Attached Link: http://www.contentparadise.com/user/product.php?productid=12393

Someone just mentioned this app last week. But they said it was expensive. CP has an intro that is $29.95 I was wanting to try Flash myself. Anyone use this program? Is it easy to use? i have never done Flash before. I'm just concerned I'll buy it and not be able to figure it out right away. Anton www.byanton.com

Don't know that one - looks kind of neat. I have used this one and been pretty pleased with it. Swishmax http://www.swishzone.com/index.php?area=products&product=max Just an option...

Yep, I use Swish as well, but I have one of the older discontinued ones that I got for free on some cover disc. Very good. Anton, I haven't read all the specs, but what I use flash for mainly is for titling, so it must be able to output to video as well as flash. If it can't do that, rather look for something better.

Attached Link: http://www.swishzone.com/

Anton, from what I can see that program outputs only SWF (Flash files). If you want to use flash for titling or special effects in animations, that program won't do it. I would recommend Swish. More expensive than that, but cheaper than buying the "very hard to use" Macromedia Flash. Edit: It seems like the current versions of Swish can't export to video either. Odd.

Message edited on: 07/12/2005 02:58

I want to be able to make banners and such from still images or animations. I can do that though right?

Yes. But your animations must be individual frames I think, it doesn't import direct from video animations, but if it works the same as normal flash, you add your animations as s eries of images, usually JPG format. Not sure how this one works though.

Attached Link: http://poser.rois-sorciers.com

I used Flash Maker 2 to create my website, and some animations (but in french... if you want to see it, just drop a line here, and i will post the link.) It's really easy to use, and perhaps too easy...

Attached Link: http://www.debugmode.com/wink/

Anton, I have Swish and Macromedia Flash MX and they both give me crushing chest pains and numbness in my left side (OK they just don't "click" for me). For simple banners and such from stills why not just use Photoshop/ImageReady? The current version (CS2) exports to the Flash format very nicely, and I believe the last version did also. CS2 also comes with a few Flash templates. Youre very adapt at Photoshop so your learning curve will be the size of an ant hill. You also like to put together tutorials on Poser and postwork type stuff. The free program Wink (link) will put those together for you as a Flash presentation for your siteand you dont need to know a dam thing about Flash to use it. SWAMP

semidieu, That is a very nice website you designed and developed. cheerio lululee

Thanks !

I used Swish and have upgraded to SwishMax. I'd say give it a try, Anton. There was a 30-day trial period last time I looked. The big difference between Swish and Flash is that Swish can't do tweening.

Attached Link: https://flix.on2.com/flix/

I use a program called Flix, used to be put out by Wildform. Does and excellent job of pulling in avi's and reducing the size without taking away quality. Just did one 17 megs dropped to 305 kb. You can do banner avi's as well. Has a ton of different sizes and outputs the audio with the file. You can also choose to have it create the html for the file. I have 2.5 pro and am going to update to the newest version. One of the best I've found yet. Oh, also does flash with audio. Don't know if this is what you're looking for. I take the avi I create in poser and run it though this progam, works like a charm. Marque edited for spelling, neeeeeed coffee!!!

Message edited on: 07/12/2005 10:26

I also had swish, bought it when it first came out but liked this one much better. Marque

Attached Link: http://www.koolmoves.com/

I've been learning Flash lately. Tried Swishmax, found it was powerful but not really oriented toward animation. Also expensive! Ended up buying KoolMoves, which is more aligned with Poser's animation style. It even has some simple 'bones'. KM does keyframing (tweening) and can export an image sequence for video use.

Hi Everyone and Anton,

I hope I can address a few things about MotionArtist 2.0.

It is a very intuitive and easy program to use, yet it is also a powerful flash authoring tool.

Creating banners, websites and digital photo albums is easy with over 70 built-in templates.

To assist users in designing animations quickly, MotionArtist 2.0 includes 68 configurable effects. The timeline for these pre-made animation effects can be further modified with a few clicks.

The recording feature is one of a kind and can trace hand movement and turn it into a configurable effect.

Adding buttons, text, basic shapes, and mp3/wav sounds is also very simple.

It also has over 800 ready-to-use library objects.

MotionArtist 2.0 was also known as FlashMaker 2. The #1 Selling Flash Software in Japan.

At the special promotional price of $29.99 this is a good deal compared to SwishMax $99 and Flash MX $499 - $699 and a very steep learning curve.

Thanks,

Fahim Niaz
Product Manager MotionArtist 2.0
e frontier, Inc.

"At the special promotional price of $29.99 this is a good deal compared to SwishMax $99 and Flash MX $499 - $699 and a very steep learning curve." The price isn't really the issue at all, it's the functionality. By comparing it to SwishMax & Flash MX pricewise are you suggestion it's just as good as those? Got one more question, can we try before we buy? I'm looking for a flash authoring tool at the moment, but really don't want to buy it before I know what I'm getting myself into.....

Thanks Fahim and everyone else, Lots of inso to sort through and try. I think for the price, I will definately pick up Motion Artist/FlashMaker and maybe one of the others too. I'll probably start with Motion Artist. Thanks, Anton

Attached Link: http://www.e-frontier.com/go/motionartist

Hi Aeilkema,

You can definetely download the trial version for 15 days. Here's the product page for MotionArtist 2.0 on the
e frontier site, scroll down toward the middle and you'll see the "free trial" button:
http://www.e-frontier.com/go/motionartist

Download the trial and see if the functionality and features are a good fit for you. I am sure you'll like it.

Fahim Niaz
Product Manager MotionArtist 2.0
e frontier, Inc.

I would suggest the following functionality for a future version. I work with a lot of students working with basic video, and if you have ever used video titlers you will know how hard they are to use. So lately we have been using Vue and Poser to make video titles. But it would be nice and easy, for instance, to make the end credits in Flash, and export that to .avi or .mpeg. Flash is faster than video titling, and can do some effects that video titlers can't do. (Well, not the cheap ones we use anyway). Is it possible to add any type of video export capability to your program in the future?

HAHAHAHA... i just bought motion artist2.0 from Content Paradise and i can't use it, why? Because Content paradise haven't given me a serial number.... I have mailed them to find out when they would be so kind as to send me it....hmmm Updates to this soon.... i hope

Hi Shedofjoy, Sorry about that, it must have been a glitch, regardless we fixed it up and Customer Service will get you a serial asap. Fahim Niaz Product Manager MotionArtist 2.0 e frontier, Inc.

Thanx mangatanga. i will check my e-mail in the morning.

Hmmm it's lunch time on the next day and still i have had no contact on my missing Serial number, any ideas on how long this might take?

mangatanga, I've downloaded the trial and played with it this afternoon. Had a flash banner done in no time. This is excactly what I was looking for, very easy to use, yet powerful enough for me. I'll purchase soon!

Got my serial and gave it a quick run, and i am Impressed. making Flash animation in MotionArtist is very easy. I have only one question, How can you make your own Movie backgrounds????? as sofar i cannot find a way to do it and there is only a limited amount in the program.

AKprogrambookmark