I’m considering getting the express version before the special goes away today.
However, I find the limitation descriptions to be very sketchy. I’d appreciate if a few of the pros in there could help me out…
I get most of the limitations and believe I could work within them.
More precisely, what are:
* Cutout animation tools (No idea)
* Animated elements (what is that? Is this related to the “templates” ? Are these reusable animated clips like what can be found in flash?)
* Advanced lipsync (what is advanced lipsync? what is basic lipsync?)
I’m already well versed in flash and can use the copy from work. From what I’ve seen in the demo, I love the lipsynch features, the sweet palette management, and, of course, the camera.
Toonbook would be for personal projects, so I don’t have the money for the full blown version. I’m just wondering if the express is worth for me.
I usually do very simple shorts (a few minutes long) and rarely have the time to work in sophisticated animation. I hope to be able to cheat my way into having my stuff look more dynamic with a little camera work and save lots of time with lipsync and palettes.
A good example of what my stuff looks like can be found on JustAddZombies.com (this is very bare bones, I hope to do a little more on later projects).
Any info is appreciated!
–
Eric
Well, you might like to have a look at these links:
http://www.toonboom.com/pdf/product/tbs/TBSExpressfactsheet_V302_2006.pdf
http://www.toonboom.com/pdf/product/tbs/TBSV35_Factsheet.pdf
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0111614/Animation%20Lessons/cut-out.html
http://www.toonboom.com/products/eLearning/tutorials/
http://www.toonboom.com/products/toonBoomStudio/features.php
http://www.tallgrassradio.com/tgr0015.htm
http://2dcgi.com/forums/index.php?PHPSESSID=a99ffaca4de7020e101c5393af9a248b&topic=746.0
Cheers
Nolan
Wow! Thanks, Nolan, for this wealth of information!
From what I see and the way I work, it seems that I’d be more efficient with the full version (or with flash) than the express version.
I work mainly with cutouts and lipsynch.
Now I’m still not sure what I get with lipsynch in the express version… but I suppose that whatever it is, it must be a tad easier than doing it in flash. But if I don’t get the automated method, I’m not sure its worth changing tool.
I suppose that I could do cutout animation without using the special cutout tools… but I fear that without pegs, I’d end up being frustrated.
The most interesting aspect I’d get would be the 3d camera.
I’ll have to see how well I can import assets from flash - perhaps I could animate my cutout there and import the swf as templates to use when I want to build more elaborate scenes.
Hm. Feels like I should just budget to buy the full TBS studio version later 
After more careful scanning, it seems I do get the automated lipsync (just not the “advanced” one).
Anyone here uses express? I suppose I can do most of my cutout animation using cell swapping…
but I’m concerned that this would not fit with the more “traditional” way of animating - I don’t plan on doing “in betweens” - I’d just like my cells to be held for a number of frames (much like keyframes in flash).
Anyone can confirm that this can be done in express?
Thanks!
–
Eric
Got an answer from ToonBoom (thanks Karen and Ugo!)
Here’s the answer:
So, basically, I don’t get an advantage on animating cutouts or lipsynching. With the peg limit, I don’t expect to get animation when express 3.5 comes out either.
I expect that I would get a bit more productive with the toonboom tools and could export to flash as well.
With the current special at 50$ it could be worth it.
But my gut tells me I should wait until I can afford the full version.
Well, I worked with Express only a very short time back in 2005,
but having only 2 pegs available, it’s fairly unsuitable
to do “proper” Cut Out Style Animation.
Nonetheless I personally think it’s a great animation tool for kids, beginners,
hobbyist and professionals a like.
So, I upgraded to Studio very soon and never looked back.
Here is a little animation I recently completed with Studio in “Cut-Out-Style”:
http://www.toonboom.com/showcase/index.php?type=mov&id=brunoBrunette&Cartoon_Animations_III=&
I presume doing the same or similar animation in Express would be impossible.
If you like to work mainly with “cutouts” - Studio would be the way to go,
but that is only my personal opinion.
Cheers
Nolan