animation programs [Archive]

Quickman

06-07-06, 00:07

GIMP, which is almost exactly like PaintShop Pro/Animation Shop in every way ('cept for interface), would be the best choice. It's free, it's legal, and it has pretty much every single option and such as PaintShop. Due to the interface, it's a bit clunky and awkward at first, but you'll get used to it.

PaintShop Pro, which comes with Animation Shop bundled in, is a nice program and isn't overly and insanely expensive as Photoshop is. If you're gonna pay for a program, would you rather pay around $60 for PaintShop or $500 for Photoshop? Animation Shop is a better program than Image Ready, too.

The newest verion of PaintShop is PaintShop Pro X, which kinda sucks actually. I use PaintShop Pro 9, which I obtained through, um... "unconventional methods." >>; So there are ways on getting full programs, I'm just not gonna tell ya how. Not out here in public anyway.

Anywho, I'm gonna go get today's paper 'fore it rains. GIMP is prolly the best free and legal program out there for GIF animation. I wrote up a tutorial on it to get ya started if you need it, too.

Don Kalypso

06-07-06, 00:24

I use GIMP in all my spriting projects, as for animations, it is good, but for me it really shines when it comes to comics.

kingofanime

06-07-06, 01:48

In my opinion Ulead gif animator is one of the best out there. you can get a free 15 day trial off of download.com, but like Quickman, I "unoficcially obtained" my copy as well. Seriously though, I recommend taking the trial, it's one of the most fu n you'll have with an animator. all my anims are created with it, including the Pimp Higsby gif in my sig.

AndromedaMan

06-07-06, 02:03

I don't understand anything in that GIMP

Griega Master

06-07-06, 02:24

Thats what time is for learn how to do it.

Hyoi_Pear

06-07-06, 04:10

May I ask why he was warned... Was his post edited?

Quickman

06-07-06, 04:21

Sig was flippin' huge and there isn't a seperate "Your sig is flippin' huge!" warning.

kingofanime

06-07-06, 04:29

Ah, ok that clears that up. Glad my sig just consists of one image.
Anywho, I haven't really had a chance to try GIMP myself, I may do so before too long...

BlueSonnet

06-07-06, 17:34

I think he want one that is free.

I could swear you can get a basic shareware that comes complete with animation shop. Guess not then.

Rakia

06-07-06, 18:15

I use Unfreez.

Griega Master

06-07-06, 20:36

Whats Unfreez is it better then GIMP?

AndromedaMan

06-07-06, 21:00

Why they don't stick this thread?
For the people don't stay asking.

Griega Master

06-07-06, 21:10

I'm tierd of people saying for we can do this for we can do that :g-laugh: !
Anyways I think they should stick this topic it will help people make better animated sprites!:g-winky:

Haukura

06-07-06, 21:20

I googled Gif animator light adition but I can't find it. I think you ar better off using a flash movie creator to animate stuff.

Quickman

07-07-06, 02:49

Oh, here:
http://www.megaman-community.com/18-fan-multimedia/1644-sprite-animation-image-editing-tutorial.html

Lotsa programs listed and places to find 'em along with quick guides on how to get started. Slapped together by yours truly.

.Bio

11-07-06, 23:26

Well I use Imageready which I think comes with Adobe PS.

Fuzion

11-07-06, 23:29

GIAM. It's a japanese animation program... but it works for me.

Forte

24-07-06, 04:02

Whats Unfreez is it better then GIMP?

UnFreez is easier than Gimp, thats for sure. You just make seperate GIF frames and save them as GIFs, then drag them into the program and set your speed. simple as that. I use UnFreez with Paint.NET to make them GIFs, then IrfanView to make them clear.

RyuReiatsu

07-08-06, 21:57

Hi, I got Adobe PS but I don't know how to make animations, so if anybody could explain how to, I would be thankful.

AZO

15-08-06, 15:34

go to download.com and type in gif animator, they have a whole list of good ones, i think i used ilead or ulead, something like that

Shinobi Otter

15-08-06, 18:35

ulead gif animator works well but its just a 15 day trial

Quickman

15-08-06, 18:54

Hi, I got Adobe PS but I don't know how to make animations, so if anybody could explain how to, I would be thankful.

Here:
http://www.megaman-community.com/18-fan-multimedia/1644-sprite-animation-image-editing-tutorial.html

There's a Photoshop Elements tutorial in there. It should work basically the same way.

Hood_Star

14-10-06, 07:02

I work to program Animagic

The Mighty Fish of Spring

28-10-06, 17:47

i dont have one cause my computer sucks

Alias-X

31-10-06, 08:57

Does anyone here has a link for Gimp? I really don't weant to spend 15 minutes trudging trough the net looking for it.

[fish in space]

31-10-06, 14:52

Here (http://www.gimp.org/) you go!

Zero James Magnion

31-10-06, 18:59

I found Adobe image ready, which does come with PS, to be easy to use. It is somewhat time consuming, but it's easy to make good animations that don't shake (you can zoom 16 times so you can get it right).

Hortelan

26-11-06, 19:40

One easy way to make gif animations, is to make them in Game Maker, then use Beneton Movie gif (which is made with GM, and its free) and open the file there. Then save it. I like that way

Heatnix.exe

15-02-07, 16:46

All I want is a simple animator that's sort'f goes a little like
"heatnix.exe1"->"heatnix.exe2"... e.t.c

Don Kalypso

15-02-07, 22:58

Heat, please clarify what you are looking for. And, I suggest getting GIMP and using it for your animations. ^_^

Dead Panda

16-02-07, 00:01

Does GIMP have viruses? I might get it...

Don Kalypso

16-02-07, 00:18

OmegaGuy, Windows gets viruses, not the programs on Windows. GIMP is free, easy to use, once you devote enough time to actually learn how to use it, and it's just about as powerful as Photoshop.

Dead Panda

16-02-07, 00:21

OmegaGuy, Windows gets viruses, not the programs on Windows. GIMP is free, easy to use, once you devote enough time to actually learn how to use it, and it's just about as powerful as Photoshop.

Okay, thanks.

turpinator

16-02-07, 00:22

I back-up Caly's statement fully. I use nothing but it and Paint for all my spriting. And once you get used to it it's very easy to use.

Don Kalypso

16-02-07, 00:24

Turp, here is a question. How much memory do you allow GIMP to use for the undo feature?

NetSaver.exe

16-02-07, 00:26

I have a question about GIMP, as well. How does the animation work?

turpinator

16-02-07, 00:30

I think mine is set to something like 500+, I'm very picky and like to redo things alot so I can get things just right.

Don Kalypso

16-02-07, 00:31

When you are done putting the frames together, just place them in the order that you wish them to appear. The first frame being on the bottom, and the last being on the top (it's how GIMP reads them for animations). Then go to Filters> Animations> Optimise for Gif.

Turp, really now? Now I feel bad, as I have it set to 1GB now.

turpinator

16-02-07, 00:34

Oops, my bad. It's alot less than that.

NetSaver.exe

16-02-07, 00:40

Now I can animate with GIMP.

JoeFNash

09-03-07, 01:37

use gimp. Thats what I always use!

Raiden

12-08-07, 14:31

I use Unfreeze

Xterra

12-08-07, 14:40

*cough*MacromediaFireworks8*cough*

That is...If you have a pirated copy and don't need to pay so much money.

Zero James Magnion

13-08-07, 05:24

*cough*MacromediaFireworks8*cough*

That is...If you have a pirated copy and don't need to pay so much money.

You mean like with PS CS3 as well, which most of my freinds have:D

DarkestFZ

07-10-07, 17:18

Uhh...sorry for asking this, but I use GIMP and followed the guide that Calypso wrote, but when I do without the layers between every image, it only shows the last one. If I use with the layers, then it leaves a blank spot in the end, like does the animation and then shows a blank image and then starts again. How am I able to get rid of the blank piece. I'd be grateful if you could answer

Hidden Fun Stuff

07-10-07, 22:37

You have to put the sprites in the animation on separate layers. Take, for example, Megaman.EXE slashing with a Sword. The first sprite must be on the first layer, the second on the second, and so on. Just putting on the entire sprite sheet will do nothing for you.

DarkestFZ

09-10-07, 17:29

Ok, that worked, thanks!

Thanatos-Zero

15-10-07, 13:05

I have a question. I want to make animations without background. So, how can I get the background erased, without that my sprites get erased? GIMP is somehow difficult.

Thanatos-Zero

17-10-07, 12:11

Hey! Is there no one who can give me a answer to my question?
Please I want to make GIF´s without background.

DarkestFZ

17-10-07, 12:47

Uhh...transparent background, perhaps?

Thanatos-Zero

17-10-07, 13:39

Yeah, that is not the problem by adding alphachannel, but the real problem is the remaining background. I want that background erased, without to erase the sprites on the background. Do you understand this?

Drei

17-10-07, 20:53

Get rid of it, if you mean like a sprited background, then just use white to erase it. Specify what you want, not just saying the same thing over and over.
*edit* Do you mean the layer named "background"?

Thanatos-Zero

18-10-07, 03:37

You say, I should use white to erase it. Hehehe..... I´ve tried, but I have never managed to get a transparent spritesheet not without to change the colors of the sprite.

Look at this:
http://www.gimptalk.com/forum/topic.php?t=7301&start=1
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/TheKoopaBros/other%20nintendo%20junk/metaknightcutout.jpg
This guy here has a spritesheet of Metaknight, which is transparent and this is what I exactly want, my fellow.

Drei

18-10-07, 20:37

Add an alpha channel. Then use the magic wand on the baackground color. Finally drag the background of the visible layer. Done.

Thanatos-Zero

19-10-07, 09:42

Finally! A advice which is really helpful. I owe you my thanks Drei. ^^
Now I can make the animation for Advent Axl. :)

carvool

17-02-08, 19:13

You could possibly try pivot stickfigure animator v3.0 beta, it's designed to animate special .stk files but it also accepts sprites.

Drei

17-02-08, 20:08

But the sprite feature is meant for small images, like a pop, for your stickmen to hold. For using it how most here would, it would take so much time to make an animation, it is essentially useless.

COTD_Flash_Artist

02-03-08, 14:03

Well, GIMP is overcomplicated(for me at least)
I just use Flash CS3, and there is way to get it without paying(i just wish i new that when i got it X.x)

But Here is a list:
SwishMax(I think thats what its called, pay)
Flash CS3(gifs/swf/avi/whatever, pay)
GIMP(dunno much abot this program)
And The Very Time Consuming, Photoshop(Gifs, pay)

Those are all i know but Flash CS3 is the easiest thing to use for making animations.

omega1237

02-03-08, 14:10

Or you can use Easy gif animator, Although it has 30 uses....

That remindes me I may need to re-download it.

Souljah001

02-03-08, 18:11

Does anyone know a good animation program for MAC?

Infinitiver.EXE

14-04-08, 13:44

If you want a program that's free, go to and type Ulead GIF Animator into the search box. Download the 5.5 version. But you have to have BitTorrent, uTorrent, BitComet or something simmilar to download it... And there's no trial - free forever.

Xterra

14-04-08, 13:51

I do not want to mini-mod, so please, no real mods warn me for this...but:

@Infinitiver: You probably don't know, but since the last post was on March 2nd, and your post was today, it's over a month late, and that's against the rules. You could get warned for that post, and I don't want that.

Please, do me a favor and delete that post as soon as possible.

Then I may delete mine as well. Just trying to help you out.

(EDIT)-Just noticed this thread is stickied...stupid me. Nevermind. Sorry.

bart1995

23-12-09, 12:05

I'm having some trouble with GIMP.16350
as you can see the previous frames stay behind, how do I get them to disappear when the next frame starts?
can you reply in a PM? I can't keep checking this thread for a reply.

turpinator

23-12-09, 15:07

First, we kinda have a rule on necroposting...

Anywho, second I figured that one out on my own. 'tis quite simple. When you save it as a gif, it'll ask for a whole lotta instructions. A few of those are bg saving instructions for the first set of 'em. You uncheck those. The next set (after the confirmation of it being either a merged gif, or an animated one) there will be a dropdown box for how the images in the animation are to be handled, set it to replace. (replace basically only lets one layer show per frame)

Hidden Fun Stuff

23-12-09, 17:35

First, Turp, Stickied thread.

Second, there's the answer, and what I PM'd to him.

bart1995

23-12-09, 17:39

First, Turp, Stickied thread.

Second, there's the answer, and what I PM'd to him.

problem solved!
16352

[fish in space]

23-12-09, 19:02

GraphicsGale is fantastic for animation. The full version is around $30 but there's a free version (though you can't save GIFs). I would recommend the full version, which is pretty cheap in comparison to photoshop or PROmotion.

turpinator

24-12-09, 10:30

First, Turp, Stickied thread.

Second, there's the answer, and what I PM'd to him.
Meh, it's not like I simply said you shouldn't post here. I actually helped him with his problem. So no harm, no foul, right?

brandonhill3

17-06-10, 04:58

Pivot is something i think all of you should look into so basic and easy and easy to go back and fix stuff, and it is very easy not for small images and when you load your sprite in you can make it bigger than your original pic.