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Re: 9.5 is out...

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 5:06 pm
by Animark
Yeah, I watched the videos and been infected by the 9.5. functions. Now, I ordered my update :-) - thanks to Lukas for posting the videos here - even when they where already published on the website of SM.

Re: 9.5 is out...

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 5:23 pm
by GCharb
wizaerd wrote:This software is at version 9.5 and STILL it cannot remember to start full screen. Everytime I start it, I have to maximize it for full screen. Why oh why can't it just remember I want it full screen at startup...
If you are on Windows OS, just right-click your shortcut icon then under Run: select maximized...

Not a software issue, its an OS issue!

Re: 9.5 is out...

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 5:29 pm
by GCharb
I made a simple example of the spherical panorama script for my blog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGFrPKsyCMk

You can find an exhaustive list of new features and enhancement on it.

Re: 9.5 is out...

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 5:31 pm
by dkwroot
Here is an even bigger list of improvements. I'm pulling stuff directly from the help PDF. BTW, 9.5 is AWESOME! Totally worth the $50 upgrade!

Code: Select all

• Smart Bones: Enhancement to Smart Bones now allows
the ability to control Switch layers, Layer order, Layer
visibility, Follow path, Flip layer horizontally/vertically,
Stroke exposure, Shape effect positioning, Shape
effect parameters (like gradient colors), 3D thickness of vector shapes that have been converted to 3D and
even more smart bones controls

Depth Shifting: When moving an object forward and
back in Z, Depth Shifting is an option to preserve
its apparent size. Anime Studio Pro 9.5 does this by
automatically applying the proper amount of scale.
This can be used to arrange landscapes, for example
placing mountains far away without forcing them to
become tiny. 

• Media foundation: The 64-bit Windows version of Anime
Studio Pro 9.5 will now use Media Foundation. It is no
longer necessary to install QuickTime to import popular
audio and video formats like MP3, AAC, MP4, and
QuickTime. When exporting animations on Windows 7
and higher, the application can create movies using
the Windows Media Foundation media library. When
exporting animations on Windows XP and higher, the
application can create movies using the DirectShow
media library. 

• Bone-Rigging System: Enhancement to bones now
allows you to add labels and assign colors to bones.
The keyframes for colored bones show up in the
timeline in special colored channels to match.

• Nested Layer Controls: Bones can now control the
children of their children. If you have a group inside a
bone layer and then vector layers inside that group,
the bone layer can manipulate the artwork in those
vector layers if nested layer control is turned on.
This allows for more powerful rigging options, while
simultaneously simplifying and allow more organization
in the layer hierarchy. 

• Flexi-Binding: Flexi-Binding allows you to isolate
the influence of a set of bones from the rest of the
skeleton. For example, only the right arm bones should
affect the artwork for the right arm. This lessens (or
eliminates) the need to separate artwork on frame
zero, and then put it back together again with the
Offset Bone tool. This is a great new feature for images
and vectors. 

• Styles Improvement: Improvements to Styles now allow
you to see real-time changes to shape’s fill color, stroke
color, brush settings, etc. on the canvas so you can
see exactly what effect your changes will have. For 
Update to Eye Dropper: The updated and improved
Eyedropper has options to just select fill color or
stroke color, or copy a color to the clipboard. 

• Enhancements to Switch Layers: Improvements to
switch layer behavior will allow them to work better
for frame-by-frame animation. 

• Switch Layer Keyframes Match Layer Colors: If
the children of a switch layer have layer colors
assigned, then when those children are active, the
corresponding keys in the timeline will have the same
color. This makes it easier to see what switch layer is
active at what time with a quick glance. 

• Easy Control Over Switch Layers: To change a
switch layer¡¯s active child, you can now simply
Alt+Cmd+right click on it in the workspace. No need to
select it in the Layers palette.

• Graying Inactive Layers: This can clear up the visual
clutter on the screen when you want to mostly
concentrate on a single object.
Switch Layers have been improved to enhance Frame-by-Frame animation in the following ways:

Code: Select all

• You no longer need to select a switch layer’s
active child in the Layers palette. You can now
simply ALT+COMMAND/CTRL+Right-click on it in the
workspace.

• When a layer is added to an empty switch group, it
becomes the active child at frame 0.

• When a new layer is created inside a switch group,
Anime Studio will assign a unique name (which is
necessary for proper switch group functionality).

• When a layer inside a switch group is renamed, the
switch animation channel is updated to use the new
name to preserve existing switch animation.

• When a new layer is created inside a switch group at
a frame other than zero, that new layer is not marked
invisible prior to that time. (The switch layer takes care
of its visibility, so setting it separately is redundant and
makes it difficult to re-time the frame-by-frame effect.)

• When a new shape is drawn in a vector layer inside
a switch group at a frame other than zero, that
shape will not be set invisible prior to that time. (Same
reasoning as for new layers.)

Re: 9.5 is out...

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 6:14 pm
by wizaerd
GCharb wrote:
wizaerd wrote:This software is at version 9.5 and STILL it cannot remember to start full screen. Everytime I start it, I have to maximize it for full screen. Why oh why can't it just remember I want it full screen at startup...
If you are on Windows OS, just right-click your shortcut icon then under Run: select maximized...

Not a software issue, its an OS issue!
Most software applications remember the screen layout, as well as window size in order to re-use it upon next startup. So yes, it is a software issue.

Re: 9.5 is out...

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 6:41 pm
by Squeakydave
selgin wrote:
Lukas wrote:9.5 is definitely a lot better than 9.0, during BETA I've made many complex rigs that are very easy to animate. In a way that was impossible in 9.0. If you use ASP a lot, you won't regret an upgrade.
To me, Nested layer control is a huge change. If smart bones changed the way we rigged, Nested layer control changes the way we organize characters layers. It gives you freedom to group, mask, switch, apply effects, etc. It's incredible how flexible is the software now combining that two features (and more now we have Smart Bones for most -maybe all- the channels).
I have several rigs (mostly psd layers with a lot of smart bones) I sadly can't show right now, but I can say 9.5 -just like 9.0 was- is the kind of upgrade that makes you think how incredibly harder it was to rig and animate before.
I completely agree. It is hard to realise how important nested layers are until you start using them. Then there is no going back:-)

Re: 9.5 is out...

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 6:49 pm
by GCharb
wizaerd wrote:Most software applications remember the screen layout, as well as window size in order to re-use it upon next startup. So yes, it is a software issue.
If it makes you feel better I'll agree with You, just do as I said and your little problem will be solved!

Re: 9.5 is out...

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 6:55 pm
by beachbumlarry
I just upgraded this morning. I Love it! The App seems snappier and the new menus are beautiful and easy to navigate. I also noticed when I upgraded this time, ASP remembered all my previous interface color changes and settings. That kicks butt!!! I'm excited about the webinar on Thursday, and I can't wait to get the full scoop on everything. :D

Re: 9.5 is out...

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 9:14 pm
by jezjones29
I just like the way all the text is clear now - much sharper - or is that just me?
I like the improvements. Coloured bones and labels is something I really wanted to see.

It's a shame the interpolate function in the switch layers doesn't seem to work with smart bones. That would have been the icing for me. Maybe in the next version :wink:

Re: 9.5 is out...

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 10:53 pm
by beachbumlarry
Looks like they tweaked the Line spacing in the Menus. Definitely much easier to read and navigate...
Image

Re: 9.5 is out...

Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 12:58 am
by Lost Marble
wollomat wrote:I use only characters prepared in PSD, no vectors, so I dont need the new smartbone features etc.
It's your decision of course, but I think smart bones are useful with image layers as well as vectors. In 9.5, smart bones have the ability to control the following parameters (in addition to what they could control before):

Switch layers
Layer ordering in groups
Layer visibility
Layer flipping (horizontal and vertical)
and more (but those are the ones that could be used image layers)

Re: 9.5 is out...

Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 1:18 am
by Víctor Paredes
Lost Marble wrote:
wollomat wrote:I use only characters prepared in PSD, no vectors, so I dont need the new smartbone features etc.
It's your decision of course, but I think smart bones are useful with image layers as well as vectors. In 9.5, smart bones have the ability to control the following parameters (in addition to what they could control before):
Switch layers
Layer ordering in groups
Layer visibility
Layer flipping (horizontal and vertical)
and more (but those are the ones that could be used image layers)
I created this character (made of psd layers from a Woolbuddy toy) in 9.5.
Each leg is inside a group, the legs are masking the suckers and smart bones move that images to simulate a "3d rotation". The head is masking a texture and the eyes, so I can simulate 3d rotation moving that layers using a smart bones. Eyelids are masked by the eyes and controlled by a Smart bone. Pupils are moved by smart bones. All the head layers are inside a group, so with a smart bone I make the squash stretch scaling that layer.
I used "Use selected bones for Flexi-binding", so there was no need to separate each part in frame zero.
Making this kid of rig and animate it would be a nightmare in 9.2. In 9.5 it's easy and all my keyframes are inside the same bone layer. I really like this release.
Image

Re: 9.5 is out...

Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 1:43 am
by sbtamu
I am really liking this release. AS has jumped leaps and bounds with version 9 compared to 8.

I have noticed something though and can anyone confirm it?

The mouse wheel no longer scrubs the timeline, at least not for me.

Re: 9.5 is out...

Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 2:01 am
by beachbumlarry
It still works, but you need to hold down the ALT key on the keyboard as you scroll. :wink:

Re: 9.5 is out...

Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 2:04 am
by GCharb
Great rig Victor, I love the animation, 9.5 really is a solid release, took me little time to go through most of the new stuff, easy as pie!