Anonymous
Forum Replies Created
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In reply to: Draw Tool Doesn’t Work
Alright, Mohamed!
Please download this zip file: https://animationpaper.com/files/diagnose_ap_opengl_x86.zip
After download, unpack the zip file. Then, double-click the file “diagnose.cmd” to run it. This produces an “ap_diag.txt” file that you must email back to me. (My email is the one you got your activation key from).
We do this to get information on what exact graphics hardware you have. You see, AP is not working properly on your hardware – but we can force AP to use another method for rendering the lines. So after I receive your email with the ap_diag.txt file, I will email a file back to you that you must place in your Animation Paper folder – then it will make AP change method and hopefully it will then work perfectly on your computer.
Best,
NielsIn reply to: Draw Tool Doesn’t Work
In reply to: Draw Tool Doesn’t Work
In reply to: Draw Tool Doesn’t Work
In reply to: First impressions
In reply to: First impressions
Hi Lucassaturn!
Thanks a lot for responding to my YouTube comment and for your time! And thank you for your critique and very nice words too! Much appreciated – all of it.
Much of what you stumble across in your video is representing only one way of doing stuff. Like zooming as you mention with Cmd+/-, adding blank drawings by standing on the dotted rectangle, etc, etc. A lot of things can be done in multiple ways in Animation Paper, so every user can find his/her preferred way, or the most effective way in that particular situation. For instance, jumping to certain zoom levels is on Cmd 1 through 9 and Cmd 0 is Fit View and just hitting 0 is Reset View (to 100%). I mention these keys because I was reminded of them when you talked about the number keys in Toon Boom. I don’t know if it is exactly the same there, but at least it is standard like this in many other drawing software. To add a new blank drawing, there’s an icon in the Tool Bar or the 2nd Speed Dial (hold Shift S) – it’s called Add Blank Drawing (the icon with the + sign) and the shortcut is Cmd Arrow Down. Anyway, I recommend you check out all the drop down menus, which gives you a good overview of what is in AP. Also there’s a shortcut list linked to from the Help menu. And remember you can use both the left Cmd and the right Cmd in order to better reach keys (on PC it’s Ctrl left and right).
To adjust pen size and opacity try holding D for the drawing tool or E for the erasing tool. Your selectors and sliders pop up right at your cursor. Also you can use standard PS shortcuts for many things, like decrease/increase pen size using the square brackets [ and ].
Anyway, I do understand and appreciate what you say about muscle memory. I agree. As you discovered, we haven’t yet done user remapping of the shortcuts. This will come. But really, the shortcuts are quite well thought out if I may say so my self 😉 Hehe. And again, we have many alternative ways of doing all sorts of things.
I think it is interesting, from an UX/UI point of view, why you would want the link for the clone drawings much more obvious/visible. I mean, we had it like that in the beginning of development, but I decided to dial it down. We also considered some kind of lines or something, from one thumbnail to the other, to show the linkage. However, at least in my mind, it is not really that important information. But what IS important is to keep the interface clean and not lighting up like a Christmas tree everywhere. It has to be uncluttered and pleasant – although, of course, important stuff must be easy to spot. So I ask, why is it important to have it scream this drawing is a copy (“clone”) of this drawing? If you flip back and forth over it in AP, you can easily see the linked drawings highlighting/blinking elsewhere. But maybe it is just me. I am genuinely interested in why more contrast is important? (maybe I missed something)
Backlight window could be more compact I know. I chose to do it this way to make it easer to grasp. Also I did the A and B setting, exactly because then you wouldn’t even have to have it open all the time as you suggest. You can set both A and B as you like it and then only need toggle backlight on/off or toggle between A and B setting. And we don’t clutter things up with yet another window or pane. Again, that’s at least as I see it. Please correct me if I’m wrong!
Anyway, thank you again! I hope you will keep using AP for a little while to get more used to it. I hope you will enjoy it!
Best,
NielsIn reply to: Enter Flipping Problem
… and here’s the update getting rid of that bug: https://animationpaper.com/2022/05/03/quick-update-alpha-6-1/
Thank you very much for reporting it 7thartist!
In reply to: Pressure sensitivity on Microsoft Surface
In reply to: Enter Flipping Problem
Thanks for you nice words and comments!
Yes, that’s a bug that unfortunately got introduced in Alpha 6. We are on it and plan to issue a quick update – because that thing is annoying! 😉
All future alpha and beta updates will be free. But when we reach the final, it will be $79 USD as a one time fee (no subscription). You will also be able to download a free trial that works fully for 14 days.
Manipulating raster layers (reference layers) are not decided yet. Our original plan was to only import raster into reference layers and then have the user refine those imported drawings on a normal layer on top. That’s why they are called reference layers. During animation you will normally redraw (refine) your drawings a few times anyway, right?
We do already have a clever stabilisation built in working at all times already. It is quite subtle though, but powerful. We are considering additional smoothing on top, but that’s undecided at the moment.
Perspective grids are on our todo list for future updates.
Best,
NielsIn reply to: Shapes and Straight lines
In reply to: Imported frames referenced from disk
Hi Clinton,
Thanks a lot for this suggestion. I really like it. We would then have to have some kind of automatic check and update within AP, if the files on the drive are updated from elsewhere. That would be great. I’ll take a note of this!
For now: If you make your input files smaller (like using jpg compressed format or reducing resolution) they will take up less memory and make your .ap file quicker to save/load.
Best,
NielsOK, thanks.
Can you explain in more detail what exactly you mean?
I just discovered a bug that makes AP not draw any lines until you release your stroke (lift up your pen) – then the line is drawn. Is that what happens to you?
Or is is just slow in general?
One general advice is to not work 4K. But work in 2K and then scale up to 4K when finished. This sounds awful I know, but because of AP’s line engine there will be no difference – except for the responsiveness for you. 😉 You see, AP re-renders all your lines in full 4K, which means no degradation or blurring of any kind.
Anyway, if you were able to work fine in 4K on earlier versions, there’s probably something giving you the current problems. Let me know more, if possible. Thank you!
Best,
NielsIn reply to: Shapes and Straight lines
In reply to: Textured Pen
In reply to: Input Activation code every time?
Hi Hendri,
I’m glad you ask! Because it is not supposed to do that. Normally you input your activation key the first time, and then AP just starts up, skipping that part completely, every time. Even when you get your next alpha or beta version it will know your activation key.
So why it asks you every time I am puzzled about. I’ll ask my programmer and get back to you.
Cheers,
Niels
