So I'm tempted to swing for the SM bundle of Manga Studio 4EX, Motion Artist and Poser 9. 

Problem is, I don't need Poser 9 since I have PP2012 and PP2014. I SOO wish I could swap Poser 9 for Anime Studio, since I had that several years back (I think it was version 3 or 4) but somehow lost it and my serial # along with it. Guess I never made a back-up, or if I did, have no clue where it went. That was too many hard drives ago. 

But anyway, is there anyone here that uses Manga Studio, and if so, do you think it would be worth the $50 bucks for that and Motion Artist? I have Adobe CS4 Design Premium (which consists of Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash and Acrobat Pro, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, and some other crap that I never use). I do love Photoshop however I'm not too great with Illustrator and sometimes just trying to do something simple in it can be so frustrating that whatever project I'm attempting in it gets put asside as frustration overcomes the inspiration. And then Flash is just another nightmare waiting to kill my muse. Eventually I'll take the time to learn them proper, but I have other more immediate projects to tackle first. so I'm wondering if Manga and Motion Artist would just be a waste of money for me or would they make my creative life easier than CS4 currently does? What are the advantages?

~Shane

I have Mangastudio EX5 and the Adobe CC Suite. For drawing, I ONLY use MangaStudio. It's wayyy more responsive for that kind of thing than Photosop is. Photoshop still works better for things like postwork and photo editing, but MS is by far and away better for drawing. 

I would advise 5 over 4, though. I know it's super-cheap right now, but 4 had some bugs, specifically where two monitors were concerned, and 5 has a lot of improvements in usability and interface, as well as the drawing engine and PAINTING. Since you won't need backward compatibility, you don't need the EX version unless you reaaaaaaaally wanna do multi-page comics. 

I don't profess to be an awesome artist, but both of these progressions were done in MangaStudio:

http://imgur.com/a/AJ6vN

http://imgur.com/a/15Wq7

Hey Hana - Thanks. 

I actually do want to do multi-page comics. Not sure how soon that's gonna happen tho. That and it's drawing features do look much more user friendly than Photoshop, at least in terms of things that are already set up for you.

It's likely that if I buy the program, I won't even be able to start learning/using it for a few months due to all the other Poser stuff I have to do first. I'm just looking at taking advantage of the cheap price now.

Is multi-page comics possible in 5? I'm seeing videos about 5 EX on youtube but SM's website doesn't even list it as an option, so I can't find a comparison chart between 5 and 5 EX features. Also, the comparison page they do offer seems to show 4 EX having more features than 5. So I'm a bit confused about that. Maybe 5 EX hasn't been released yet? Bottom of the page says Summer 2013 with the full and upgrade prices, but they don't offer a link to actually buy it. 

:(

~Shane

I love Manga Studio (it's how I got my job at SM).  I like both MS4EX and MS5EX with me leaning more to MS4EX mostly because I spent many years getting to know that interface and MS5 is a completely new one. You'll love the program.

I'm also more a fan of the way the layers worked in 4EX (though the layer effects in 5 are a welcome change). 

Quote - Is multi-page comics possible in 5? 

Yes. In the latest version of Manga Studio 5 EX only (old versions of 5EX didn't have the feature until the free update that fixed that).

5EX is released, but they were having problems with the parent company that does the Japanse version. 

Here is the comparison chart for versions 4-Debut through 5EX. If you're not planning to do 2-page spreads and you're compiling pages into a whole after, or releasing them online as individual pages, you won't really need 5EX. All the features of 4EX are in 5 except for mutiple page stuff, even the custom rulers (which blow Photoshop out of the water. A snap-to ruler of ANY SHAPE? Hells ya!), it just lacks backward compatibility and multi-page support. 5 (not EX) is even 64-bit. If you need the multi-page, 5EX is worth it, but otherwise, I would just go for 5. It's only $47 atm. Then again, the upgrade is only $30, so if you reallly wanted MotionArtist and had the $30 to spare, you could get the package with 4, then upgrade to 5. 

Teyon ninja'd me ^_~

My Kung-Fu is good. :)

Manga Studio is wonderful for drawing.  A diamond in the rough.

Oh, and I forgot to say, it works fantastically with my Intuous pro 5. Both versions (4EX and 5EX). Photoshop has a wierd bug where I have to use the tablet pen to open the program or the pressure sensitivity doesn't work, but I don't have that problem with MangaStudio. Another point in its favor. 

Arg - the page I was looking at has Manga 5 at $79.99 with no option for 5 EX. 

Why do they do that?!

Thanks for the proper link Hana. 

Ah, crap - it says that the digital versions of 5 and 5 EX have been discontinued so they only offer physical now. Means I'd have to wait on shipment. :( Probably a good thing for me tho, since that means I'm less likely to lose it like I did with anime studio and other software i've bought over the years.

Still debating...

Thanks for the clarification on the multi-page features. I don't see a need to do 2-page spreads. My goal is to turn a manuscript I've been writing (for 20 freakin years now?!?!!) into a serialized motion comic with (hopefully) print versions later on. And maybe in another 20 years I'll have the first issue done! :D

~Shane

Not a problem! If you do get it and you need to know how to do anything in it, you can drop me a sitemail. I'll be happy to help you out. ^_^

Same here. I made the videos on the site for it and did tech support for Manga Studio (still do it feels like), so feel free to holla at me. 

Thanks Teyon, and Hana, I will keep that in mind :)

~Shane

There is a fairly active Manga Studio forum at Runtime DNA.

Of which I am the absentee moderator. :)

Sorry for chiming in late.

I LOVE Manga Studio 4EX.

I haven't seen enough features to warrant myself upgrading to MS5EX. There is a workaround to create doublepage layouts but you need to go to a slightly smaller standard page size.

I use mine with a Cintiq, responds quite well.

The coloring is a little weak in features, but I usually export my inks into Open Canvas or Artrage (depending on the peice).

I use Poser10 as my wooden-doll and set up each panel in a poser scene adding perspective for the foreshortening effect. export the basic render into MS as a light blue and overdraw an ink layer.

I tend to use opacity layers to make my shadowing with blur added. 25%, 50% and 75% opacities (100% being my inking/full black layer) I like doing that instead of using tones.

The MS 3D layer is a bit twitchy to use with multiple figures in a scene, so thats why I just use poser to arrange my panel scene. If I was to do a scifi and wanted to use one of my starships I would consider using the 3D layer and import the obj since I'd import one ship at a time.

I only have the older discontinued Motion Artist, the new one looks like it has some cool features and is geared more towards animated comicbooks than its predecessor.