anime studio debut 8 - my anime studio 8 review

[marZmat0]

Hi, I am new with anime studio debut 8. I understood that it is possible to create group layers with debut 8. However, I only found switch layers, which is not exactly what I am looking for.. Do you know if this feature is disabled in debut 8?

[CartoonLearning]

@marZmat0 Sorry, but group layers are only available in the Pro versions of the software; not Debut.

For the most part, you can simulate group layers by sticking everything in bone layers instead. That will keep it all "held together."

[desmirage]

@Cartoon Learning: Just so you know, Mac OS X - Lion is the most recent Apple operating system update. The previous operating system cat names were Leopard and Snow Leopard. Thanks for you reply. i'll look into it more. just thought you might know.

[CartoonLearning]

@desmirage Thanks. I guess it does ring a bell, now that you mention it. I'm not a Mac user at all, though.

[desmirage]

Quick question...is anime studio debut 8 compatible with Mac OS Lion?

Thanks for your time.

[CartoonLearning]

@desmirage I've never heard of Mac OS Lion. You may want to ask the manufacturers. I know it's compatible with Mac's. I'm not familiar with Lion.

[MultiWillPill]

@desmirage Well it´s compatible with Mach OS X Lion so yeah, I believe so. But I don´t know for sure...

[Savedbyblood777]

@Cartoonlearning

Hello I'm a somewhat long time anime studio user. on pro 6 right now but what I'm seeing. Couldn't this be accomplished by just adding a vector layer on top of the bottom arm piece and just hiding the lines? or does this work differently? Thinking of getting 7 or 8 at the moment. Thanks

[CartoonLearning]

@Savedbyblood777 Someone already asked this question. You could do it that way, but you'd have to hide an edge and then translate points for every frame so the visible edge didn't overlap where it shouldn't. If I remember to make a video, I will. It's easier to show you, but the short answer is that this saves you a ton of time and works way differently.

[Codz97]

Hello, I am a potential buyer of this program, and I am wanting to know. I have seen many of Anime Studio Debut 8's tutorials. I am curious. How would I be able to make the popular Japanese anime. I don't see it in many of the tutorials, only the one on the site. Do you happen to know whether it is possible to make these in Anime Studio Debut 8?

[CartoonLearning]

@Codz97 Short answer: Yes, it's possible. Realistic answer: It depends on what you want to do. The software can only do what it's capable of doing. Period. Look at the features & see if it can do what you want to do.

The reason you might not see it in the tutorials: People would rather make Family Guy cartoons than anime.

[obsidialord]

this looks fun!! i just bought this from best buy and im very excited!

[Wick3dFreakWhiskey]

I've heard so many people complain that the software's feature "Patch" was not working correctly. Further more, I'd like to ask if they perfected the sizing of layers. I've notice in the previous versions that when I entered in a png file and tried shrinking it or making it bigger, it would become all pixelated and blocky looking. Any pointers on how I can get rid of that?

[CartoonLearning]

@Wick3dFreakWhiskey I don't know anything about any patch issues. I've never encountered any issues in my own copy of the software.

If they perfected the sizing? They don't have an issue with sizing. Try sizing a vector layer and it can size perfectly. The reason you're having problems with your png layer (or a bitmap, jpeg, or other image files) is because they contain a limited amount of data. (see next response, too)

[CartoonLearning]

@Wick3dFreakWhiskey (see previous response, too)

You can't start with a small file and expect to blow it up clearly. If images worked that way there would be no need to build cameras with greater and greater megapixels. To fix your problem, start with png images that are clear to you when you view them taking up your entire screen. Import those and shrink them down to the size you need them, and your problem will go away.

I hope this helps,

Eric

[Wick3dFreakWhiskey]

@CartoonLearning Do you mean scale the png layer? If so, then that's the problem as of why it comes out looking all pixel-y.

[CartoonLearning]

@Wick3dFreakWhiskey Again, start with a HUGE png image. Then, scale it to size, and you won't have any issues. You can't scale small png's and expect them not to get pixelated.

[Wick3dFreakWhiskey]

@CartoonLearning OOH, OH. Now I get what you mean, thanks man! :D

[Sapov]

Mmm I dont see the difference between this patch and doing a vector layer with a filled circle, or directly hiding the line of the arm.

[CartoonLearning]

@Sapov There's actually a big difference. I like your idea of a vector layer of a filled circle, but it would only allow you to blend two layers that have rounded ends.  This works to remove the outline of only one layer while preserving the other layer's outline.

[MrHallajs]

@CartoonLearning how do i hide lines? and how do i weld my arms they wont stick together :/

[CartoonLearning]

@MrHallajs Use the hide edge tool. Why would you want to weld your arms together? That doesn't make any sense.

[MrHallajs]

@CartoonLearning well thank you for answering, my english isn't that good i ment that the arms i draw wont stick together after applying bones but i found out how i fixed that problem. :)

[Piemesan]

Would you say that this program is good beginers?

[CartoonLearning]

@Piemesan Yes, I think is a great program for beginners. The character wizard in Anime Studio 8 is great, and if you go with Anime Studio Pro 8, you can even have some actions in your characters, which will save you a lot of time learning some of the details of animation. Just remember that there will be a lot of work to learn how to make your own cartoons. People go to college for this stuff, so don't give up after a day if you get it.

[misplacedmoo]

thank you so much for teaching me that trick. I have been so overwhelmed trying to learn how to use this software :)

[prtarpley]

Helpful video. I just picked up Anime Studio Pro 8 and a Wacom tablet for good measure...I'm excited to watch the rest of your videos.

[sbtamu]

Have you ever used "Mandcon's" rig for this? If this mask(patch) will support textures It would solve that problem that Mandson's has. 

[CartoonLearning]

@sbtamu I don't use anybody's anything.

This will work with textures, but bear in mind that it doesn't blend the textures; it only hides the stroke. If you were to paint an upper arm with camouflage and a torso with camouflage, there would still be a noticeable line where the two come together.

[StevesCartoons]

Hi Eric does the patch tool work on debut ? and also will this work with imported Photo Shop pictures ???

[CartoonLearning]

@StevesCartoons No. It only comes with Anime Studio Pro. I'm glad you asked because I hadn't looked that up, yet. As far as Photoshop, it looks like both Pro and Debut can import layered PSD files. The note in the manual for Debut says, "Layered using Anime Studio script."

[StevesCartoons]

@CartoonLearning Thanks 

[Dorothywl]

thanks Eric, this is a great feature

Dorothy

[kjbill]

When will you be posting the "character wizard" review video? It sounds like we would be able to create a lot of original cool bodies and faces.

[CartoonLearning]

@kjbill I don't know if you could tell, but I lost my voice while I was trying to film this Anime Studio 8 review. As soon as my voice is feeling better I'll try to get it out there. It really is a cool feature, but there are some limitations that I think everyone should know about before they get too excited and buy it.

The character wizard isn't even my favorite feature of version 8, though. There's something else I'm really excited to show everyone.

[kjbill]

@CartoonLearning Thanks for the reply. I looked into it today and talked to some people and they are very disappointed with the whole Anime Studio 8 upgrade. I looks like the Character wizard is a joke and not complete and the rest of the new features don't justify the cost of the upgrade. Too bad, I was really looking froward to it. I guess Smith Micro has some work to do to make Anime Studio 8 upgrade worthy OR they are going to have to charge a more reasonable upgrade fee.

[CartoonLearning]

@kjbill I definitely wouldn't call the character wizard a joke, but they do need to add some features. With more options they will definitely have the best software on the market (I believe they do already). What would be awesome is if they would create the cartoon characters in 3D, but where they could look 2D. Imagine the head turns, up and down looks, and everything else you could do with that!

[CartoonLearning]

@kjbill I'm sure Smith Micro is reading this, so if you have any feedback or ideas for them, either post it here or on my website's review of Anime Studio 8:

cartoonlearning(dot)com/2011/0­6/anime-studio-8-reviews/

[Iullian64]

no way Eric a patch tool? iS this worth up grading?

[CartoonLearning]

@Iullian64 I take my animation stuff seriously, so for me it's worth upgrading, mostly because of the tracing feature that will vectorize any picture. It's sooooo cool!

[Iullian64]

@CartoonLearning Sound like i have too save my money then lol. Thanks Eric for the advise and tutorials. question on pro 7 though about the switch layers? Some times with my drawing of the eyes to make them blink in sub layers, i found out that by starting the animation at from frame 1 to frame 6 is a good way to show blinking. But if i wanted to key frame a open eye on frame 72, 73 to 79 it begins to slow the eye opening. but i figured out the action can do faster. Is this normal of ASP7?

[PeteGfilms]

Thats quite nice acualy

[CartoonLearning]

Yes. You can upgrade. Today or tomorrow (I think) is the last day they're running their huge upgrade sale, since Anime Studio 8 just got released on June 8th.

[LeonPryde]

Is there any way I can upgrade my old software to this one so I can get it cheaper?