Cool Moves Tweening?

Since Macromedia's editor was bought out by adobe I have been looking for another animator... This one seems fine as long as I use a different vector editor in addition to the animator... I have a few questions though...

The program seems to have limited it's self with it's tweening method... the question I have is... without layers how is it possible to have several things happening at once... In example... How would I have a rocket ship blast off in the background... while having two scientists in focus discussing "scientist" things with changing dialog balloons... Kool Moves seems to hold the scene until the tween has finished... So instead of talking during... they would talk after. (I know that seems awfully specific... but it is just an example).

I was interested to know what Kool Move users were doing... perhaps I just don't understand the interface.

Koolmoves does have layers. Select "Views, List of Shapes". Every shape and movie-clip is listed here. They are in order from front layer to the back layer. You'll notice to the right, in the same window, there are up and down arrows. Select a shape or movie-clip and use the down arrow. You just positioned your shape or movie-clip behind another.

You can also find this option in "Shapes, Change Depth", which also have shortcut keys. ;)

So don't think of scenes as layers. It's just another option to jump to scenes, if you wish.

My question is how to create a tween that doesn't pause the entire movie until the tween is finished. Also, those aren't the same kind of layers... those layers just control the placement and order of the graphics... In Macromeadia Flash you can create separate layers that had their own individual tweens. Think of them as separate scenes that overlay the others.

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Originally Posted by MyBestLaidPlans

My question is how to create a tween that doesn't pause the entire movie until the tween is finished.

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Sorry, I don't understand.

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Also, those aren't the same kind of layers... those layers just control the placement and order of the graphics... In Macromeadia Flash you can create separate layers that had their own individual tweens. Think of them as separate scenes that overlay the others.

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Then you should get the same effect using movie-clips. They work just like you described about layers. Although, you can have two scientist talking and a rocketship launch in the background without using any movie-clips.

If you have morphed shape(s) that are tweened over a long period for instance, put them inside a movie clip; then the tweening is independent of the main movie and other tweening.

It was decided very early on (1999) to make morphing automatic rather rather than the way Flash implements it (each morphed shape requires that tweening be set up). I understand that something is lost with that approach but I believe you can achieve what you want by using movie clips. You can think of movie clips as layers if you like.

Well... Thanx for the replys... I was afraid the isolated movie clip was the only way to do it... I'll play around with the demo for a while longer... But I don't think this program is for me.

This is the ONLY choice outside of Flash itself that offers so much. Flash 8 output, true actionscript support, great forum support and frequent upgrades. I've looked long and hard there just isn't anyting close. Most others use the same timeline interface as Flash but frankly I never liked it. Once you get used to the interface of KM the power is ALL there.

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But I don't think this program is for me

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What's the old saying...you can't please all the people all of the time? Odd...you will choose to spend 250+ extra dollars for a copy of what I also own and sits gathering dust since purchasing Koolmoves. You give far too much weight to the "layer" issue IMHO but as your money is yours to spend...Adobe awaits you ;)

Good luck with big red :thumbsup:

250 dollars? I thought flash 8 was 699 now.

Somehow...that makes it worse for him/her.

if(699>250){
mycomment=true;
}

Here is my answer to it all

http://www.diversioncentral.com/jokes/jokes06.html

Well with a great deal of over head I was able to control the tweening... I was only asking if there was an easier way then creating tons of movie clips... Not a big deal though for 49 dollars I was willing to live with it... The import vector graphics doesn't seem to work at all. When ever I import a PNG with transparency little black dots appear at random in the transparent background. When I export the movie it stops masking the PNG file and it's bounding rectangle is visible. If anyone knows of any fixes to these problems post back.

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Originally Posted by tmoore935

Here is my answer to it all

http://www.diversioncentral.com/jokes/jokes06.html

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Thank you...

You're using Alpha tranparency and not Index. Export your images (if your graphics app supports it) as "Index" and you will be fine.

As for clips...you seemed to treat them as second rate bananas in your post but in reality...the Movieclip is God...even in Flash itself. Like Flashpulse described...they hold the keys to the kingdom in any flash platform.

I want to add that Koolmoves was designed with animators in mind. The majority of their developers are in fact animators (as I understand it). From bones support to internal 3d rendering, you will find that although in certain areas Koolmoves is behind flash (AS2/3) in many more ways it is far above it at far less cost. Again...you must do what is best for you but don't let your inexperience with the program force your decision. Download the Flash demo and look for bones (which most animators need)...or any of the other niceties Koolmoves has it does not (like Flash 8 filtering supported right from the GUI let alone in scripting).

i looked on adrobes site and i found that adrobe flash 8 costs 699 us dollars thats like 1400 dollars here(adrobes flash 8 is a rip off)

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Download the Flash demo and look for bones (which most animators need)...or any of the other niceties Koolmoves has it does not (like Flash 8 filtering supported right from the GUI let alone in scripting).

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I would like to add that a new bone system is coming. Bob is hard at work, as always. ;)

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adrobes flash 8 is a rip off

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Well...this website is a testament to the power and popularity of Flash...the problem in the modern day is third party apps like Koolmoves appeal to the common man/woman by offering the common features that appeal to the common coder at an affordable price. Flash 8 does some amazing things...but a lot of it is geared toward a different market now. If you run out to spend 700 dollars you will have a program with advanced features that in reality only a few coders in the real world will actually use. I don't need Flash to use the cool new F8 filters since Koolmoves allows me but may need it to fully integrate with other applications from the Adobe suites (Coldfusion/Flash for RIA's, Flashcom, etc). You may in the end have a application with a feature set that simply never gets utilized by you. I've coded for nearly ten years and there are many features of Flash I have never needed but these unused (by me) features factored into the cost. It's why I will not upgrade to F8 from F7...it simply offers nothing to me as a user I cannot achieve (in the scope of my coding and target audience) now but these advanced features are what is driving the cost of entry for new users. You have to sit down and think...where do Iwant to go with it all and compare what you pay versus what you get divided by how much you will really use. When I got into the game...there were no third party apps that do what KM does...had there been I would have never been a big red customer. I simply could not have justified the cost with so many other options out there with what my minds eye wanted to achieve. Today...you have options and each programs have their benefits and downfalls but at a difference of $650 I know if I got into the game today what benefit would win the day for me ....the ease on my wallet ;)


Good luck :thumbsup:

Sorry about the late reply... I do want everyone to understand that the full flash suite is not an option... Those features you talk about that you never use... are probably filler... or code generators... Coders like me... and probably you don't really need such things... I have noticed from using the flash suite at school... it's all filler and about 40% of it is useful... Tweening is sweet in flash... but it's really my only complaint about kool moves is the tweening... So I don't really plan on paying... 6+ for a feature... I don't mind this program... I just question it's tweening method... and what use it actually is... Next free few dollars I have.. I'll pick this app... I wanted sprites (movies) and this app offers that and then some... Not to mention it's neat particle script... It makes awesome blood - vomit sprites... seriously try it... makes me laugh so hard...

PS.
I look into bones... Didn't know they were there. Also has anyone ever used inskscape or xara to import vector graphics... I'm having some trouble...