add a floor and ceiling pane in After effects.

In tv paint is also the problem that it eats up (delete) your animations/drawings outside the working space (box) something that really needs to be reviewed i think, cause for a simple up and down animation of the same drawing becomes really painfull, if you know any solutions to this please suggest some:), it breaks my nerves.

For me After effects is a lot easier in the compositing field.

In tv paint is also the problem that it eats up (delete) your animations/drawings outside the working space (box) something that really needs to be reviewed i think, cause for a simple up and down animation of the same drawing becomes really painfull, if you know any solutions to this please suggest some, it breaks my nerves.

If your are using the multiplane camera or the keyframer in TVPaint, you can select an other project/animation as source.
In this case, if the source project can be bigger than the current project, it does not matter.
But ok, that is not always easy to manage ...

This was origionally a post in the Educators form, although I think it would fit into this thread. It wasn't getting any responces so I thought I might as well just post it in here.

I have noticed a lot of the artwork that I thought was hand drawn, was actually done using a tablet on the computer. I was like "man i really suck at this, my line quality looks horrible compared to theirs." And it probably does. But I was at least a little relieved to learn that they had done their drawings on Wacom tablets. Now, that being said, is it best if an animator/artist knows how to do BOTH? Sort of like how the really good 3D modelers can both draw on paper and model things on the computer. Or are these two worlds completally seperate?

Also, does anyone know anything about San Jose University? I have heard that it is sort of an underground school for animators.... in the sence that not many people really know about it. Any feedback or responces would be sincerely apprecieated.
Thanks.

O wow thanks a lot, that was exactly what I was looking for.
Thanks!

Now, that being said, is it best if an animator/artist knows how to do BOTH?

Yes, absolutely. :)
The main concepts regarding animation stay the same whatever the method you use (2D software, 3D software, or traditionnal paper).
A lot of animation software try to reproduce the traditionnal tools (light table, pencil tests, XSheet, etc ...). I really think those two worlds less and less separated.
That's also true with the animation books which explain a lot of thing for both computer and traditionnal animation. For instance :
http://www.amazon.com/Animators-Survival-Kit-Principles-Classical/dp/0571202284

Also, does anyone know anything about San Jose University?

Sorry, I'm not living in the US. :p

Anime Studio is an inexpensive vector-based 2D animation program, and cheaper than Flash. I don't have experience with it but it looks like it's able to satisfy many animation needs.

Can I jump in?

How are those software listed like Toonboom, TVpaint, Digicel, Anime Studio etc. compare to each other? And how does each software suitable for which kind of animator?

It's a subjective matter which one will suit you and which one will make your workflow easier,it all depends on your needs and the style your going for, my opinion is this:

Toon boom studio: Easy for Cut out and traditional animation but kind of a digital look, tried importing from raster drawn picture but made the lines a bit jerky.Easy 3d camera.

Digicel: Based around importing paper drawings. Has a great paint fill tool, not good drawing tools, i read somewhere that better drawing tools are gonna be added in the next version.

Tvpaint: Great for traditional hand drawn animation, haven't seen anything better for frame by frame hand drawn animation in that price field, great when using a tablet. Great drawing tools and brushes. Some options are a bit unintuitive.

Anime studio: Has a lot of stuff for it's price, but it's mostly based around cut out animation, you can do frame by frame hand drawn animation but it will take a lot of time and break your nerves. Great 3d camera and you can import baked 3d objects.

What style and type of animation do you have in mind?

Personally i'm new in animation and it was critical for me what software to choose so i tested a lot for alot of time. Offcourse a good software can't make someone a good animator, but i find it very important which one you choose. Mainly for how you want the look to be and secondly because animation is a time consuming process and you'd like something intuitive to work faster. With tvpaint i found the look i was going for, but it needs some time to learn it when compared to all these other software.

Also, does anyone know anything about San Jose University? I have heard that it is sort of an underground school for animators.... in the sence that not many people really know about it. Any feedback or responces would be sincerely apprecieated.

Here is link that might interest you: http://ad.sjsu.edu/programs/animationillust.html

I heard of it when I was looking at animation schools but San Jose is a very expensive city to live and it was over 300 miles away. If your out of state then tuition costs will be very high since its a State University. I currently enrolled in the program at Cal State Fullerton which I find to be very good for the price.

Software: TVPaint Pro, Harmony Standalone, Storyboard Pro, Maya, Modo, Arnold, V-Ray, Maxwell, NukeX, Hiero, Mari, RealFlow, Avid, Adobe CS6
Hardware: (2) HP Z820 Workstations + 144-core Linux Render Farm + Cintiq 24HD Touch

David Chai, who teaches in the SJSU program, was recently nominated for an Annie for his short "Fumi And The Bad Luck Foot". It's quite an accomplishment, since most Annie nominees historically come from big studios or L.A.-based artists.

Go Spartans!

Most Used Animation Program

Since the original question asked about the "most used animation program" the answer on the 2D side would have to be DigiCel FlipBook.

The animators in virtually every major 2D animated feature in the last 5 years right up to and inlcuding the still in progress Simpsons Movie have ALL used DigiCel FlipBook.

:confused: Hmmm, in my web search for The Tab reviews, the most recent review was dated 2004. Everything else is just press releases dressed up as "reviews". To make matters worse, the Tab's forum section is shut down. Makes it difficult to find out more about other users' experience with the program other than one person here at AWN. I would also like to check out the company's customer service reputation, I'll have to wait until more info comes forth before I even consider Tab/Tab Pro.

Any one out there that have purchased it, please reply; How is customer service? What are the bugs, the incompatibilities, etc. that you've found???

I know I can download the Tab and try it for myself, but I'm not a pro and I'm sure to miss some software minuses---that's when strength in numbers comes in. Yeah, and I'm not willing to buy it now and then hope for stellar customer service later.

ok cool. But what isnt so cool is the price...
Thats a lot of Plasma.....

Anime Studio also has a bone rigging system you can use to manipulate your 2D images more like a 3D rig would. Very cool.

While it's a bit more cumbersome, Adobe AfterEffects is a must-have for any animator - 2D or 3D. It excels at final composition, but I've used it to great effect doing 2D stuff - paint in Photoshop and animate in AfterEffects.

I know it's no longer around, but AXA was a great little program for pencil testing and TV work.

Home Page :: VerneAndru.com
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It depends of what kind of a look you're going for.
For more traditional based animation i really got it off with Tvpaint. I'ts raster based and so you can give your drawings a more smudged look if you like.
Toon Boom studio has a nice Xsheet and multiplane camera, but i find it's drawing tools awfull.

In tvpaint there are a lot of effects too, if you need such things, like blurs, glows etc.. Flash has a few effects as well. Toon boom studio is a bit limited in this department.

Personally i'm working with a tablet and my needs are for traditional animation.
So my opinions are based on drawing directly on pc, not on importing paper drawings. For importing paper drawings i think Digicells flipbook is good, I've used it a bit and it has a nice Paint tool but weak drawing tools, it's not based for drawing directly on the pc so that's as far as i got with it.

I have tested as much software as i could: Toon Boom Studio, The Tab Pro, Bravo 5 (Evolved version of The Tab), Anime studio, and tv paint.

The easiest software there is in my opinion, is The tab Pro , it's vector based and it's drawing tools are a LOT better than toon boom's, in my opinion it's interface is the best and the most intuitive i've seen, compared with all the software i tested , it's also easy as heck to pan with the camera or objects in it's 3d camera space, a lot easier than toon boom's.
Personally im using Tvpaint at the moment as it's really powerfull, but if i had the money i'd probably buy the more advanced version of The tab which is called "Toonz Bravo 5" but it's $3000!!:D it's the most powerfull and easy to use software i've seen. The Tab Pro and Bravo are both vector based but i don't know why, it seems to be alot easier to draw in them than any other vector based software i've used.I almost feels like drawing in Raster Graphics.

The reason i haven't used The Tab is because it can't preview 24 frames, you can only preview in 12 frames from what i've seen and because it doesn't have any effects.

Anime studio is great for cut out animation, but if you plan to draw every frame seperately Stay Away!!:). The big plus it has, that i have not seen in any other software, is that you can import 3d objects and it's 3d camera is great (Great Background possibilities and testing while animating at the same time). It has a LOT of effects when compared to flash and toon boom.If i was to go with cut-out animation, Anime studio would be the one i'd use.

I wish Toonz Bravo 5 was cheaper, i fell in love with it, it's so easy to use and powerful at the same time it makes me wanna cry:(

Wow guys thanks for all the help! I can't tell you how much I apprecieate it!

I personally wouldn't be without Flash. It's how I discovered animation that could be shared. I'd done flip books, but those are labor intensive, and I couldn't afford a camera earlier on. So it actually allowed me to practice the craft.

I hope it never forgets it's roots, but sadly it already shows signs of doing so.

Pat Hacker, Visit Scooter's World.

I see. I was reading the fourm about the "Newbie" (im much more noob then he is) about animatoin software. TVpaint was one that I leard about. Is it just for painting or can I use it to animate as well? Toon Boom is a program that does it all? Does it do it all well though? Im looking for a way to use my artistic ability to make a cartoon that isnt too labor intensive, but still looks good. Also, would paper and pencil or a Tablet be better to use for these programs? I am deffintally a noob, so thanks for not flaming me.
Any advice is sincerely apprecieated.

Also, does anyone know anything about San Jose University? I have heard that it is sort of an underground school for animators.... in the sence that not many people really know about it. Any feedback or responces would be sincerely apprecieated.
Thanks.

I had the pleasure of visiting an end of course event for a course taught by David Chai at San Jose State. He's a pretty solid animator and from what I could tell, has a pretty good class going on. Two things I base this on are the level of interest/engagement in the students and the size of the class.

Pat Smith from New York was speaking that night.

I got the feeling there's a lot to be gained at SJSU. One of those times I wish I could quit what I'm doing and go back to school.

Cartoon Thunder
There's a little biker in all of us...

ok cool. But what isnt so cool is the price...
Thats a lot of Plasma.....

Not with the special thats going on now! http://www.digicelinc.com/special.htm

Software: TVPaint Pro, Harmony Standalone, Storyboard Pro, Maya, Modo, Arnold, V-Ray, Maxwell, NukeX, Hiero, Mari, RealFlow, Avid, Adobe CS6
Hardware: (2) HP Z820 Workstations + 144-core Linux Render Farm + Cintiq 24HD Touch

The sticky " So You Wont To Be An Animator" touches on this. Unless you know where you are going to be working, you are just going to have to pick the software that you can afford.

Ok I can not find "The Tap Pro" and "Bravo", so where are they?

Ok I can not find "The Tap Pro" and "Bravo", so where are they?

Tap Pro and Bravo?

Ok I can not find "The Tap Pro" and "Bravo", so where are they?

http://www.toonz.com/htm/products/prod51B.htm (Bravo)

http://www.the-tab.com/htm/product/product.htm (The Tab)

anime studio pro

Ive done a good bit of stop-mo and some CGI. in fact I just finished an hour-long film entitled "Fishbowl".

I am intersted in doing some 2d animation next. Don't have a lotta funds so I bought a copy of Anime Studio Pro, my initial tests seem pretty nice and it has some juicy features to it like the "switch layer" feature. Im thinking of doing sort of a hybrid technique of "paper-cut-out" combined with "vector drawing" or as I like to call it, "moving dots around".
some folks have said that drawing frames is a no-no with this program. could someone please elaborate? not certain if Im stepping into quicksand and would like to hear thoughts of experienced folks. please holler at me...
thank you
-egendron