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Flash animation help?

PostPosted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 3:19 pm
by Sparx00
Okay, so I would like to learn how to do Flash animation. (For example, flash cartoons like on newgrounds) Does anybody know where I can learn how to do something like that? Any tips and info are welcome.

PostPosted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 4:43 am
by Riggidig
Well, I worked with it for 5 years straight myself, but haven't touched it in 5 years :lol: I know Flash itself has to nice tutorials built into it, as well as some nice online tutorials. Give me a holler and I'll see if the old noggin' still remembers anything.

PostPosted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 8:43 am
by Cap'n Nick
I had to get up to speed for a web site last year and did a lot of digging for materials. The internet had a lot to offer, but most of it was seriously lacking in depth. It took a textbook or two to really give me what I was after. I found some good ones at the library, but your best bet is to head down to the bookstore and flip through a few to make sure you're getting what you really need.

PostPosted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:38 am
by Ante Bellum
Well, don't start out with huge expectations of grand epic animations. It really does take a bit to get into. I know the Super Flash Bros. have a few basic tutorials on their website. You might also want to find what you are most comfortable with, frame by frame or using symbols and tweening. Frame by frame takes longer and can be shaky, but if you get really good it makes some great animation. (When I get access to a computer I can link to an FbF I did a while back, my first one.) Symbols require making different shapes and tweening those (Letting the computer take care of a lot of the animation.). The effect is decent if you do it right. Then there's ActionScript. It's programming, not entirely necessary unless you want nice menus or special effects and whatnot.
I don't know of any place to get a lot of tutorials, I took a tech course in school and they covered Flash a bit. But finding some basic stuff to build your knowledge, then going off and playing with it on your own is how I'd go about doing it. Whatever you feel is the best way.

PostPosted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 7:39 pm
by SnoringFrog
Most of what I learned in the time I've spent with flash was either self-taught through experimentation (or from prior knowledge of Javascript, which is very similar to actionscript) or was something I got from a tutorial on DeviantArt. I'm not sure how great of tutorials you'll find over at DA, but I was almost always able to find something to cover what I needed (which, admittedly, was usually pretty basic stuff).

PostPosted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:01 pm
by Sparx00
Okay, what program(s) would you guys recommend?

PostPosted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:32 pm
by mechana2015
Well... Adobe Flash really is the thing for doing animation like on new grounds. Photoshop and Aftereffects can also be used but have different effects, and there may be some other proprietary programs such as ToonBoom that can be used as well.

PostPosted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 12:08 am
by Riggidig
I agree. Adobe Flash is my primary recommendation. Nothing else really comes close to it.

PostPosted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 3:49 am
by Ante Bellum
Flash. I tried using PS before and it's kind of a pain. And I couldn't even get AE to work. XD

PostPosted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 12:49 pm
by Scarecrow
Just don't try to create Rome in a day.... you'll burn yourself out and never touch flash again. :P