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[bdeschryver]

Hi everyone,

I am new to Modul8 (a few weeks now) and yesterday I tried playing some flash animations, which worked ok but not perfect.

Do you know something about the following? Feel free to answer !

- What frame rate should be choosen ? Is there one better than another ?
- Any possibility to have transparent background ?
- I could not change the speed of the animation, neither reverse the playing... Is that normal ?
- Animation does not appear very smooth (white rotating square on black background, 0.5 rotation per second). Any trick to make it look better ?

Thanks a lot !

[ilan]

The best performances you will have with Flash animations are with coded animations.

If you are just using keyframes you may want to several tests to see what works best for you.

There are also methods of controlling the Flash movie using http://www.benchun.net/flosc/. It allows for very precise control of all Flash properties. This would allow you to control properties like the speed of the clip albeit using an external device that supports OSC or a custom solution like a .swf that sends xml data to the .swf file that you are using in modul8. It will talk to the swf file directly and be updated within modul8.

If you do pursue something like this feel free to share it.

[bdeschryver]

What do you mean by coded animation ?

And do you mean that the animation should be made of keyframes only?

Thanks

[ilan]

Coded meaning animations are not created using the time line within Flash. These are generally much smoother and can be used to create generative type animations.

If you are using the time line to create the animations then this is where you will have to do some tests in terms of the frame rate settings.

[bdeschryver]

I tried different frame rates for flash animation (using the time line), and I did not notice any difference (25fps and higher frame rates).

[mowgli_uk]

The best way to use flash timeline based animation is... to convert it to quicktime.

[bdeschryver]

Ilan,

Could give some examples of 'coded animations' in flash ? I just don't see how to create one without using the timeline...

I want to be able to control the speed of it, which you said would be possible with such animations...

Or maybe you know a place/link where I can find such animations?
Thxs

[mowgli_uk]

Coded animations are those done entirely with action script. You can find samples and tutorials at http://flashkit.com
I insist on what i said earlier, covert your timeline based swf's to quicktime video and you'll have no problems.

[sigmasix]

some generative flash animations here

http://www.sold-out.ch/mid/

[bdeschryver]

Thanks for the links - nice flash animations with sources !
this should help a lot !

[deloresi]

What the best schools for computer animation in california? I'm trying to find the best school to major for computer animation and multimedia in california. I know there's ITT Tech and others like Devry. But i'm looking for one that will help me get right into my career choice and will also help me get a career started right after graduation. Any opinions and expert advice will be gladly accepted thank you.
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[The Midi Thief]

What the best schools for computer animation in california? I'm trying to find the best school to major for computer animation and multimedia in california. I know there's ITT Tech and others like Devry. But i'm looking for one that will help me get right into my career choice and will also help me get a career started right after graduation. Any opinions and expert advice will be gladly accepted thank you.

Deloresi - You don't want a tech school for that. The technology behind it is one thing, learning how to compose, design, draw, create a story, a concept is another thing and usually takes more time to learn than the tools used to do it.

First of all you need to specify a little bit more what you want to do. Is it motion graphics (like animated typography for TV-commercials, film titles, etc)? Or is it character animation like Mickey Mouse?. Ok I'm generalizing here to give you an idea.


I can only speak for L.A. where I went to college. There you have to of the top schools for graphic design and both have motion graphics as elective courses but first you have to learn how to design. The two shools are California Institutes of the Arts (CalArts) and Art Center in Pasadena. If you look at the motion graphics studios in L.A. you will find staff from both schools at most places. They are different but both are good.

Things might have changed the last few years but when I went to CalArts I noticed a few differences between these two schools: CalArts seemed to be better on the conceptual side but the work commming out would be a bit unpolished. Art Center students would lack a bit on the conceptual side but have very polished work.

CalArts has a huge animation department if you want to learn animation. Character animation, experimental animation and probably everything in between. The animation department is totally separated from the graphic design department. A lot of kids graduation from CalArts goes straight to Disney others hate Disney like the plagues (which is fun since the school is founded by Disney).

I think either way, try to score an internship at a major motion graphics or animation studio during your third or fourth year of school. That experience together with a degree from a good school and a strong portfolio and the ability to talk about your work could land you a decent job in L.A. straight out of college.

Good luck!

[mowgli_uk]

But i'm looking for one that will help me get right into my career choice and will also help me get a career started right after graduation.
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You're looking in the wrong place.
It's you that will get you a job and start a career not a college. If you think that college is a magical passport into the life you desire think again. All the skills learnt at college are worth nothing if you don't have the right attitude and drive which in the end is much more important than any qualification.