Panoramic TV

Here is a vector piece that I drew today. I decided to add some animation and play around with some of the commands that Xara does support. This piece has a total of 14 frames and is just about 400 KB. The bitmap images that I use for the panoramic scenes is what increased the file size. The image is only 65 KB with all the vector work. I ran into some problems because Xara does not support feathering, group transparencies and some other features that I like to draw with. When you draw to animate, you need to think creatively. This piece is interactive, just click on the icons on the bottom to change the pictures. Anyways, here's the file, so what do you think?

Paul



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There's nothing else to think but very, very cool!

Thanks

James

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Originally Posted by ODdOnLifeItself

There's nothing else to think but very, very cool!

Thanks

James

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James said it all. Thanks Paul.

Wait a minute, are these Xara users posting? What about adding a widescreen TV button? I mean, you can't expect me to watch these beautiful scenes on just a little TV. Just click on the widescreen button on the upper left-hand side to view it in widescreen mode. I need some creative ideas if we're going to push the limits of this tool. If anyone is interested in learning how to do some of this, just let me know and I will help you out with some projects. I would like to see some of the other creative animators express themselves through Xara. Remember, the Xara is only limited by your imagination. So, let's have some fun.

Thank you for your interest,

Paul



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Nice addition Paul, but it seems I can only see the glacier-movie in widescreen...

Excellent work Paul.

Fantastic Paul, really cool graphics too.

I didn't notice this little cute thing before but made me smile.

WOW! Just in case you didn't hear me. WOW!

That's really cool.

I've never played about with any type of flash animation.
I've done some gif animation, with moderate success but nothing like what you're doing with your flashy stuff, Paul.

May I please stick my hand up and say, "Please sir. Can you teach me how you did that?"

I really would like to learn.

Yours in anticipation.
Rik.

Hi Rik,

Thank you for your interest. I appreciate everyone's comments, I enjoy working with graphic animation software. I worked with Macromedia flash years ago, so I understand the concept behind animating graphics. Unfortunately, Xara has very limited resources when it comes to using the flash portion of the software. Instead of just showing off my work, I would like to share how I do my work with some of the other artists here on TG. Hopefully, I will inspire some of the other graphic animators to share some of their techniques and get some really cool animated graphics here on the forum. Xara has some limitations, but with a little creative thinking, you can do some really cool stuff.

I have attached a working file that shows how to create a panoramic screen in Xara. It only uses two frames and is not too complicated. Note: You do need to have a working knowledge of how to use clipview and naming objects. If someone that is good with creating tutorials would like to rework this short tutorial, I would not be offended. Tutorials are not my strong suit. I look forward to seeing what some of you creative artist do with this tutorial. Please share your work to inspire others.

Thank you again for your interest,

Paul



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For a 'flash virgin' like me, I would say that there's a few steps missing!

I understand clipview and grouping objects but setting various properties BUT how to actually get the animation to work?
I haven't got a clue!

Rik, you are reading with the wrong glasses. Remember, Xara created the software so that you can think of it in the same terms as working with vector art. The frames are basically your layers. The animation works when you set something in one position on layer 1 and then change the position on layer 2. The glue that holds this all together is naming the object. in the tutorial that I propose, just forget that it's an animation. On layer 1, I created a named object and use clipview to display only what I wanted to see. On layer 2, I move that same object 500 pixels to the left and then applied clip you. that's it.

Now as far as the frames go, I double-click on frame one and entered in the value of 10 seconds for the time that I want to see that object move the 500 pixels. In frame two, I used to go to command and told it to go back to frame one. That's what created the loop.

Try looking at the piece again and just think of the frame gallery as layers. Thinking of that, do you have your frame gallery open? When I'm working on animations, I always have my frame gallery pinned open. This is the very reason that I don't do tutorials, I miss all the basic steps. Again, if someone would like to collaborate with me and do the tutorials, I would appreciate it greatly. It will save the users going through the tutorial much valuable hair.

Rik, let me know if this helps.

Hi Paul.

Reading what you wrote above, makes a bit of sense. Particularly when I started to remember things when years ago I had tried to play about with this.
I remembered that having created the difference between frame 1 and 2, is what makes things work.
The problem I had was that having looked at your file, I had obviously changed a few things and clicking on the 'Preview Flash Animation' button was not doing anything.

Now having read your explanation above, I will try and make something different, after I try and recreate what you have done.
Hope to get some success.
Or else, there will be more questions coming your way!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Psaumure

Wait a minute, are these Xara users posting? What about adding a widescreen TV button? I mean, you can't expect me to watch these beautiful scenes on just a little TV. Just click on the widescreen button on the upper left-hand side to view it in widescreen mode. I need some creative ideas if we're going to push the limits of this tool. If anyone is interested in learning how to do some of this, just let me know and I will help you out with some projects. I would like to see some of the other creative animators express themselves through Xara. Remember, the Xara is only limited by your imagination. So, let's have some fun.

Thank you for your interest,

Paul



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Guyke, the widescreen TV was just an afterthought. I only animated one of the screens "glaciers" for the widescreen. I will be creating up some tutorials that will show how this is done in the near future.

Paul, after several trys I finally see what you are driving at. Could this be the missing link I need for the kaleidoscope I wonder. I don't know but I'll keep after it. Thanks for the information. Who knows maybe I'll be able to contribute something useful to this thread, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Wizard509, do you mean Kaleidoscope as in different shapes and colors that spin? If so, you may want to consider using the rotate commands like I used on the cool clock to rotate the hands. The command is: rotate-#name to rotate backwards or rotate+#name to rotate forward. this is the actual name that you name the object with. example: "rotate-#shape1" Attached is a sample of what I mean. This has three rotating layers. A color background and two shapes.

Let me know if this was helpful,

Paul

Wizard509, I did a search and found this thread with your group participation. I use the file provided by shape shifter and use the shape that he did of your tractor. I played around trying to create the effect similar to what you're looking for. If you like this one, I can give you some suggestions on how to create one.

Let me know what you think,

Paul



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That's pretty cool Paul. I guess the community project is not dead afterall. You have some things going on here that I really like.

Here is one I found from Tut_Animated_Kaleidoscope_GIMP_by_fence_post. Posted here without permission form the author. This is the kind of thing I have been trying to do using only Xara.


I hope I don't get in trouble for posting this.Attachment 83829

Ok, Here is my version of the kaleidoscope and it is all done in Xara. You do not need permission to post this one on the forum. This is actually done using only two frames. It is relatively simple if you know the secret.

Let me know what you think,

Paul



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Here is an overview of how I put this flash peace together. I give an over of how to annotate the screen and how to link the buttons to the proper frames. I have attached the working file so that you can see how it is all put together. In this demonstration, i have added an on and off button on the screen that works.

Enjoy and let me know what you think,

Paul



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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Psaumure

Ok, Here is my version of the kaleidoscope and it is all done in Xara. You do not need permission to post this one on the forum. This is actually done using only two frames. It is relatively simple if you know the secret.

Let me know what you think,

Paul



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Perfect Paul, Care to share the secret?

Yes, the secret is clipview. I went through the tutorial on their site and they are using a program that slices the image and put it inside a clipped triangle. The image is made up of the four triangles with the actual image sliding inwards. So I created a small triangle facing up, copied the thumbnail from the tutorial that had two instances of the original image. In frame one, I put the image over the triangle. In frame two, I slid the image up until the second image replace the first. I applied clip you to frame one and two. I cloned the clip view in frame one and in frame two and renamed the image. Then I rotated the triangle to fit on the site in both frame one and two. You can have preview at this point and see that half the kaleidoscope is already built. Again, I cloned the image on the bottom in frame one and two and flipped it vertically. Moved it to the upper position and renamed the image. Again with the side image, I cloned that one in both frame one and two and flipped them and slated to the left to complete the square. That's all it is, for clipped images sliding into the center.

Let me know if this makes sense to you,

Paul

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Thanks Paul. I had tried something similar but not the same, mine did not work at the time. I'ii try this again using your tips. Thank you.

Great work Paul!