AutoDesk Animator Lite?
16 messages in this thread
I was wondering whether either AutoDesk or anyone else makes a lower- cost,
less-featured version of Animator Pro — i.e. a program that edits FLC or FLI
files in real time with sound, etc. Also, who is a good retail source of
AutoDesk products? I have trouble finding them at local software stores, etc.
Thanks!
Sincerely, Phil
Phil –
Someone else will have to answer the question about a Animator Lite type of
program but if you call 1-800-964-6432, Autodesk Multimedia Dealer referral,
they will give you a list of Autodesk authorized dealers in your area. The
larger Autodesk products are sold only through dealers which is why you don't
find them on the shelf at software stores.
Ocassionally someone will offer their software for sale in the Take5/Want Ads
section here in this forum.
Anne
Thanks, Anne. I'll call the 800 number as you suggested. With respect to my
"Animator Lite" request, I feel a bit like Lt. Columbo: "Gee, dat Animator Pro
is a great program. Do you know where I could get one 'a dem tings for $9.95?")
Thanks again!
Phil –
Take a look at message #171292 which will give you an idea of pricing on
Animator.
Anne
Phil,
<< I was wondering whether either AutoDesk or anyone else makes a lower- cost,
less-featured version of Animator Pro — i.e. a program that edits FLC or FLI
files in real time with sound >>
You could use Animator Studio for that.
Mark
Thanks, Mark. But what exactly is Animator Studio? Who makes it? What does it
cost? How do I get it? Thanks!
Sincerely, Phil
Phil,
<< But what exactly is Animator Studio? >>
It is a Windows version of Animator Pro with some AniPro features missing and
some new ones added. Just to let you know it will not run under Win95 or
Windows NT.
<< Who makes it? >>
Autodesk
<< What does it cost? >>
$795.00
<< How do I get it? >>
Your authorized Autodesk Multimedia dealer can sell it to ya.
Mark
Thanks, Mark, but that sounds more like "Animator-Pro Heavy" than "Animator-Pro
Lite". In fact, I think Autodesk cut the price of Animator Pro when they
released Animator Studio. As I think I said somewhere else in this thread, I
feel like Lt. Columbo asking: "Dat AutoDesk Animator Pro sure is a swell
product. Do you know where I can get one-a-dem tings for $8.95?" Anyway,
thanks!
Phil — Animator Studio is also the successor to Animator and Animator Pro —
so in all probability Animator Pro itself is as close as your going to get for
an Animator Lite program. And while prices on Animator Pro are likely to drop,
you can bet support for it is likely to as well. Especially as the Autodesk
people seem to have
their hands full wrestling with Animator Studio's many GPF's, OLE Errors, and
just general bugs.
I recently purchased Animator Studio for production work on a Windows game, and
while it is undoubtedly the best 2D paint/animation program available for PC's,
this first version seems CHOCK full of bugs.
BTW — on the Columbo impersenation.. don't give up the day job. 😉
Dale Monk
Earthshine Software
Thanks, Dale. Don't worry. Peter Falk definitely has the part locked down, as
far as I'm concerned.
Sincerely, Phil
>> Phil — Animator Studio is also the successor to Animator and Animator Pro
— so in all probability Animator Pro itself is as close as your going to get
for an Animator Lite program. And while prices on Animator Pro are likely to
drop, you can bet support for it is likely to as well. <<
i'd just like to re-iterate that while Animator Studio has the word Animator in
it and while it has many functions which overlap with Animator Pro, it is not
really the successor to Animator or Animator Pro…. hence it is called
Animator Studio Release 1.0 instead of Animator Pro Release 2.0. this can be a
bit confusing, but the two packages serve very different needs and each has
their own strengths (aside from the more obvious platform issues). there is an
upgrade pricing structure, but AniPro users are encouraged to keep their
original version too since it has capabilities not found in AStudio… it is
not a replacement by any means, but rather a _very_ complimentary package.
AniPro will continue to be sold and supported by Autodesk, and there are
tremendous resources for it here in the forum, both in the libraries and the
folks who read the messages.
as far as an "animator lite", it's amazing what one can still find on the
shelves… i still see occasional copies of Animator and Multimedia Explorer on
the shelves of various Multimedia Dealers. not sure how you categorize
"lite"… is it by features or pricing or what? as for Animator Pro's future,
there have been no commitments to future releases of it (like an Animator Pro
2.0)… but then, Autodesk rarely comments on product futures, and AStudio
group is _very_ aware of AniPro's continuing unique strengths. here are just
_some_ (out of a HUGE list) of things AniPro continues to do extremely well:
>>PharLap memory management in session and playback through scriptor is
very fast, extremely configurable, scriptable!
>>player can playback multiple resolution fullscreen flics
>>POCO (open ended architecture through interpretive c-compiler) and
powerful utilities written in POCO
>>8-bit palette control including color cycling
>>postscript font handling
>>easy text centering
>>loop cel streaming
>>tremendous existing peripheral support
>>requires VERY few system hardware resources to run productive
>>unequal vertice-count tweening
>>non-linear keystroke playback in scripting (keychoice)
>>runs session in 8-bit format (not 24) so is FAST session
>>capable of handling huge framecounts in session without need of memory
reinitializing
my current list has about 100 additional (and equally crucial) items like the
ones above. do they both have an elllipse command? yes. do they work the same
way? not at all. do they acomplish the same thing? no way. is either program's
method to construct an ellipse better? better is relative to task.
not to give the wrong impression, AStduio has an equally impressive list of
features not available in AniPro… they are apple and orange in most respects.
hang on to Ani… she's still a sweetheart. 🙂
-dave
After reading your message, I would really like to know if there is a
comparison list for the features of the two products. Sounds like it would be
easy to buy the wrong software and get a little upset. Is there such a list
anywhere here?
Bill
>> After reading your message, I would really like to know if there is a
comparison list for the features of the two products. Sounds like it would be
easy to buy the wrong software and get a little upset. Is there such a list
anywhere here? <<
if you are refering to the products Animator Pro and Animator Studio, there
have been numerous posts about both here, but no "official" comparison list…
the two products are actually very different, even in their overlapping
functions. some primary differences are:
>AniPro is a DOS application, not windows
>AniPro is an 8-bit flic editor, not 24-bit with alpha channel
>AniPro is not a sound editor (WAV, MOV, AVI, etc)
>AniPro can do multiple resolution playbacks at fullscreen
>AniPro has a C-language interface customization capacity
>AniPro comes with hardcopy manuals <sorry, had to throw that in there> <g>
anyways… they both continue to serve their purpose very well. what is the
task at hand? what are you planning on doing… perhaps we can evaluate which
product would serve your needs better. 🙂
-dave
>anyways… they both continue to serve their purpose very well. what is >the
task at hand? what are you planning on doing… perhaps we can >evaluate which
product would serve your needs better. 🙂
>-dave
Well, basically we're looking for a replacement for DeluxePaint that we used on
the Amiga. We want to do some quick titleing and 2D animation, tweening (key
frames) and a move requester/function that will let us spin rotate etc. The
paint functions should be adequate to let us create the graphics inside the
program, brushes, gradient fills, stenciling, etc. Onion skin would be nice on
the rare occasion we do that, mostly we're in to big a hurry. 8 bit resolution
isn't really a problem for us, but of course 24 bit is nicer.
Sound like either one of those packages? Is there a demo of either Apro or
Astudio available?
Thanks for the interest!
Bill
>> Sound like either one of those packages? Is there a demo of either Apro or
Astudio available? <<
please don't take this as a marketing plug… Animator Pro and Animator Studio
are right up your alley for this. these products (if memory serves) even have
common code developer history with DP. <g> AniPro is a DOS 8-bit workhorse, and
AStudio is a Windows 24-bit(w/alpha) true multimedia powerhouse. as for demos
available, do you have an Adesk MMedia dealer near you? -dave
Bill,
Call our 800/879-4233 customer service number and ask for a FREE copy of the
Animator Studio demo. It's on a CD, and should give you an idea of what you're
getting into with AAStudio. Nothing similar for AAPro, however you can call
the same number and ask to see it demoed at a dealer in your area. They can
tell you dealer names…
Nik