#General
To All Concerned,
Computers and software are no different than other consumer products.
Certain platforms, operating systems, and software are just tools used to
produce results. I don't think there is any one of us who isn't a little
jealous of some aspect or feature of someone else's system and software. We
have all chosen our respective setups for varying reasons. What ever they are,
you owe it yourself to learn your OS and the software it runs inside and out.
It wouldn't hurt to learn your hardware and maybe even a little programming,
even if you only try it once or twice. I have a Borland compiler, and some
books on programming games, graphics, ray tracers and Windows. I am not into
programming, but every now and then while waiting for a rendering I skin
through one of these books just so I can get an idea how things are supposed to
work.
My system of choice is a PC running DOS and Windows. For a living, I do
Desktop Publishing. I am as good as it gets in this field. By that, I mean that
there are probably hundreds of people worldwide that can operate at the same
level, but I doubt that than anyone is significantly faster and more quality
oriented, or able to meet deadline any better. I never used to be this
proficient, but while working for Lazerquick's (the Northwest's largest quick
printer) Graphics Department at their central production facility, I got a big
kick in the pants by a man named Phillip DiPaolo. I though I knew PageMaker OK,
but this guy way beyond me. As someone who has always wanted to be one of the
best, I realized that I needed to do more than think I knew the program, I had
to KNOW it; why it does what it does, what its thinks it supposed to do, etc.
Phillip was gracious enough to pass his knowledge on to me, something that I
can only repay by using it to the best of my ability, and passing the knowledge
on. (Incidentally, my 18 months there was all on a Mac network).
Over the past three years, anyone out there that has done DTP has seen an
appalling growth in the number of so-called Desktop Publishers who, because
they have purchased some cheapo DTP program, or can make a business in
PageMaker, think they can go out and get a job at $xxx per hour. What is
alarming is that too many of them get jobs at relativly high pay, and then
can't meet the actual expectations. This puts employers on guard, and then
drives down the wages for someone who really knows their stuff. Another way
people get a DTP job is by convincing an employer that it is only a matter of
learning a new program and that they learn quickly, etc. This is the basic flaw
in the thinking of most users. My experience proves that there is a real
difference between a PROGRAM and an APPLICATION. A program can usually be
learned quicker and faster that an application. This is the example I use: How
many of you can use a pencil? Now, how many of you can draw? It is very easy to
say that you could learn to draw if someone would only show you, but that is
only part of it. I can draw, and I can show you exactly what I do, but the rest
has to come from you. That means time, effort and frustration.
Which brings us up to the point. There is no interface, OS or software
that is to hard to use or figure out. If you say you can't, I think you really
mean it isn't worth your time. I made the choice of using AM. Yes, I have
considered dumping it for some time, mainly because the Sculpture module is a
study of excellence and inefficiency. I am currently trying to make a model of
a TIE Interceptor as shown on the cover the LucasArts game TIE Fighter. It
might look at first to be a simple job of a few hours, but take a closer look.
The hull is not a smooth sphere, but composed of 12 wedges, with a flattish
suacer-like bottom, and a rounded hatch on top with three slots cut out for
windows. If AM's modeler had CSG functions, this really would be the work of
several hours, but it actually becomming the work of several days, and I
haven't even finished the hull yet.
I am sticking with the project because when it is done, I will have a much
better understanding of how AM works, and why it does what it does. I have
downloaded a few grahpics of other animators' TIE Fighters, and when mine is
done it will be a bit more detailed. If you were to look at a finished
rendering of mine compared to theirs, would you decide that mine was done with
a superior program because it might look superior? Probably not. If you were
like me, you would wonder what program was used to create it. Quality animation
comes from people who take the time to problem solve, and rarle have to say
"That's good enough". And that's what I tell people animation mostly is;
problem solving.
With the advent of better faster computers and programs, I am seeing the
same trend in Animation that I saw in DTP; people that know a little are
starting to pass themselves of as animators, or digital video experts. I am
fairly new to animating. I would imagine that a cel animator a Disney might not
know squat about computer animation. So do I know more than this person? Not
even! The keyword is ANIMATION. I probable know more about computers.
For those of you who want a quick and easy way to produce quality
animation, and spend your time moaning and groaning about program deficiencies,
there is a very simple solution; hire those of us who spend the time to get the
most out of what is available. I am not a "techie geek" or "propeller head". I
am a creator. I enjoy seeing the creations of others. When I see somrthing on
TV that was probably computer animated, I try to visualize how I would do it in
AM. Some effects are obviously impossible within the program, while others are
not, but appear to be. The men and the boys will be separated and the boys will
run crying to mommy when they see some of the animation being done with AM and
other quality programs.
Any one of us could have created a work like the guy who did the
incredible Head animaton. As anyone that reads Martin's Minutes knows, even he
doesn't know the extent the program can be taken to, since he's had to ask
people to show him project files to prove that the work was done with his
program.
And that brings up another point. Programming takes a different kind of
creativity and genius. Any one of us could have written AM or a similar
program. We did not. We have chosen to vent our creativity using the creativity
of the programmers of AM. Most of you would get instantly abusively if anyone
were to tell your that your animations suck. If your are going to defend your
creativity, isn't it hippocritical to bitch and moan about the creativity of
the people who provided you with the means of expressing yours?
I will probably stick with AM because I believe in the ideas behind it.
That will not stop me buying and using other software or hardware to make up
for AM's deficienties. Any program I might switch to would have the same or
other problems that I experience with AM.
After viewing any renderings or animations of mine, if anyone has
questions about how they were done, (no, I have uploaded any yet) leave me a
message in this forum and I'll explain how something was done, and in some
cases, provide the project files so you can re-create it or improve it. I am
sure that I will be asking some of you the same.
Michael S. Flynn