Layer, Switch and Bone features

[bahn]

If you could implement the ability to bend a layer and not teh drawign within, then one could build a switch layer with several types of arms all suited for different positions without having to fiddle with the control points.

As it is now, one cannot bend a layer and can only bend vector art inside a layer with bones applied inside.

Also, it would be rad cool to be able to hide layers to simplify models and pieces you dont want to be accesiible but still in a hiearchy of sorts.

Also, if you could creat a switch tool that allows you to click on the swittch himage in the displaye view and drag up or down or left or right to "swith" between cells that would be extremely helpfull..

Creating a tool the rotates, squashes and stretches and skews and even 4 point perspective, that would be of extreme aid. On shapes and layers.



I'm trying to make this an alternative for the studio I work at and i'm findign that these smalls things would slow down workflow and incapacitate us in creating extremely versatile animation. If these are all approachable with scripting then that will be looked into. Thugh if they have to be implemented software wise then let me know.


Also....more control on timing would be choicest. So that the ability to put all on 2 and maintain a classical feel would be an option.

Richard

dikudiku@gmail.com

[bupaje]

If you could implement the ability to bend a layer and not teh drawign within, then one could build a switch layer with several types of arms all suited for different positions without having to fiddle with the control points.

Hi Richard and welcome to the forums. I'm new myself and have found that a lot of what I've recommended is actually in Moho already.

As a noob I may make some mistakes so one of the veterans jump in if I screw up but .... switch layers work exactly like you suggest; you can put multiple positions in the switch 'folder' and only one will be show at a time. You can also have animations within these switch layers so you can do some pretty complex stuff.

As it is now, one cannot bend a layer and can only bend vector art inside a layer with bones applied inside.

You can use bones to bend images as well and you can also do stuff like cut out animation -where you could draw stuff like the arms, legs, head and so on seperately in your image program, or cutup an image you want to animate and then use layer or bone animation to move it around. In fact if you go to the contest forum you will see an antry by nobudget on his site called "Number 5 is Alive" that uses jibjab style photo animation -among other things.

http://www.nobudgetvideo.com/contest.html

Also, it would be rad cool to be able to hide layers to simplify models and pieces you dont want to be accesiible but still in a hiearchy of sorts.

This can be done already.

Also, if you could creat a switch tool that allows you to click on the swittch himage in the displaye view and drag up or down or left or right to "swith" between cells that would be extremely helpfull..

Not sure I understand what you are asking here but you can name your swich layers and then click on the keyframe and select which layer to run. The are also 'actions' which you should check out. Probably should do like I did and try the tutorials once completely through and then again slower as I missed a lot on the first pass.

Again many of the other things you suggest can be done in one form or another. There are also a couple of extra tools around on the lostmarble.com download page and in the 'scripting' forum where some of the brainier sorts of written new tools or extended old ones.

Anyway welcome aboard. Try out the tutorials and then post your efforts and you will find -like I have- that there are lots of cool people here; there are also lots with real experinece producing videos (follow the links from the gallery page and from the users signatures and you'll see what I mean).

Look forward to seeing your stuff. All the best.