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| Alvin Owl: Bones Rig. |
In Part 1 I described how the video tutorials I purchased with Moho Pro 12 were in no particular order and made for a confusing mess. As well, most of the video tutorials are really for Anime Studio 11, which has all the same basic features minus whatever new features have been added.
Since Anime Studio Debut is the easiest version of the software to learn I decided to start there with the 15 video tutorials specifically related to that. Taking a close look at each title I gave each a number as part of the filename title, so they would appear, in their folder, in what I think is the correct viewing order and natural progression for learning the software.
If you purchased the software with the same video tutorials as I did, here's the viewing order of the Debut video tutorials that I think works (You're welcome).
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| Debut Video Tutorial Title Page |
- Debut - Beginners Mode.
- AS11_Debut_Getting_Started.
- Debut - Basic Project Settings.
- Debut - Basic Workspace Tools.
- Debut - Basic Drawing Tools.
- Debut - Basic Fill Tools.
- Debut - Basic Styles Palette.
- Debut - Basic Layer Tools.
- Debut - Basic Camera Tools.
- Debut - Basic Importing.
- Debut - Basic Image Tracing.
- Debut - Bone Rigging.
- Debut - Basic Timeline.
- Debut - Basic Exporting.
- Debut - Basic Step By Step.
Binge watching all but the final video should get you up and running with the basics in half a day. Most are fairly short and easy to power through.
The final video is over an hour long and takes you through an entire project. It's a good one to watch as it serves as a review of everything you've learned thus far.
Note that the first video talks about a 'beginners mode' which hides all the more advanced tools and features until you're comfortable with the basics. As near as I can tell this mode no longer exists in Moho Pro 12 (or perhaps is only present if you do actually purchase the debut version?).
Once you've watched these 15 video tutorials you'll have enough information to know how to set up a project, navigate your document, use all the drawing tools, import pre-loaded and custom content, trace your own art into vector lines, rig bones, use the camera, add audio, use the timeline and export everything as a completed video file.
Honestly I would've learnt this software years ago if someone had organised the video tutorials into a logical order like I have.
To see how well I retained all the information I decided to see if I could import one of my own character designs, trace it, add bones and then animate it. If you're a long time reader of this blog you may recognize Alvin the Owl, who I originally animated with Koolmoves and imported into GoAnimate.
In tracing the image I wasn't too concerned with getting an exact match, since this exercise was simply to test what I had learned. The image above shows the artwork I imported into Moho on the left and the fully rigged finished character on the right. Below them you can see all the key frames in the timeline of my 100 frame animation. To the right of that is all the layers that make up the animation.
All of this took me the best part of a day to draw and rig. See the finished animation below as a looping gif file.
Although you can simply trace your art and start adding bones there's more to it than that if you want more realistic movement.
You'll notice in the animation Alvin can raise his wings, revealing the sides of his torso. The wings themselves are on their own layer and are bound to their own bones.
Alvin's feet are also both on the same layer and each are bound to three bones. One to move his rear claw, one to move all of his front claws and one to move his leg. You'll also notice, when he stretches his leg, his body stretches with it.
Finally, notice that I added eye blinks through the implementation of a switch layer. A switch layer is a sequence of images where, at any given time, only one image is visible. You 'switch' the images to whatever one you want displayed.
Overall, I think it's not too bad an effort for only two days learning the software. If you stopped here and didn't learn any more of the software you'd still know enough to make some pretty good animations.
In part 3 we'll move on to the more advanced tutorials for Anime Studio Pro 11.
Once you've watched these 15 video tutorials you'll have enough information to know how to set up a project, navigate your document, use all the drawing tools, import pre-loaded and custom content, trace your own art into vector lines, rig bones, use the camera, add audio, use the timeline and export everything as a completed video file.
Honestly I would've learnt this software years ago if someone had organised the video tutorials into a logical order like I have.
To see how well I retained all the information I decided to see if I could import one of my own character designs, trace it, add bones and then animate it. If you're a long time reader of this blog you may recognize Alvin the Owl, who I originally animated with Koolmoves and imported into GoAnimate.
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| Alvin trace image on the left. Bone rigged character on the right. |
All of this took me the best part of a day to draw and rig. See the finished animation below as a looping gif file.
 |
| The finished, animated Alvin. |
Although you can simply trace your art and start adding bones there's more to it than that if you want more realistic movement.
You'll notice in the animation Alvin can raise his wings, revealing the sides of his torso. The wings themselves are on their own layer and are bound to their own bones.
Alvin's feet are also both on the same layer and each are bound to three bones. One to move his rear claw, one to move all of his front claws and one to move his leg. You'll also notice, when he stretches his leg, his body stretches with it.
Finally, notice that I added eye blinks through the implementation of a switch layer. A switch layer is a sequence of images where, at any given time, only one image is visible. You 'switch' the images to whatever one you want displayed.
Overall, I think it's not too bad an effort for only two days learning the software. If you stopped here and didn't learn any more of the software you'd still know enough to make some pretty good animations.
In part 3 we'll move on to the more advanced tutorials for Anime Studio Pro 11.
Hi! This is great. I'm waiting for my Moho Pro 12 to arrive to my post office and preparing myself for the actual use. Thank you so much for going through the trouble and organizing these tutorials. And your quick learning curve is encouraging! By the way, Alwin speaks very well!
ReplyDeleteThanks. The complete list of tutorials can be found in the final post of this learning Moho series. It's a great reference and will save you buying the tutorial video package since all the videos are available online. Good luck with your learning.
DeleteIssue with this site: The "subscribe to newsletter" box won't close if I click the
ReplyDeleteX, and it's covering the right side of the page. I'm not ready to subscribe
and don't want to just to make it go away.
omg that box is so annoying
DeleteI am aware of the issue with the pop-up subscribe box not closing when clicking on the X. I'm trying to sort it out but Mail chimp - who provide the code don't offer support to unpaid users, and I don't have enough subs yet to make upgrading to a paid account worth the money.
DeleteHonestly I find it annoying too but without the pop-up people just don't subscribe no matter how useful the content. Believe me, I've had an in page subscription box for more than ten years with barely any subs. As soon as I implemented a pop up, people started subscribing regularly.
i actually subscribed for you its the least i could do after you putting these tutorials in order :) i'd donate too but can't seem to find a donate button anywhere, you should sort that :P
DeleteThank you for subscribing. :-) I have thought about donate buttons but I really don't want to go that route as a creator... and my animation business is doing just fine supporting my financially. However you can support me just by sharing the content of mine you find most useful to you.
DeleteOr, if you want a more general post to share my Ultimate App and Resource List is bound to have something useful for most digital creators.
Not sure it's such a good idea to learn the Pro version from the Debut
ReplyDeleteversion, since you're going to miss out tools that are Pro-only,
such as the Rotate and Orbit workspace tools.
you sir are a godsend. thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!! i was struggling to find coherent tutorials
ReplyDeleteGlad I could help. The complete list of tutorials, in order, can be found by [ clicking here ].
Deleteyep got it bookmarked, going through them in order :)
Deletejust incase you're interested here's what i created after binge-watching all the tutorials yesterday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swryWEof2xY
:$
is my first time using the software only 1 day :P
DeleteExcellent progress after one day. I swear MOHO would be more widely used if the creators of that software had organised their tutorials the way I did. The reason I didn't use it for so long after buying it was precisely because the tutorials were all over the place.
Deleteyes exactly i was going mad!! i downloaded it and searched youtube and played around a few hours and pretty much gave up. i felt silly buying moho xD but i read somewhere it was better for beginners than toon boom etc.
Deletei can't remember how i came across your site i think i was (ironically) looking for something else. anyway convinced me to give it another go and not only am i learning now but having a blast doing so. im a visual learner so the pdf tutorials really dont do it for me :)
and as for your other reply i will do :) i'll leave a thank you a link in my description in my next yt upload
It's definitely better for beginners than ToonBoom (and more affordable too). Elsewhere in this blog I have written about my experience of learning ToonBoom Harmony.
DeleteThe PDF tutorials for MOHO didn't do it for me either, only it was something like two years after I initially bought the software that I committed to learning it properly.
Any sharing of my content is much appreciated. I'll look forward to your next upload :-)