I need help with drawing and some other stuff.

[PhantomIre]

So, here's the skibby. I'm part of this "media-production group," and a few of us started looking into animation. Finally after days of googling countless search terms, i finally came across moho. Well I've had it now for about two weeks, and got everything pretty much figured out, at least the basics. I really love the program (little pricey though - why i'm still on the demo) BUT we are dissapointed with the drawing capabilities. I looked at some other forum topics dealing with drawing and they were sorta useful except that I don't know how to import any of my drawings. Well here's what I do: FILE > IMPORT > IMAGE > "somepic.jpg (or .bmp)"

but nothing happens. When I import a tracing image, however, at least something happens (pic in the background). I'm guessing I need to import .png files. Well how do I go about making a .png image? Yeah, someone please help me out with that. AIM Phantom Scars.


Next problem. hehe. Alright, so when I export animations to flash what ends up happening is the sound isn't playing in my flash player (or internet explorer for that matter). I'm guessing moho's flash export isn't exporting the sound file? Well... yeah, please help.

Well more about drawing. I would like to draw the profile of a man but when I draw the arm (on a different layer for bone-application, of course) the arm won't fill. I know that if I close off the outline to the arm THEN it will be ready for fill but that looks... not the way I want it. Yeah, the drawing's not quite up to par. Help please.

...I'm not mooching, I'm good at this. I can help you if you help me.

[gavi dvan]

Well more about drawing. I would like to draw the profile of a man but when I draw the arm (on a different layer for bone-application, of course) the arm won't fill. I know that if I close off the outline to the arm THEN it will be ready for fill but that looks... not the way I want it. Yeah, the drawing's not quite up to par. Help please.

You need to close the arm outline to fill, otherwise it's not considered a "shape". If you don't want to see that closing line though, you can use the "Hide Edge" tool button to make lines invisible.

I looked at some other forum topics dealing with drawing and they were sorta useful except that I don't know how to import any of my drawings. Well here's what I do: FILE > IMPORT > IMAGE > "somepic.jpg (or .bmp)"

but nothing happens. When I import a tracing image, however, at least something happens (pic in the background). I'm guessing I need to import .png files. Well how do I go about making a .png image? Yeah, someone please help me out with that. AIM Phantom Scars.

What you're doing sounds right, I don't know what's up with that. PNG images are typically a lot more useful since they support transparency but JPG's should import just the same. ??

I really love the program (little pricey though - why i'm still on the demo)

Toon Boom Studio: US $399.99.
Flash Professional 8: US $699.00.
Maya Complete 7: US $1,999.00.
Toon Boom Solo: US $2,999.99.
Maya Unlimited 7: US $6,999.00.
Moho: US $99.00.

[PhantomIre]

so if i do what i normally do the whole file.import.image thing, a pic should show up or what? cuz nothing happens. *sigh* And thanks for enlightening me to how friggin expensive everything is in the world. Any ideas on the flash sound files?

[PhantomIre]

yeah, thanks for pointing out hide-edge. Now i feel like an idiot. YIPEE. But seriously, thanks.

[gavi dvan]

Heh. You wouldn't believe how long I spent trying to find the hide-edge tool on my 2nd day of using Moho, even though I knew it existed. I seriously rested the mouse over ever single button about 5 times each. I think I should have slept in more that day.

As far as the flash sound issue, check out this thread:
http://www.lostmarble.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3164
Don't know too much about it personally, I've never tried it. From what I can gather, Moho doesn't support sound for Flash exports, and you may have to add sound either in Flash or in an external tool. There's a link to a program in the thread.

With the images, the method you're using should show the picture straight away. But since it's not, maybe try this way instead - In the layer window, click New Layer - A drop down box appears with "vector layer", "bone layer"..... "IMAGE layer". Try that and select your picture and see if it works this way.


And...admittedly, I'm still using the Moho demo. But Lost Marble WILL get my money one of these days. Moho is cheap as chips compared to anything in it's field. And that's a minimum order of chips. Not only that but they give you a near-fully functional demo with no goddamn TIME LIMITS until you can scrape up the cash. Amen.

[PhantomIre]

YAY! The image layer route definately worked. If I remember correctly all I need to do now is cut up the image into parts for animation. (Correct me if I'm wrong).

I actually needed to get three things figured out before I decided to purchase moho 1. hide-edge 2. import image and 3. flash audio. I'll work on that later since I gotta go to school now but DAMN , I was only on this forum for a few hours and all my problems have been troubleshot. Thanks a million.

[gavi dvan]

No worries, I'm glad it all worked. All the best in your Mohoing endeavours!