Graphics/animation programs?

B

Barry_Green

Moderator
Hi all,

Hey, I don't know if something like this even exists, but I thought I'd ask.

Is there any sort of graphics/animation program that would let a total non-artist like me be able to add some animated effects to my shows, like -- oh, like bugging-out cartoon eyeballs, or making a guy flick out a tongue like a frog, etc?

I can't draw. I couldn't draw water from a well. I couldn't draw blood if I cut you with a knife. I'm looking for some sort of program that would let me do Monty Python-style stuff -- like, I could pull a frame in and chop a dude's head in half with Photoshop and rotate it open (so he'd have a big gaping open mouth) but I'm looking for something that'd let me then have him flick out a frog tongue and eat a butterfly or something. So some pre-made cheesy clip-art-style effects, maybe in 3D so they could be re-sized, etc...

Anything like that exist at all? I know there's stuff like AlamDV or Particle Illusions for explosions and things, I'm just looking for more biological stuff -- big eyes, flicking tongues, oversized ears, that kind of stuff.

Thanks!
 
Re: Graphics/animation programs?

Nothing off the shelf can do what you ask for at the push of a button. I can only tell you how I'd approach these tasks.
1. You need a 3d program to create your mesh or model of eyeballs, or tongue, ears etc...
2. You need a compositing program to add your 3d biological object to your background plate.

But for your purposes where you want to distort and stretch and exaggerate some visual footage in an odd way, like making the eyes suddenly "pop" out and face smear around and distort, I remember a program called Kai's Super Goo which was a plugin inside Photoshop. It actually took a still image, you applied the changes to the face, and it rendered out an .avi that stretched and distorted people's faces simmilar to a cartoon or caricature. This might be what you're after but it wont give you the finesse of step 1 and 2 above. Not sure if it's still made but I know it was easy to play with for a total non-artist or beginner...

http://www.scansoft.com/supergoo/

Good Luck
 
Re: Graphics/animation programs?

Hey, thanks for taking the time to answer! I didn't think something like that existed, but I figured, hey, you gotta ask...

Goo looks like it might be handy, and according to that link it's only $20, so I might just go ahead and pick it up.

Thanks!
 
Re: Graphics/animation programs?

cool looks like a standalone program now.. fricken a... thaks frank Im gonna pick it up too.
 
Re: Graphics/animation programs?

..ive got kai's super goo. its not really a great 3d effect app, but if you spend some time on a project you can get acceptable wacky results. Ive never used it for anything serious (just havent had the need-desire yet) but somtimes i have fun just messing with a picture. id say for 20.00 its worth having even if just to play with for a while! you can make some pretty hilarious or interesting stuff.
 
Re: Graphics/animation programs?

Also, take a look at alamdv
www.fxhome.com
it's one of the best 3d progs for the notknowwhatyourdoing type of guy, with hundreds of effects that you can dl , made by other alamdv users. Also check out their cinema section, lots of DVX users :)
 
Re: Graphics/animation programs?

Okay, I just looked through the user-created plug-in list, and it looks like AlamDV is the bomb!
 
Re: Graphics/animation programs?

I use ScanSoft products at work for PDF creation and OCR functions, and they're crap. That alone would probably drive me away.
 
Re: Graphics/animation programs?

Barry - If I recall you edit with Vegas. I vaguely remember some compatibility issue between files rendered in AlamDV and Vegas. Could be wrong but you may want to check it out. Also, what about Maya to do what you want to do?
 
Re: Graphics/animation programs?

Hmmm, I may be wrong, but I don't think AlamDV is a 3D app. Perhaps some of the plugins can do simulated 3D effects. I'll have to look into that.
 
Re: Graphics/animation programs?

[quote author=24Peter link=board=MesPhotos;num=1075485492;start=0#9 date=02/05/04 at 16:39:08]Barry - If I recall you edit with Vegas. I vaguely remember some compatibility issue between files rendered in AlamDV and Vegas. Could be wrong but you may want to check it out. Also, what about Maya to do what you want to do?[/quote]

Whoa -- thanks for the heads-up! yes, I'm definitely a Vegas user, so I'll have to check in to compatibility issues.

Maya looks very interesting too. I'll have to check that out. Thanks!
 
Re: Graphics/animation programs?

Maya is by far the winner of 3D apps for me, having used it since it was only available on Irix boxes. However, I agree with Steve that Lightwave is your better bet. I find myself using LW much more than maya. (That and I don't want to switch to that dang 3 button mouse all the time).

Lightwave is extremely powerful, has an incredible radiosity rendering engine- (plus Fur/hair etc), particle effects are great, etc. It's very high on the bang-for-the-buck scale vs. maya. Maya is a high-end seat (shoot it even has it's own scripting language -MEL-), but in the right hands, LW can do just as well for MUCH lower on the dinero scale...
 
Re: Graphics/animation programs?

I still own 2 post-secondary schools, so I have an edu version of both Maya and Max...I'm pretty good in Max, but Maya is such a monster to learn... ::)
 
Re: Graphics/animation programs?

yeah it is. Which schools you own? I went to Full Sail down in Orlando awhile back.
 
Re: Graphics/animation programs?

I have been looking at the Gnomon DVD series...how legible is the screen capture on these...DVDs. As I know screencap is killer when running Maya and Camtasia at the same time...

Thanx Steve
 
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