CompuServe Thread

#ANI PRO fonts

4 messages in this thread
#123773From: thomas blomSep 14, 1994 4:19 PM
I'm using Animator Pro to put together demo screens for a software project, and have created a "font" by hand for use in my menus. Is there some way I can convert this set of characters into a "real" animator font so that I can actually type with my font instead of clipping cels one letter at a time to construct menus etc… ? Thanks in advance -thomas
#123812From: NAAUGSep 14, 1994 8:15 PM
/* I'm using Animator Pro to put together demo screens for a software project, and have created a "font" by hand for use in my menus. Is there some way I can convert this set of characters into a "real" animator font so that I can actually type with my font instead of clipping cels one letter at a time to construct menus etc… ? */ Great question, Thomas. People have been asking how to make font files for ages, and your approach is usually what winds up happening– manual insertion of each letter. I don't believe there is a way out of the box to change this, but what you're seeing is a perfect application for programming. Most raster/paint programs would not offer anything other than your current technique, but through programming in POCO this IS do-able. You could write a routine which keeps track of the current x-position on the screen, takes a keystroke (using the WaitInput function), loads a cel of same name, then increments the x-position. RETURN could drop the current pointer position (x,y) to the original x position picked, and the y increment could be set upon loading of the routine when x increment is set. A very do-able routine. Do you program. If you do, I'd be happy to help you get through this. If you don't, well… it's time to learn. 🙂 NAAUG is offering two courses in Animator Pro for it's members next semester after Autodesk University… one of which is "Programming in Animator Pro with POCO". You might want to get signed on as a NAAUG member (call the NAAUG center at 415-491-8480) and register after October for this course. Mark McGraw will be teaching the course… he's a current instructor for the ANI1 course on Animator Pro techniques. This isn't sell… it's a giveaway. POCO us extremely powerful, and NAAUG is making this neat opportunity to people who see the benefit in sharing their knowledge and experience with other users of the same products they use. Think about joining the North American Autodesk User Group… Think about upgrading yourself! 🙂 -dave
#124518From: thomas blomSep 19, 1994 12:30 PM
Thanks for the info. I have the ASL kit which includes POCO info, so your suggestion sounds like a good avenue to explore. I do program (in fact, I'm a programmer first…the artistic stuff is still in development!). Tell me more about NAAUG. Right now my partner and I are in the early stages of a new software startup, and I doubt we could afford to do any travelling for events other than industry tradeshows etc… I'll call the number you gave, but any more insight from you on the usefulness of this group would be great as well. -thomas
#124590From: NAAUGSep 19, 1994 7:31 PM
/* Tell me more about NAAUG. Right now my partner and I are in the early stages */ Well, without sounding like a poster child, the basic gist of the North American Autodesk User Group is that it's a group of about 3500 people who get together for an annual conference each year and network…. share ideas, experience, knowledge. The group started almost 5 yrs ago, and this past year many of their programs have broadened to last throughout the year and to reach the far corners of the earth over modem services like here. The telecourses (which include classes on 3DS and ANI this coming semester including programming and customization) are free to NAAUG members. The annual dues are $25. We also assist and support local user groups with resources and roadshows. NAAUG has a section here in the ASOFT forum… section 14. You're welcome to reach us at the NAAUG address 73204,3522 for any further questions. Hope this helps. -dave