#Windows based animation
5 messages in this thread
Hi John,
I am Pat Hiebert, TransGas Management Inc. (Natural Gas Software development
company). I just discovered this forum the other day and have already found
useful information and have helped others with their questions. This forum is
a great idea.
I have a question about Windows based animation tools. I currently do a lot of
video capture and animation creation for promotional material and training for
our software. I use AutoDesk's 3D studio for DOS (an old version) and am
wondering what is out there for high end animation tools for Windows. I don't
do a great deal of animation and do more screen capture and live video but
occasionally I need to create some high quality Flics. I generally convert
these flics to AVI's to keep things consistent with the live video. What tools
are out there that you know of to create quality animation, are easy to use and
support several different formats. Thanks.
Hi Patrick,
>>> I use AutoDesk's 3D studio for DOS (an old version) and am wondering what
is out there for high end animation tools for Windows.<<<
<PMJI> The only windows based animation software that I know of is True Space
from Caligari. I can't realy tell you how good it is since I don't use it. I do
all of my animation in Imagine ( DOS based ) but all of the folks I have talked
to that do use it seem to realy like it.
Regards,
Michael W. Towe
Falcon Video Productions
Santee Ca.
Hi Pat,
All of the 3D modeling and animation programs for IBM compatibles that I
have had the chance to play with are DOS based, both of them 🙂 I have
used Imagine for DOS and Crystal Topas. They are both quite capable
programs.
Coming RSN will be Lightwave, from NewTek, and it should be Windows/NT
based. As Don pointed out it should be out for a whole slew of platforms
and OSs too, therefore it may make good sense learning as it should be
similar in interface on all of the various platforms.
Another great tool for your arsenal, IMHO, would be a package that can
deal with a) converting between file formats, and b) processing streams of
images. WinImages:Morph/FX at $99 is an absolutely amazing package for
the price. So while Imagine, Topas, Lightwave, et al. may only save
images in xyz format, with a package like WinImages, you can convert xyz
to zyx quickly and effeciently.
One more tool for the "networked" DTV animator today is one of the 3D
model conversion tools like Syndesis' Interchange Plus. There are so many
pre-created models available on-line that with a package like Interchange,
wether the models are in wavefront, 3d-studio, lightwave, etc. formats you
can get them into the format that you can work with, again saving a lot of
time when opposed to creating the object yourself.
-John
Patrick, NewTek is releasing LightWave 3D for several platforms besides the
Amiga, in the next month or so. Talk about several different formats.. they
will be releasing LightWave 3D for Windows, Windows NT, SGI, and Alpha. All
will list for $995 each. Happy lens flares, Don James TCR
Patrick:
You might take a look at 3D Choreographer, from AniCom. This is a surprisingly
sophisticated product considering its low price (< $200), that lets you write
scripts that will take the 3D "actors" and turn them into Flics. You can
establish paths, have multiple actors, and have each actor do a wide range of
things (e.g., walk, talk, jump, drive a car, etc.)
AniCom can be reached at 800 949-4559. If you speak to any of the Freedmans
(the family that founded the company), tell them I told you about the program.
Hope this helps.