CompuServe Messages

Hey Paul, I've wrote a novel here, Paul, so brace yourself. 🙂 >> Although Dave's technique of using color gradient to simulate onion skinning may seem cumbersome, it works pretty well for those of us coming from traditional animation backgrounds. And remember Dave shouldn't be chastised for finding tricks in the tools he has, many have benefited from them.<< I'm not attacking him at all! It just cheeses me off that us animators have to resort to find these tricks and working around buggy software (no, I'm not talking about AA). If anything it's a very useful tip. >> This product your friend is working on sounds interesting. Do you have a prototype as yet?<< Well this is the scoop. About 10 months ago, I had a programmer working on this package for 4 months. In that amount of time he managed to make everything work to the extent of perfection. It was executed in protected mode and it worked like a dream. You could set video modes; 8 viewing tracks on the screen at once in real time; draw; paint tools; full-screen zooms; copy, paste, and delete multiple tracks; animcuts; exposure sheets; real-time multiple-track playbacks. Pretty cool, huh? This was just the 'Penciling' functions. You may notice that I'm using my wording in the past tense. The programmer had a history of being lazy and was given his last chance by making this package. Well, as you can guess, he didn't finish it and he was fired. That really pissed me off so much because he was SO close to finishing it and then he just starting losing interest (AARRGGHH! It just makes me what to scream!!!) Fortunately, I have some great news, if it turns out. I've been talking about my package to a free-lance programmer that works with us and he's been pushing this idea of mine for some time with my boss. So it looks like there may be some light at the end of the tunnel. >> I have thought of developing an animation package myself. But if you need some assistance or advice on development issues, I'd be glad to help. I'd like to see an affordable animation package that doesn't ignore the traditional art of animation.<< I've put alot of thought into this package from the tools to the floating user-interface. I want it to be so simple yet extremely powerful. It'll just allow you to draw as naturally as possible (with a tablet, of course. Heh, heh). If it gets going I'll send you a copy and you can check it out and tell me what you think. I'd like to hear you opinions and advise. As for programming, I really appreciate the offer but don't get yourself too wrapped up in it. "Leave the programming to the programmers", that's a little something I've learned in the video game business. I have assembler experience and been trying to develop this, as well, but I found myself too burnt out between doing that AND my job. So I leave it under the mercy of the programmers. Fheew…my fingers are killing me. Anyway, I'll keep you informed of the situation as it comes up. Take it easy, Juan