I just don't know...

[ghopkins]

Hi all,

I need to ask a really stupid sounding question.
Let me explain why. I just found this forum on
KoolMoves. I currently own a product called SWISH.
Until 5 minutes ago I had not heard of KoolMoves...
So here comes the question(s).

What is the difference between SWISH and KoolMoves?
Why is KoolMoves better? Can it export SWF files that
don't end up being imported into Flash 5 as all keyframes?

I look forward to you selling me on this KoolMoves.
If it's the same as SWISH, please let me know that too.

All the best,
Greg

[Bob Hartzell]

I'll answer one of your questions. In a swf, there is no distinction between a keyframe and a tween frame. There is just the concept of frame. Loss of morphing on import into Flash is due to how Flash handles its imports. It is not anything that KoolMoves or another Flash authoring tool can fix.

[johnie]

The tools are not very simular. Kool Moves and SWiSH have inherent design diffrences down to the core. The two tools were designed with very diferent uses in mind. Both are fine programs.

They really shouldn't be compared but if you really want to know the key differences here they are:

Biggest diferences between SWiSH and Kool Moves.

1. SWiSH is Almost entirely Timeline based. KoolMoves is A Frame/Timeline Hybrid with a deprciated Timeline known as a Score. Look at the diffrences in the interfaces and you will imediatly see the differences. There are 7 Data views in Kool Moves, including a Story Board view in which KM is one of the only tools to have this. Also KM has a different set of Drawing tools and methods of accessing those tools. The SWiSH program has a Brezier/Line tool while KM offers a set of Drawing tools that use a point/node and curve editing system. Some people prefer the Brezier tools where as other prefer the Point/Node tool. Kool Moves also offers more shape tools and a bone system. When SWiSH 2 came out I imported some work I did in KM with the SWiSH SWF import and the shapes were unmanigable, at the point and curve level in SWiSH but was not in Kool Moves. SWiSH was not really desigened to make character animations where as KM was designed with this intention.

2. SWiSH 2.0 , at least the last time I looked at it, didn't offer a Shape morph tool. In otherwords you can not morph shapes with SWiSH. Animation in KM is based on morphing shapes.

3. SWiSH does not offer, at least the last time I looked at it, Dynamic text and Action Scripting. Kool Moves 2.8X does not offer Internal Movie Clips (Sprites), you have to export clips as SWF and then import with the import SWF Object to create Sprites in KM at this time KM 3.0 will offer internal Movie Clips and is due out this month. KM offers a larger selection of vector file types to Import, but SWiSH seems to be a little more faithfull in importing the few files that it does offer, EG for WMF SWiSH 2 will import the Text and Shape info while as KM only will accept the Vector information. KM offers a larger selection of Raster import Selections. Direct Vector import of SWF files was intentionally left out of Kool Moves to respect property rights. SWFs can be imported using the Import as SWF Object tool. With this tool the SWF is imported into the Movie and some attributes can be altered but the individual work cannot.

4. SWiSH is mostly effects based. The effects are fairly easy to use but are hard to greatly modify. KM offers a limited amount of built in effects but they are 100% customizable as each and every element of the effects can be altered exactly how you want giving you a much higher degree of control. Also you can create your own text effects with Kool Moves and reuse them or even share them. Besides Flash, Kool Moves is the only tool that I know of that allows this.

5. KM offers SWF Export, Single Frame Export, and Entire Movie export as image sequence. With Kool Moves if you wanted to make an AVI movie or a GIF file you would have to export as an image sequence and then use another software package, such as QT or MS Media Producer, to make the AVI. SWiSH 2 offers an AVI and GIF export so that if you wanted to export as these formats you can. SWiSH however does not, to my knowldge, export as an image sequence nor does it allow you to select a single or group of frames to export as an images so you would have to break down the GIF or AVI into an image sequence with third party software if you wanted to create a MNG file or a QT MOV file which adds an extra step to the process.

6. The two companies also handle upgrades diferently. When you buy a liscense for Kool Moves you are entitled to Upgrades for a period of time which is included in the distributions Read-Me file. With SWiSH I know DJJ Holdings charged an Upgrade fee from 1.5X to 2.0 but yet the upgrade from 1.0 to 1.5 was free.

Well anyhow those are the biggest diffrences, which are pretty big. I'm sure others can point out more differences. Most of these diferences have seperate Pros and Cons to them. So to answer your question as to which would be better to use?

Well the answer is it depends on what you plan on using it for? If you plan on doing any scripting, Make forms with Dynamic text, or character animations then you probably want Kool Moves.


Both tools have a Demo, SWiSH 2 offers a 15 day fully functional trial but Kool Moves offers a non-time based, non-registratable, demo that is saved Disabled and Marks SWF Export with a large watermark. If this matters to you, SWiSH requires Activation where as Kool Moves requires downloading the private distribution (address Emailed to you after purchase) of the full app and then registering.

[bereft_m]

Well, Johnie said most of the things that was needed to be said. Since I wrote this out anyways, I will post it too..


I had Swish too for the longest period of time before I discovered Koolmoves. In that respect, Swish, is probably the luckiest tool out there. Not to take anything away from Swish or its ceators, but I have not seen any other tool that can do so less and is still so popular. I used it when it was on version 1.51 (or was it 1.50?). Then I discovered Koolmoves. I bought the upgrade of Swish 2.0 -- they did not send me my key; I did not bother to ask them again.

Personally, I feel that there is no comparison between Swish and Koolmoves. You can see a Swish comming from miles away -- most of the time it will start with a vortex effect and end with an exploding effect (or a combination of some other pre defined text effects). Sure you can change the angles and a few setings and all that, but that's all you can do. Now if you want to go beyond doing text effects and still keep it simple, then Koolmoves is probably your choice. Flash minus all its intricacies is what Koolmoves is. If you would like to use a backend database, well you can do it with Koolmoves. It has almost all of the action scripting capabilities of Flash. With 2.8 we got Array, Color,Date, Math, Key, Mouse, Sound, String objects and all its methods and properties. Of course Movie Clip with almost all its methods and properties is there too. With the comming version 3.0 due in a few weeks, there have been a few changes in Movie Clips made which will make it a lot better to use(from what I have heard and read on this forum). Yes, all the operators and actions are present too. If you would scroll this forum and read some of the posts, you would see some of the database examples people have done -- I might post the link too for you so you can see for yourself.

Koolmoves also has about 150 pre defined text effects, but it is a lot different than Swish. You can pretty much change anything in there -- or you an make your own. It has a vast library of clip arts that you can use in your movies.

If you plan to learn Flash eventually, then also Koolmoves brings you a lot closer to it than Swish. I hope it does not come out as bashing on Swish. They have done a good job, but Koolmoves is way ahead of Swish. I see Swish as an advanced Text Effect creating tool -- nothing more. I see Koolmoves as a bridge between the user and MM Flash.

You can download the version 2.80.3 on Koolmoves.com and see it for yourself.

[ghopkins]

I just want to say thank youto those that took the time to share their experience with me regarding SWISH and KoolMoves. That was a lot of great insight into both products (without being biased).

Thanks again. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Greg