Searching for keys of color & linewidth, camera-'object'

[dinf]

Hi everybody,

I'm searching for some things. Since I'm new to Moho, i probably don't see the elefant in front of me. Probably it's about new features, i don't know though i searched the forum.

First thing I'm looking for is the keys of colors and linewidth. I changed them and now I have to move the whole animation to the end of my mini-movie, but the colors won't follow up. if i change them, i have to search the exact key and to change every key since then

Another thing is the 'camera-object'. I did some complex cam animation wich i have to move to another file.. ah ok i think that will probably do a script from crashcore

A last thing: is there a way to morph from one object to another, if it's of the same numbers of points? i changed a shape in 2 different files, and now i'd like to import the 2. character into the 1. file to change it over a bunch of frames..

hope for your answers, thanksalot

[Rasheed]

A last thing: is there a way to morph from one object to another, if it's of the same numbers of points? i changed a shape in 2 different files, and now i'd like to import the 2. character into the 1. file to change it over a bunch of frames..

No, not directly, you'll just need a lot of elbow grease to do it manually. Use the second shape as a template in a separate vector layer, select any frame other than frame zero in the time line, and modify the first shape to match the second shape.

The reason why can't merge the second file in the first vector layer is that each file is imported in its own layer and is fixed there. The time line describes how the points, shapes etc. are modified over time. Each key controls the same points, curves and shapes wherever you put that key in the time line of a particular vector layer. So, unlike Flash, the placement of a key in the time line does not mean that a fresh set of points is created, but rather that the attributes of the existing points are fixed at that frame position in the time line.

And for complex "morphs" you may need one or more inbetweens for better control over the movement of the points. I guess this can't be automated fully (e.g. with a Lua script), because it needs human intervention.

[myles]

Hello dinf,

First thing I'm looking for is the keys of colors and linewidth. I changed them and now I have to move the whole animation to the end of my mini-movie, but the colors won't follow up. if i change them, i have to search the exact key and to change every key since then

Click the Settings button on the timeline and check that fill colour, line colour, and line keyframes are ticked. If the keyframes still aren't showing, you may need to scroll down to see further keyframe channels.



Regards, Myles.

[myles]

i changed a shape in 2 different files, and now i'd like to import the 2. character into the 1. file to change it over a bunch of frames..

Did you start with exactly the same shape (i.e. did you save the same file under two different names then make separate modifications)? If so, you might be able to use switch layer interpolation - although I haven't actually tried it with 2 separate files.

Otherwise, what Rasheed said.

Regards, Myles.

[dinf]

good morning!

first of all, thank you for your fast replies.

Use the second shape as a template in a separate vector layer, select any frame other than frame zero in the time line, and modify the first shape to match the second shape.

that'll do, thats a good workaround!

And for complex "morphs" you may need one or more inbetweens for better control over the movement of the points. I guess this can't be automated fully (e.g. with a Lua script), because it needs human intervention.

oh, thats no thing. i'm newbie to Moho, not to animation itself
and so they are many things one likes to have in the program to get a better workflow.. copying animations is only one of it, a more complex timeline another (mainly if you know such features from 3D applications..)

hey, i also tried crashcores Load/Save Layeranimation with that: saving the layer from file one, trying to load it over file two. they do have exactly the same names, number of points etc., but it does not work that way..


hi myles!

Hello dinf,

Click the Settings button on the timeline and check that fill colour, line colour, and line keyframes are ticked. If the keyframes still aren't showing, you may need to scroll down to see further keyframe channels.

err, what? oh no..! timeline settings were my first try..
okay, i think i tried only timeline settings in grouplayer mode, since there won't be any colors or line thickness *big shame on me* thank you for showing me the big, gray, massive elefant right in front of me

Did you start with exactly the same shape (i.e. did you save the same file under two different names then make separate modifications)? If so, you might be able to use switch layer interpolation - although I haven't actually tried it with 2 separate files.

wow, sounds great! yeah, i used exactly the same shapes but on different layers. that might work? i'll have a try!

[myles]

Ah, yes, I forgot to mention the timeline display is layer-sensitive.

Did you start with exactly the same shape (i.e. did you save the same file under two different names then make separate modifications)? If so, you might be able to use switch layer interpolation - although I haven't actually tried it with 2 separate files.

wow, sounds great! yeah, i used exactly the same shapes but on different layers. that might work? i'll have a try!

If you duplicated the layer using the Duplicate Layer button before dragging around the points in one of them, possibly yes.
Drag the layers into a Switch parent layer, turn on sub-layer interpolation for the Switch layer, add a few keyframes switching back and forth, and check that keyframes are set to Smooth rather than Step.

If you just re-drew the layers to look exactly the same, more probably no.

Regards, Myles.

[Rasheed]

I wished there were a merge layer in Moho, with which you could merge several (types of) layers to have a common time line. For layer transitions you can do this using group layers, but for image*, point and bone transitions you can't and therefore a kind of merge layer would be handy. The shapes would still be in their own layers, but you could control the shapes and bones much easier, as if they were on the same layer.

*Note: merged as a vectorized outline, easily to be warped using bones.

[dinf]

yeah rasheed, sounds like the "nul-objects" in 3D programs, wich can also do groups of animations..
i'd like to have a timeline wich is oriented to the used objekts, not to their attributs. so everyone could check an object and then you would see the keys of it.
in 3D applications i use you then can expand or close the objects to subfolders for example, wherein you could find the attributes - bound to them.. i think that would be a hard programming challange for lost marble


another question:
i made an character animation with bones, no i see i forgot one bone to whipe the hair (a looong elvislike 'quiff').
in sero-frame you can see the influence of both new bones, but when it comes to animation, no influence at all..
some ideas for that?