Hiding lines in Flash files

[exile]

The hide edge and patch layer tools work fine if I export in Quicktime format, but not in Flash. I'm working on my first real project and have a quadruped with jointed legs. Test animations in Flash look pretty stupid because all lines are visible. Is there a solution for this problem?

[slowtiger]

Patches work with masks, and the AS masking isn't compatible with the Flash masking (see Appendix). It is possible, though, to export the masks separately into Flash and re-create the effect there.

[exile]

Thanks, Slowtiger. I looked into some Flash editors, as a non-professional I don't want to invest a lot. Synfig looked interesting, does anyone have experience with it or another suggestion?

[jahnocli]

Thanks, Slowtiger. I looked into some Flash editors, as a non-professional I don't want to invest a lot. Synfig looked interesting, does anyone have experience with it or another suggestion?

I've got a couple. First, you could try eBay for an old copy of Flash 8 -- this is good enough for most Flash stuff if you are just using AS for straightforward animations. Second, you could try downloading some software like Awesome Animator. The website design, artwork and animations are laughable, but it has some good features (eg, being able to import .bvh files), there is a two-week trial period, and it's not too expensive if you want to buy it eventually).

[exile]

Thanks, jahnocli. I guess I don't know what a bvh file is - can the program import a complete animation and hide the unwanted lines, or do I have to start all over again? In that case I might be better off doing without Flash until Animé makes its patch layers compatible to that format. I love trying out software, but it's one of the best ways to get absolutely nothing done.

[heyvern]

Features like patches in Anime Studio that won't export to Flash are very unlikely to get updated. I doubt that Flash export is high on the list of feature updates. It hasn't changed in any version I've used since 4.x.

The best approach for Flash export is make sure you use Anime Studio so it WILL export to Flash. Just don't use features that won't export. There are other ways to handle joints without using patches. Patches haven't been around a really long time, I forget which version it was introduced in, 6? or 7? I... uh... er... well I NEVER use patches. I just don't like that feature.

Patches and masking are only one aspect of non exported features in Anime Studio. If you want to export any type of bone warping the file size for the resulting SWF will be HUGE and not optimized in the SWF. Basically point warping with bones will export as individual frames of unique artwork in the SWF. Each frame is a complete copy of all of the points and shapes. This can lead to very large cumbersome Flash files. Flash export from Anime Studio will only create instances if the layers are bound to bones. The whole layer must be bound not freely distorting points.

The other thing I would suggest is to purchase Flash. I know I know, it's expensive, but the only way to really use the Flash export from Anime Studio is to have Flash. I Have to admit the new Adobe subscription for the entire CS6 design suite is VERY affordable. Check it out and see if that might be an option for you. You get the WHOLE ADOBE SUITE for a reasonable monthly fee. And it's much cheaper overall than buying it outright. I hate Flash by the way. Despise it. With high speed bandwidth becoming common place, video export is almost as good for delivering animated content.

If you are going to use Anime Studio mostly for Flash export you really need Flash. If you only plan to occasionally export to Flash than you may not actually need it. Remember Anime Studio doesn't do ANY optimizing of SWF export. There is no scripting or interactivity. No way to link multiple animations together. If you plan to use it on say a website for some type of interactive content, you will need Flash.

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BVH is a simple bone animation description format. Many programs use "bones" to describe motion of a skeleton for a character. In most cases this is a 3D format. BVH is a text based file that has the names and animation properties of bones that can be used in many programs that support it. Poser uses BVH but Anime Studio doesn't support it as far as I know (I could be wrong), but there may be a custom script someone created to export BVH from Anime Studio.

-vern

[slowtiger]

Without knowing what you want to export for which purpose, all advice we can give can only be vague. 10 years ago SWF was the big thing because it allowed impressive, full-screen animation with very small file sizes, which was necessary at that time and bandwidth. So vector animation was the logical thing to do, complete with Flash's ability to trick with symbols and tweening to reduce file size even more.

This has totally changed. Nowadays you only should use Flash when you really need interactivity which can't be achieved by any other means (Javascript, HTRML5 etc). And to get your animation into Flash you might as well render it as PNG sequences with alpha - file size isn't an issue in times where people stream complete feature films onto their cell phones.

"How do I hide lines in Flash" isn't a good question then, a better one would be "I need this end result, with these elements, and those which I want to produce in AS. What is the best way to integrate all this?"

[jahnocli]

...but there may be a custom script someone created to export BVH from Anime Studio.

Er, I believe I mentioned, in passing, another program's ability to IMPORT .bvh files. What has this to do with EXPORTING them from AS??

[exile]

Thanks for all the replies, it looks like this forum is a big plus point for animé studio. To be perfectly honest, I think you've shown me that I didn't know anything about the flash format and probably don't need it - I like a full-screen view with a small file size, but otherwise flash has no advantages for me at this point. What I'm hoping to do is create an animation to "illustrate" one of my songs, in other words a story with characters, not interactive web content. Thanks for making all of that clear to me.

For those interested in the patch layer to disguise lines, this tutorial is excellent: http://www.animestudiotutor.com/drawing ... _patch_la/

The advantage over the hide lines tool is that it hides lines over an intersecting area, so the line changes as the joint moves, looking more convincing. The manual leaves out how to bind the patch to a bone, so the tutorial video is extremely helpful to beginners like me.