Anime Studio
| Moho
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| Basic data
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| developer | from 1999: LostMarble from November 15, 2007: Smith Micro Software |
| Current version | 12.2 (November 2016) |
| operating system | Windows, Mac |
| category | Animation program |
| License | proprietary |
| German speaking | Yes |
| my-smithmicro.de | |
Moho (2016 Anime Studio ) is a vector-oriented , spline -based 2D - animation program , that of Smith Micro Software is developed and distributed. It is under a proprietary license. LostMarble's software was originally developed under the name Moho between 1999 and 2006 . It appears in the versions Anime Studio Debut and Anime Studio Pro.
One-scene animations can be created with Anime Studio . Additional software is required for multi-scene animations, for example video editing or sound software. The software supports Windows , Macintosh and all Linux operating systems.
Development history
The developer of the original Moho program was Michael "Mike" Clifton (* 1970 in California ), founder of the one-man company LostMarble. With the intention of "making animation accessible to everyone", he programmed the first version for the BeOS operating system in the languages C ++ and Lua within six months. The latter programming language is used for the tools and scripts.
At PCExpo 1999 in New York City , LostMarble Moho first presented to the public on June 22nd. Another presentation took place at the SIGGRAPH conference in Los Angeles from August 10th to 12th of the same year.
After BeOS did not spread as expected, Clifton first ported the software to Windows and Mac OS, and from 2003 to Linux. On September 7, 2006, he sold his rights to the company e Frontier , as he could no longer manage the development and marketing alone. However, he remained the only developer of the software; Sales and marketing were taken over by the new owners.
Since November 15, 2007, the program has been sold and developed by Smith Micro Software under the name Anime Studio . Smith Micro Software had also taken over the Manga Studio and Poser programs from e Frontier and renamed Moho so that the product names matched better.
The basic version of the software was named from then on with the addition "Debut".
Functions
Anime Studio can be used to create cartoon animations and export them to popular film and image formats . The program does not support pixel animations when editing . With the Bone technology (English bone = "bone") can be defined a kind of skeletal structure created in the program figures. When a part of the skeleton is moved, the surrounding bones and thus the linked graphics are automatically animated, which simplifies the modeling of realistic movement sequences. Frames are not created in each case individually, as the software, the individual frames between two by the user on the "Time Line" (English timeline = "timeline") predetermined points, so-called "key frames" (English keyframes = " key frames ") , calculated on its own, it so supports tweening . The timeline is divided into individual images. A keyframe is created on the corresponding track for every change in the animation. For example, there is a “Layer Translation” track that is marked when a layer is moved. The keyframes can be copied, moved and deleted within the timeline.
As relief work with Anime Studio, the "Actions" function exists (English actions = "Actions") , which is present in a separate window. There the user can save keyframes on the timeline as action. An action can later be selected and transferred to the current layer.
Modeling three-dimensional objects with Anime Studio is possible but difficult compared to programs that specialize in such tasks. Alternatively, three-dimensional objects can be created in programs such as Cinema 4D or Poser , exported to Anime Studio and used there. Poser files can also be opened directly and used in the anime scene if a Poser is installed. The restriction that only one sound file can be used in the project and played in the background makes it difficult to synchronize image and sound.
Layer
Layers are an important part of the program. They are the basics of drawing and animation. The animations of a layer are saved in the timeline. There are several types, all of which have different functions:
Vector layers are the main part of an animation; they can be used to create vector animations and vector drawings. Pixel animations and pixel drawings are not supported, but can be imported into an image layer . Such an image layer can incorporate image and video material. This material can be edited like a vector layer. However, group layers have no effect on the animation . They are used for the clarity of the layer list by offering the option of subordinating layers. When animations are made with a group layer, it affects all layers in the group layer and can thus save effort. By Bone-layer itself Bones can be a normal, the Bone Layer lay subordinate layer. Moving the bones affects the linked drawing. When using bones, the program calculates the individual frames ; As a result, realistic animations - for example of running characters - can be generated with this technology. Switch layers are layers with which speech and synchronization can be added to a figure: An audio file with sound or speech is loaded into the layer and the program calculates the movements of a shape according to the sound, for example of the mouth of a figure. With special programs that are compatible with Anime Studio, for example the free Papagayo, which also comes from LostMarble, the audio files can be divided into individual sounds, which are then saved in a separate file. This will make lip syncing easier. Particle layers are a special type of layer that can be used, for example, to animate explosions or rain. One or more figures are drawn as a separate vector layer and subordinated to a particle layer. Particle layers enable the representation of particles . The figures subordinate to the particle layer are displayed very frequently, and the behavior of the particle layer can be set. Particle layers can save labor, but add time to rendering . With the help of 3D layers , three-dimensional figures can be imported from other computer programs whose strength lies in 3D modeling. The OBJ format is supported . Anime Studio treats such a layer like a vector layer for the most part and can be edited like one. Note layers are useful when the user wants to leave comments or notes in the project that are not visible in the finished rendered sequence. Seen in this way, this layer initially has no visible use for the viewer of the finished project. However, it is possible to include a note layer when rendering. This means that text can be integrated as an alternative to the existing "Insert Text" function.
Tools
Tools ( "Tools") in the program can be customized by the user and supplemented. They offer drawing, coloring, camera, and layer activities. Most tools can be used with a keyboard shortcut . There are six groups of tools.
Basic functions for drawing and deforming figures are provided by Draw tools . Fill tools, on the other hand, are used to fill shapes with a “style” configured by the user. The user can define such a style in a separate program area; The color of the area, effects, line color and thickness can be set and saved as a style. Bone tools are required to work with bones and provide options for creating and modifying bones. Such tools can only be used in connection with bone layers. Layer tools provide ways to animate (for example, move, enlarge, or rotate) the entire contents of a layer . To control the camera - even in three-dimensional space - camera tools are required. Workspace tools, on the other hand, offer the same capabilities as camera tools, but affect the display that the user sees; not the camera that offers a view of the animated.
There are also so-called scripts . They provide certain processes; they make it possible, for example, to incorporate additional objects or effects. They were also developed in Lua and can be extended by the user.
Effects
Closed figures (figures with no gaps in the border) can be provided with effects. There are seven such effects, of which a maximum of two can be selected for a character at the same time. All effects are configurable, which means that certain options are available and change the appearance of the effects.
The shaded effect appears as the first element in a list in which styles are listed. It shades a figure and can be used, for example, to create the effect of a sphere. The soft edge effect is used to smear the colors within a figure up to the edges . With the help of the splotchy effect , unevenness can be brought into the coloring of the figure: randomly generated patterns, the scaling of which is set by the user; A comparable result is provided by the spots effect , which creates dots and lines as patterns within a figure. The length, width and alignment of the points can be set. With the halo effect , a kind of ring, the color of which can be adjusted, can be created within the figure and blurred with the surface. The gradient effect is used to create a transition between two colors within a figure, whereby the color transition can alternatively run from the center of the figure to the edge. Images can be incorporated into a figure using the image texture effect . They either adapt to the shape or are only partially displayed in the shape.
Example of the shaded effect
Example of the soft edge effect based on the flame of a candle (right) and the sun (left)
Example of the splotchy effect
Example of the spots effect
Example of the halo effect
Example of the gradient effect
Example of the image texture effect
Input and output formats
Several import formats are available for further processing external data within Anime Studio. In addition to its own file formats (.MOHO or later .ANME), from which individual layers can be imported, it is also possible to import still images in JPG, BMP and PNG format. AVI and Quicktime can also be imported into an image layer. To insert sound, WAV and AIFF files can be imported or, for example for lip synchronization, into a switch layer. 3D files can be imported if they are in OBJ format. Poser files can also be imported and edited in Anime Studio if Poser is present on the system.
System requirements
Regardless of the operating system , a computer should have at least an Intel processor with 500 MHz or more, at least 256 megabytes of RAM , 50 megabytes of free hard disk space , a CD-ROM drive and a 16-bit color screen with 1024 by 768 pixels, so that Anime Studio is executable. For the operation of Anime Studio on Windows is Windows 98 Second Edition , Windows ME , Windows 2000 , at least with Service Pack 2, Windows XP or Windows Vista is required. Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later is required on Mac to use Anime Studio. In addition, Anime Studio runs on all Linux versions.
reception
Moho / Anime Studio received praise for Flash support, the bone, lip sync and particle system. The user interface , which does not conform to Windows standards , has often been criticized negatively . Animations can be made quickly thanks to vector support. c't said in issue 22/2007: “The large version should also be attractive for animation professionals, not least because of the expandability with Lua scripts. A negative factor is that neither of the two versions is accompanied by a printed manual. ” Kelly L. Murdock presented Anime Studio in 2008 on gamedev.net and came to the conclusion that Anime Studio is an easy-to-use animation program that does animation at a professional level could be generated. Features like Bones and Particles make it a unique program, but it lacks the functionality of more professional software. Nevertheless, the software is well suited for smaller projects and as an entry point for hobby animators.
Distribution and sales
From 1999 to 2006, the then English-speaking Moho was only sold by LostMarble on its own website; further online sales channels were added later. On September 7, 2006, e frontier took over sales and brought the product to the shops. The renamed Anime Studio has been part of Smith Micro Software since November 15, 2007 and has been sold online and in stores since October 13, 2009 in addition to English , French and German . The debut version costs 49.99 euros, the pro version 199.99 euros.
Public use
Anime Studio was used for advertising and TV productions, for example for a spot for a Spanish Picasso exhibition or for advertising films on Belgian television.
Other commercials produced with Anime Studio are the Ibiza spot by Squeaky Pictures , “Traffic commercial for Madrid , Spain” by EMP SL and “ Prospan Commercial”, also by Squeaky Pictures. MADtv should be mentioned as a television production with Anime Studio . Nevertheless, the software is mainly used by hobby users. To competition -products include the products of Toon Boom such as Toon Boom Studio , the television productions has been used for many, or Toon Boom Animate . Also Poser is one of the competitors, though it only works in three dimensions.
Versions
history
Moho
The first version of Moho was released in July 1999 for BeOS from operating system version 4.5. The Version 2.1 introduced the shading one of objects. Mac OS is supported by Moho from version 2.2. Two versions later, 2.6, Mac OS X was also supported. Linux support was added on January 23, 2003. In 3.0 useful functions that are quite common today have been added. For example, camera control has been available since this version, and colors and shadows can also be animated. Version 3.1 has been equipped with tablet PC support. In the following versions, 3.2 and 3.5, two frequently used tools were added. Big innovations came with version 4.0 on November 24th, 2002: A new tool, sound support, batch rendering and objects could be named. February 25, 2003 was the release date for version 4.1, with which lip-sync and some tools were introduced. Version 5.0 was released on October 19, 2004. A new major version, 5.1, was released on March 23, 2005. From this version Moho could also be operated via the command line. The next major version was 5.2 and was released on June 24, 2005. Some tools were added or revised; the timeline received four new channels and the maximum image size was set to 9000 by 9000 pixels. December 5th of the same year was the release date for 5.3. With 5.3 a new rendering engine was introduced, which improved both the rendering speed and the quality of the result. Three tools were also given additional functions. 5.4 was released on June 12, 2006 and made it possible to use MP3 files in Quicktime and SWF files.
Anime Studio
The next version was also called 5.4, but the software was renamed Anime Studio. Version 5.5 was released on October 11, 2006; On April 16, 2008, 5.6 was released. Small things like changing the order of the layers have been improved. The next version 6.0 was released on July 9th, 2009. It brought the possibility of synchronizing picture and sound on the timeline. Some draw tools have been revised and more sample projects have been included than in previous versions. Version 6.1 was released on September 23, 2009; Version 6.2 was released on March 9, 2010 and eliminated programming errors. Additional functions, including a mode for beginners and integrated sound recording, have been incorporated in the current version 7.0 (released on June 12).
Anime Studio Pro
Anime Studio Pro contains more functions than the debut version, and the version costs 150 euros more. Differences between Anime Studio Pro and the basic version include more sample projects than the normal version. A total of 22 3D examples, 24 2D examples, 33 2D props and 24 fully animated examples. More special effects and tools are also available. Scripts are not available in the basic version and the import and export functions are limited. There is no limit to the length of the movies that can be edited and exported. In the basic version, a film can have a maximum size of 900 × 900 pixels and a maximum of 3000 frames. In the Pro version, the size limit is 9000 × 9000 pixels, the number of frames is unlimited.
Demo versions
The duration of the demo version of Anime Studio is 30 days. It cannot export animation. The demo version of Moho, on the other hand, could be used with all functions without any time limit, with the restriction that a watermark appeared on an exported video or image, which could not be painted over.
literature
- Kelly L. Murdock: Anime Studio: The Official Guide . Cengage Course Technology, 2008, ISBN 978-1-59863-432-7 .
Web links
- Anime studio homepage
- My-SmithMicro.de/Anime - German anime studio site
- Moho homepage
Individual evidence
- ↑ Moho Pro 12.2 Update for Macintosh & Windows
- ↑ oceania.digitalmedianet.com. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on January 15, 2016 ; Retrieved September 8, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ zoominfo.com. (No longer available online.) Formerly in the original ; Retrieved November 11, 2009 . ( Page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ lostmarble.com, October 10, 1999. Archived from the original on December 6, 1999 ; Retrieved September 9, 2009 .
- ↑ a b “Anime Studio Pro gambles on GNU / Linux” , Linux.com Feature, Bruce Byfield, June 27, 2007, accessed July 24, 2009
- ↑ designtaxi.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009 .
- ↑ macanimationpro.digitalmedianet.com. Retrieved July 16, 2009 .
- ↑ Murdock 2008, page 6
- ↑ Smithmicro.com. Retrieved July 16, 2009 .
- ↑ software3d.de. Retrieved September 8, 2015 .
- ↑ Murdock 2008, pages 14-18
- ↑ Murdock 2008, pp. 83-85
- ↑ Murdock 2008, pages 343-356
- ↑ Murdock 2008, pages 357-363
- ↑ Murdock 2008, pp. 366-379
- ↑ Murdock 2008, pages 429-437
- ↑ Murdock 2008, pages 409-412
- ↑ Murdock 2008, pages 381-384
- ↑ Murdock 2008, pp. 109-114
- ^ Murdock 2008, pp. 93-105
- ↑ Murdock 2008, pages 152 f.
- ^ Murdock 2008, pp. 215-222
- ↑ Murdock 2008, pp. 66-72
- ↑ Murdock 2008, p. 27
- ↑ Murdock 2008, pages 463-468
- ↑ Murdock 2008, page 182 f.
- ↑ Murdock 2008, p. 183
- ↑ a b Murdock 2008, page 184 f.
- ↑ Murdock 2008, page 185 f.
- ↑ Murdock 2008, page 186 f.
- ↑ Murdock 2008, page 187
- ↑ a b c Moho User's Manual
- ↑ heise.de, accessed on July 16, 2009
- ↑ Murdock 2008, page 6 f.
- ↑ studica.com. Retrieved September 23, 2009 .
- ↑ Animation Software Review: Anime Studio Debut Animation Software. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on June 15, 2009 ; Retrieved November 26, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ techradar.com. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on November 25, 2009 ; Retrieved November 26, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ flashfilmmaker.com. Retrieved September 14, 2009 .
- ↑ flash.dtpnet.de. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on October 26, 2008 ; Retrieved September 14, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ studioartfx.com. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on April 9, 2009 ; Retrieved September 22, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ c't, edition 22/2007, p. 76
- ↑ GameDev.net - Product Review - Anime Studio Pro 5. (No longer available online.) Formerly original ; Retrieved November 20, 2009 . ( Page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Smith Micro Software Announces International Launch of Anime Studio Debut 6 and Anime Studio Pro 6. Accessed November 20, 2009 .
- ↑ Anime Studio 5 Review. In: GamingShogun. February 27, 2008, archived from the original on January 11, 2010 ; Retrieved November 26, 2009 .
- ↑ Murdock 2008, p. 10
- ↑ lostmarble.com. Retrieved October 26, 2009 .
- ↑ bebox.nu. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on October 20, 2007 ; Retrieved October 4, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ lostmarble.com from archive.org of 7 February 2003. Accessed 10 December 2009 .
- ↑ flash.dtpnet.de, “Report Moho 4.0”. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on October 26, 2008 ; Retrieved September 8, 2009 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ lostmarble.com. Retrieved September 8, 2009 .
- ↑ download.cnet.com. Retrieved September 24, 2009 .
- ↑ Anime Studio - Professional animation. In: Softguide.de. Archived from the original on May 30, 2009 ; Retrieved September 18, 2009 .
- ↑ Product comparison: Anime Studio 10. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on May 11, 2015 ; accessed on January 26, 2015 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Murdock 2008, p. 7
