This is my comparison between the Toon Boom Studio and Flash MX animation software.
Toon Boom Studio is a 2D animation program produced by Toon Boom. The software allows users to create animations and animatics in a way that is very similar to traditional methods. Toon Boom Studio has many useful tools and features that are reasonably easy to learn, and the tutorials provided are very clear and helpful.
The interface is tidy and efficient, giving users the option to move almost all of the tool boxes around. The exposure sheet aids the animator in drawing each frame individually, and is great for working out the timing of the animation. There are many colours available in the colour palette, providing the animator with a wide selection to choose from when colouring their animation. Within the program there are dynamic cameras and effects, making scene planning much easier. Another great feature is the 'onion skin' tool, allowing you to view the previous few or the next few frames of the animation. This allows the animator to work out where the character should be drawn in each frame and enables them to keep the proportions of the character correct and to scale.
Some of the disadvantages of Toon Boom Studio would be the use of a graphics tablet with the software. Personally, I find that it does not respond well to the pressure of the pen, therefore the line thickness does not vary much.
Flash MX is also a piece of software that can be used for 2D animation, among other things. The program can be intimidating at first - as it is more technical in approach than Toon Boom Studio - but with a wide range of help sections and tutorials it becomes easier to learn. One of the features of Flash MX that differs from Toon Boom Studio is the use of 'tweening', where the software will fill in the drawings between the keyframes. This can be a useful tool, as it saves time for the animator, but also the animation can look less smooth and natural if it is not done well. This tool would take a lot of skill to master, but it is useful for keeping the object or character in the right proportions throughout the animation. Flash MX also has the 'onion skin' tool showing the previous, and next frames in the animation.
One of the disadvantages of Flash MX is the interface. It is rather cluttered, and uses up too much of the space that could be used for drawing. Some of the tool boxes that clutter the space can not be closed or resized, which I feel is inefficient.
I personally prefer using Toon Boom Studio for 2D animation, as I feel it allows for more creativity. I found Flash MX to be too technical in approach, and less artistic. Toon Boom Studio is the computerized form of traditional animation, as it adopts most of the same principles. Traditionally each frame would be hand drawn, without the aid of software such as Flash MX to fill it in for you. For a traditional animator, Toon Boom would be the easiest software to switch to, and for a programmer or 3D animator, Flash MX would be the easiest to switch to if trying out 2D animation.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment