CompuServe Messages

hi sam. got this message after David's reply (which answers most of these). >> learning curve. If I already am using photoshop, ani pro, digital video editing software, and 3d studio what are the main benfits << there are several, including the ability to generate animation "according" to soundtracks. i could go on about the nuances of the package (like Kai's Powertools), but the ability to slice and splice flics and soundtracks alone is something i have seen no other package do this well. AAS is a darkroom for the PC. no, it doesn't have layers but…. using a clipboard, this would be redundant really as clipboard images can be saved… one friend of mine likened clipboarding to AAP's "cel" concept with expansion to other win apps (great insight). there are several "key" abilities in the package though that have not been stressed such as progressive undo/redo (a welcome addition), a marvelous text editor which is capable of handling multiple fonts, sizes, effects and such within the text construction window, all with the ease of the AAP tool. this is impressive. another unsung heroic feature is the painting-over-time ability of several "tools"… creating gradients for example with a spray tool over several frames. but more than anything in the program, the highlight for me is "animated masks"… we now have an ability to literally construct a mask-per-frame for control over paint-over-time functions… a quantum leap above "layers". in addition to David's mention of the sound functions (pitch and tempo stretch functions are amazing, btw), you also have ability to handle multiple tracks at a time (a "layering" of soundtracks if you will) for mixing and matching, volume control and such, during which the animation (if it exists) can be viewed. flipside of this functionality is that in the same way you can "stretch a soundtrack to fit an animation… you can stretch or squeeze an animation to fit a soundtrack (also a novel idea) for true frame tweening. are some of the ramifications becoming apparent now? <g> i haven't touched on the scriptor and its power to do unattended presentations, or the new modular ink plug-in capability (opens up a whole 'nuther world), nor the newer tools like AIRBRUSH which have been desperately needed for years… it's worth checking out at your local MMedia dealership. 🙂 -dave