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Death of Flash, Birth of Animation

11/15/11  |  Posted by Keri Svoboda  |  Posted in Digital Canvas - Apps & Accessories

Adobe just announced that they will no longer be releasing new flash programs in their Creative Suite. Some say that Apple's refusal to use Flash because of how much virtual memory it uses is what caused the kill. Instead, many people will be forced to unlearn flash and move into HTML5 (see FlashVsHTML here). This pushes a panic button for animators worldwide. But have no fear! Apple developers are coming up with new applications that will replace the old way to animate. The first application that seems incredibly useful is an application called DOINK! DoInk is the iPad program that is most like flash. It uses vectors to make images and users make frame by frame animations with use of onion skinning. The ability to make external images, bring them into DoInk, use the image as a background, and then bring in a separate animation gives a lot of versatility to the users. Made for both the computer and the iPad, DoInk is a useful application for future animators. This application also has the ability to move already animated objects and images across a scene either in a straight line or on a line that the user draws. DoInk is my recommendation for the Flash Famine coming into the future. The application costs $4.99, but it gets 5 out of 5 points for easy interface, creativity, and filling the animation gap that Adobe Flash is leaving behind. DoInk in iTunes - $4.99 Animation Desk Animation Desk has a Lite and HD version. Lite is free, but HD costs the user money. A quality of Animation Desk is that it also uses a vector program, like DoInk, but it doesn't appear so because the vectors (or lines) are programmed to be sketchy with textures. This gives the animation a hand-drawn feel and less like a cartoon. Users also have the option of opacity and different tools like a fan brush, pencil, and crayon. Other tools, like changing the speed of an animation, onion skin, large color selection, and storyboarding makes this animating program a number one for seeing the artistic hand. I have complaints about this application though. Although the novelty of the hand-drawn is nice, I have yet to see an effective animation that stemmed from Animation desk. None of the animations seem finished, and achieving a clean animation seems impossible. The interface is a little difficult to get use to at first. To use it, the user has to be shown how to use it first in order to understand the interface. This application gets a 4.99 stars out of 5, just like its price. Animation Desk in iTunes - $4.99

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