Animating

animating objects

from Stardock Forums
I recently created my first DesktopX Object (link below)

Link

Now I would like to animate it. I have done all the work as far as Photoshop and Imageready. I have saved it in several formats (Gif, png, animated layers in both..) but I can't figure out how to save it in DesktopX as an animated object.

Some facts;
a. I have 57 files for the animation. (too much?)
b. It's not a simple 'resizing' animation. I have 'Fella' blinking and a couple other things.
c.I have read over the help section, and I am sure I am missing something. I don't understand the part about more complex animations, where it says you need to have the files 'side by side'.

Any help would be apreciated. I would be willeng to send you a copy of the gif file, so you could see what I am trying to do.

Thanks.
13,711 views 15 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I don't understand the part about more complex animations, where it says you need to have the files 'side by side'.


The images are assembled from left to right starting with the first in the series to create your animation strip. If you have 10 images 100 pixels wide and 10 pixels high then your final strip size would be 1000 x 10.
Thats about all I can help for.

I think DX uses .bmps for the animation but not sure.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i believe once you have it created - all you have to do is export it as an object, widget, or exe (pro version)

that was all i did - took my gif, extracted the frames, reassembled as a png, created an object, set states and what not, then exported - gives you a choice - i picked object - i just wanted a simple animated 'desktop folder'

haven't tried it since DTX got 'separated' into user/builder
i think you need to be in builder - then right click the object and export away - it will put it in you objects folder
Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
once you have your image created, you need to create a new object in DX, import the image, and then under the animation section of the properties, set the number of frames and the animation speed etc..................
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
think DX uses .bmps for the animation but not sure.


pngs
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top


once you have your image created, you need to create a new object in DX, import the image, and then under the animation section of the properties, set the number of frames and the animation speed etc


I have the 'image' created.
- took my gif, extracted the frames, reassembled as a png, created an object


I have the extracted frames from the gif in png format.

I understand how to create an object and exporting, etc. I am getting hung up on how to animate 'all the extracted frames' ...to use 'all' of them to make my object. I tried putting the png's next to each other in one png, but this doesn't seem to work. As far as I can see, you can only use 'one' png to make the object.

Sorry to be such a newbie. I feel like I am so close, just missing something or not quite getting one little thing here.

Any help would be welcome.

Thanks again. (Especially for your patience.)
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You have to have all the frames, 57 in your case, as one png. I dont think just putting them altogether will work, they need to be in what is called a panorama image. Do that in photoshop or infaview or similar program. Then take it to DX and make it an object. Under states/animation tab put in number of frames eg 57 and then the frames per ms, trial and error what looks best. Remember to have "loop" checked of otherwise animation will stop straight away. Occassionaly Ive found that although you may have 57 frames sometimes you may have to enter less,,eg 55 or 56,, or more, 58 59. Dont know why. Anyway I hope Ive helped a little, good luck.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You can use this to put them together in one long png. Link
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
When you put them together as one png it looks like a film strip. When you preview a gif, you see the animation. When you preview a png, it looks like the dragons shown below.


notice the frame count is set to 1. That's for static one pic png,bmp,ico,tga, or jpg. Setting it to 1 here shows you the full long picture.

Since I have 10 frames (10 dragons), I set the frame count to 10 which then shows the first frame.
Link

I have this one looped so it continually sits there walking. The speed (interval) is up to you - the lower the number the faster it moves.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
think DX uses .bmps for the animation but not sure.

Me say: pngs

oops, bmp or png = both work - - png supports tranparency, bmp uses magic pink for the transparency

The aniutil work real easy. run it, choose process images, can highlight all at once, then save as bmp or png - it will put the save item in the same folder as the originals.

crud, just realized I set a link instead of an image above - now it's too late to edit,,,, oh well, here it is:
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I really gotta work on the picture size, huh?
full screen too big most of the time & apparently 1/2 that is too small.
sorry
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks for all the help.
I'm going to try what you all have offered and I will let you know. Thanks again.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Citizen Noah99

You done yet?
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
Okay. It's after 11 here. I been working on it all day. You guys left out a lot of little details. But I figured out all the resizing and stuff. (whew). I just submitted 2 different sizes of it, so we will see if it makes the cut. Thanks again!
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well, amazingly it was approved. I gave thanks to all of you for your help. Hope that was okay. Let me know what you think of it.


Link