Characters to animate.

Here's another in that same style... a butterfly that makes me smile already.

Characters.

Just been playing in Flash and creating some characters to animate. I like the feel of these sketches not too clean and not too rough. Bright and colourful and quirky.

Bird nest.

InterActive Books

I've been working on developing some interactive educational books for Tumblebooks. Its been a great project and lots to work out. The key is always working out the way to show so much information in a simple clear and understandable way. Using standard symbols and expectations already brought on by the majority of internet sites is a good way to make users feel at home and give them confidence to explore further.

Dolphins is almost finished...

Sheep money

Before money we used to barter and trade our valuable assets and skills, pottery, cows and sheep.... Now you can do both. The sheep is valuable...

Thoughts on thinking and inspiration

Tips for Better Ideas from Andrew 'Big Show' Blodgett on Vimeo.

Really nice video about inspiration... when it doesn't come there are certain ticks to do and one is just to watch this. Makes me smile.

Photography ~ Flickr

Bark 01, originally uploaded by YouTheBiscuit.

I have at last created a Flickr account for my photographs. If you'd like to head on over there you can see my latest shots.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/youthebiscuit/

This was taken on a short walk in the woods, the bark of a big old white pine.

Never ever complain your too old !!!!

This is the most inspiring video I've seen in a long time. There is no message just joy and an incredible old lady... allegedly 90!!!!

What ever her age that is life living.

Apple Keyboard cleaning time....

OK this isn't really about my creations or discoveries animating and coding... but chores are chores and they've got to be done. I haven't iSkin for my keyboard and its suffered the consequence. I spent the whole morning taking apart and cleaning my keyboard and lucky to find this image so I could put the keys back together.

I was tempted to rearrange the keys and re-map them as the QWERTY layout was invented purely for the type writer so the mechanical arms wouldn't get stuck with fast users... As for an intuitive and easy layout its terrible. But I'm use to it and looking to sell my iMac for an upgrade.... if your interested?
Anyway its like new now and gleaming and a dream to use..

Happy cleaning!

Martin

Here's a little foot note for the Quicktime post... I found a great app called SoundConverter. Appropriate as this is what it does. BUT, what it does for me is convert PERFECTLY, with many choices, .swf to MP3 (and more).

Created by Steve Dekorte. The OSX version is free for files under 500K and only $14 for a license. Support small business and smart people. Thanks Steve.

Great bit of software creation. Get it here ~ http://dekorte.com/projects/shareware/SoundConverter

Flash CS4 and exporting to Quicktime

I know I'm not the first to have this issue... in fact I think its been around since CS3 but I've been having problems exporting Flash movie to Quicktime.

But lets take a step back because originally all I wanted was the sound files. I'm running CS4 on a Mac and I haven't got the original sound files. My first step was to go to the library and right clicking (CTRL Clicking) and using the 'edit with...' I then use a fantastic little app called Switch. It converts everything (Sound wise) to almost everything else and if you pay, to everything else. Its very simple clean app. for MAC and PC ~ http://www.nch.com.au/switch/index.html.

Anyway I digress.... the "edit with " approach only works if you have the original sound files... which I didnt. BUT wait, there's the obvious way, I hear you cry... just 'export movie' and choose WAV and there you go.... Oh no no, not if you have a MAC... its true!. It doesn't exist!! If someone can enlighten me to this incredible omission, I'm all ears.

So, next step export to Quicktime and then rip the sound out... actually I have the option just to export Quicktime sound, GREAT I thought. No said my mac... an error occurred. No number, no excuses, no info just an error! To cut a long story short here's what to do if you encounter many different versions of the same problem... and I'm still not guaranteeing success.

Instead of exporting to the last frame, use the time function.... divide your frame numbers by your frame rate to give seconds and then work out your minutes etc.... I have heard that it might be better to make it slightly longer that the actual movie as it can still hang. It fixed my errors and I used the exact time (Lucky me : ) ).

Using the “Quicktime Settings….” you can switch to Sorenson, with specific types of screen settings, this will help solve the hang/error.

Also if you have stop() action in the main timeline this might cause Quicktime to ... stop ! Playing with Quicktime’s compression settings can solve this. So make sure you don’t have a stop() action in your main time line that prevents the play head from getting there.

More fun and games with our beloved Flash soon....

Martin

Creative thinking for health.

Given the choice would you take the stairs or the escalator?

This is such a great idea. Confronting human beings innate lazy side with creativity and play. 66% MORE people chose the stairs.. this playful incentive really works.

Just finished a little Christmas animation fun ~ Rain Dear ~

Looks Like Rain Dear...

Sketched in Flash and a lot of homemade soundFX. Hope you all have a great Christmas.

Doing some pop up cards again this year and thought I'd share. All once piece hand cut... AND for sale...

Animation

Been really busy recently, updating clients sites, performing some shows and doing a lot of Flash Animation. I'm working for a great company that animates kids books with read along text, thus helping kids to read while be entertaining. The animation work is really enjoyable, animating other peoples illustrations... its all about rhythm... The company is called Tumblebooks and has already developed an iPhon app for the books and interactive books are in the pipeline for a less passive experience.

Here's a snap shot and click here to view it on line.

3D sketching

I saw this application aired a couple of months ago that allowed for 3 dimensional sketching or drawing. I think the app was developed by some guys in Toronto and it was/is truly amazing. I saw, I wanted it and I thought of what I could do... When they previewed the app it is represented very rationally, meaning the creations they developed were very architectural, very clean, and mostly quite boring... sorry guys, but with a tool like that you got to let rip. At last some one has. I know it should have been me, but I havent got the money or the contacts... YET.

Free lancing...

I read this article... once... and it talked of how the US sees and battles with the notion of freelancers... Are they self employed or business owners or what, WHAT WHAT ARE THEY...

I realise (AGAIN) that us freelancers are on the outskirts of society. Even though we are 25 million strong we are still seen as a 'Condition'.
Fascinating, as for me and all I know it is a choice. A choice taken because we know that society isnt really under control. Society and sanity is the illusion we and every one else creates so we can go on from day to day. Being a freelancer, self employed, someone who goes it a lone, a free thinker, a whatever is a choice taken when one realises that what we are living is LIFE, there is no second chance and time to realise what is important to ones self. We are here now and we dont want someone telling us what is what when we feel and know something else to be true. Someone else telling us what decision to make for someone, or worse some entity else. To give your life, time, energy, commitment ... I watched my father give his entire life to a company that, at the end of his working career gave him... literally, just a watch!!!! How ironic. They didnt care so gave him something to remind him of time.. his time that he gave to them for...?
Am I going to deep... I feel not. This is the root of FREElancing... choices, no constraints. There are so many rules and most unwritten on how to live your life, reinforced by the media and societies pressures, but the Buddhists have known far longer than our so called advanced first world society that when one is in the present and not in ones head (Fantasising about what if and maybe) that the most important things are present. Freelancing allows one to give entirely oneself, creatively and physically precisely because we are not OWNED by a company. Thus creativity, individualism, and leaps in thought and creativity are nurtured and opened to all that is possible.

Ownership is a huge issue on the internet these days, but as we try to hold on tighter to the things that we think we have ownership over the faster they slip away. If you are creative you will always be creative... it is not just one idea you'll have. Give and you will receive... I'm not a Bible lover I have to admit, in fact I dont believe in God (But thats another post) but this really rings true in my experience. I have seen so many people be protective over what they feel is there creation, where it has consumed them and their time... meanwhile the whole world and everyone with it has moved on and lived there lives and forgotten about who came up with it. You will always be rewarded for creativity, you just have to watch your expectations!

I know from experience that EVERYONE is creative. There are so many pressures and judgements that not every one feels that they are and of course the confident creative ones can be become very eloquent at protecting there space, their 'creativity' presenting it as magical, gifted and not possible by mere mortals...

All I'm saying is hold on less, let go more and never stop playing, creating and supporting.

Articles like this are great but also show how freelancers a perceived by the majority. The most important thing is to sit well with yourself and your choices. If you dont, do something about it other wise you might end up at the end of your life with a watch and a lot of bitterness.

I love freelancing and being a freelancer it suits my personality and my view of what life should be.... mine to decide what to do with.

Cheers,
Martin

Animation

Just been watching my wife rehearse and perform her German Wheel act and i got to thinking about the movement and animation. The wheel weighs 100lbs so there's a LOT of momentum there, yes she's really strong and technically brilliant.

I loved the movement, the flipping and rolling so slow then quick. So anyway the long and short is I sketched and animated it in Flash. Its just a short piece but has a really nice quality and keeps that feel even though its very un-realistic drawings...

Click here to see it in its rolling glory...

Graphic design print work...

I created a DVD cover for a superb performer whose web site i also designed a couple of years back... wow that went quick... We kept to the same feel as the site so all sends the same classy, quirky and professional feel.



Here's the original site if you haven't already checked it out. Click here.

Book her, she's fantastic!

Bloggers Block...

Havent blogged for a while... been very busy, travelling and working. But so many things have happened as well.

Been playing with a Flash clock, not very innovative but a lot of fun... here's version 6 - Flash Clock

Also lots of drawing and animation on its way. Check the TwitPics for latest doodles.

I'll be posting more soon as the mad summer is mellowing.

More twits on Twitter

Since signing on to twitter, even I have seen an exponential growth of users... The reason for me is simple.. its simple! Unlike Facebook there are no 3,000 extra apps knocking at our door before you can even get to your account. Its very immediate and the best is you dont actually have go through the web interface.
There are numerous little applications, many of them AIR apps (Flash and Flex based) that sit in the background (More often in the foreground) of your computer loading in the tweets.
I've been trying out a few. I started with Twitterific http://iconfactory.com/software/twitterrific. I'm still using it occasionally, it has a clean simple interface, but some times I find it too simple. When I get into twittering with my Twfreinds I like to organise a little, list them in @replies or list the direct messages I have and for this I do like Twhirl ~ http://www.twhirl.org/. This is an AIR app and I used to find it sluggish, but I think they have streamlined the CP usage so its a lot more responsive. Very customisable. Finally I came across Skimmer ~ http://www.fallon.com/. This is great it encompasses all your socials... again it can be sluggish as is the nature of AIR apps sometimes but its very clean and groovy. Hasn't got the functionality of the Twhirl but I really like it, its beautiful and like beautiful objects we forgive a lot.

Thats touching on the subject of why beautiful things work better.. they do, but that's for another time.