Although I already have all of the necessary programs for my project on my laptop, it is best to have backups in place in case something goes wrong with Adobe. This is why I am going to be doing some quick research into alternative software as a contingency. I am hoping to create a bank of the most crucial info and of course, have the names and links to the different software in case I never need them. That way, I can come back to this post and scroll through quickly to find what I need.
I would have started with Photoshop but since I have already finished all of my concept art and the bulk of my pre-production, I will be focusing on the final stage of the pipeline, which for me is all about the animation. I am aware that you can animate in PS as well, but I am still not confident enough in this and I prefer the layout and simplicity of Adobe Animate. Additionally, it gives me ease of mind that I am working in a program specifically designed for animation since there aren’t any unnecessary tools that I might get distracted by or accidentally click.
Adobe Animate
Multimedia authoring and computer animation program developed by Adobe Inc, Adobe Animate is one of the most popular pieces of 2D animation software. It is used for things like designing vector graphics and animation for television series (cartoons), online animation, websites, web applications, game development, commercials and other interactive projects. While it does require a subscription and the lack of brushes may be irritating to some, I find it very versatile and easy to use because the basics are taught as free tutorials on the program itself. Also, the layout isn’t as daunting as some other more complex programs. I discovered a list of free and paid alternatives specifically for Animate and I want to focus on the open-source ones so that it is easier to get them last minute instead of going through the process of setting up monthly payments.
⁖ – > > Krita < < – ⁖
The first one on the list is Krita, which is free to use and is apparently a great alternative. You are able to move the panels and dockers around to suit your workflow, which I like the sound of since having an intuitive interface means I can customize it for me and make it easier to use. These ‘dockers’ include things like Brush Presets or the Color Pallete and there are over 30 of them! Unlike Adobe Animate, there is also a far greater variety of brushes, with over 100 pre-loaded ones available to use for various effects. You can use three different types of brush stabilizers to make your creations look smoother and better and one of the nine brush engines to customize your brush actions, including the Smudge Engine and the Shape Engine.
There are also pencils, markers, dry brush presets, wet paint presets and even watercolour presets that partially simulate watercolour texture. Krita allows you to create your own if those aren’t to your liking and also import any brush and texture packs as well. Finally, several productivity features are available to help you get more done, including the Assistant Tool (which comes with nine drawing assistants), PDS support, full-colour management, python scripting, and training resources for those new to animation or the program. They are clearly accommodating to beginners and I can tell, based on their website and brand presentation, that they are a good-quality application.
⁖ – > > Other Free Animation Programs < < – ⁖
The above list is very simple, but I have looked into each of these through the website that I found for alternative software. I didn’t just add all of the free ones on here since some were for younger children for example, or some, such as OpenToonz, I have already tried and didn’t like. I read up on some of their basic features and looked at images of the interface to determine if I would like to use them. Another program that will be important to my project is Premiere Pro. Even if I don’t end up using it for splicing scenes together, editing pacing and transitions (which is highly unlikely), I will definitely need it for adding music, sound effects and other audio.
Adobe Premiere Pro
Like Animate, Adobe Premiere Pro was developed by Adobe Inc and is subscription-based, so I’m grateful to have it at a lower price since it really is a high-quality program. Officially, it is a timeline-based video editing software application and is used for things like editing videos, commercials and other films, television, and online videos. Something that I take advantage of, having the full package for the student price, is that it is available to use individually or as part of the Adobe Creative Cloud set of applications. I often use it in conjunction with After Effects and Photoshop on creative projects. Prem allows you to do all of the common video editing tasks necessary for producing broadcast-quality, high-definition videos such as importing/exporting, audio and graphics, titles, filters, minor animations, transitions and other effects. Once again, I found a website listing free and paid alternatives, out of which I will research one in detail and list other options as well.
⁖ – > > DaVinci Resolve 17 < < – ⁖
The publisher’s first choice is Davinci Resolve, which they describe as “free, incredibly powerful, and intuitive NLE (Non-Linear Editing System), originally developed by da Vinci Systems, and now developed by Blackmagic Design. More and more creators are switching over to Revolve lately due to its availability and reliability and the fact that it is by far one of the top three choices for professional colour graders. Prior to 2015, it was primarily known for being a colour correction and grading platform, which changed come 2016 when Blackmagic put a primary focus on Resolve’s edit page, making it more fluid and responsive with numerous new editing features that could look to rival Premiere Pro.
Blackmagic updates Resolve at a far greater capacity than other vendors update their NLEs, with new features populating the software every year. Version 17 continues to provide users with a plethora of updates and adjustments to make it one of the best, well-rounded, full-production packages available on the market. It is said to have a steep learning curve but I noticed familiar elements to Premiere Pro when doing some research and I believe that I wouldn’t have too much trouble learning it (if this was the case, I could refer to some of my other linked examples below). The trailer really drew me in – it’s fresh, dynamic, cinematic and engaging and so many massive productions have already been using the program! The important thing of course is that it gives you all the tools you need to make a professional edit, with an added bonus of an incredible, industry-standard colour correction and grading software within the program.
⁖ – > > Other Free Editing Programs < < – ⁖
If I were to come back to this post in desperate need of a program to create my final products with, I would most likely find the fastest and easiest examples to learn, which aren’t the more detailed ones I chose, per se. This is why I have linked numerous other examples as well so that I could visit their sites for some information at a glance and also go on Youtube and see what kind of tutorials there are on each. Looking at the views and the length of the videos will give me a good idea of which would be the best one to learn at short notice and use for my Creative Project. I believe there is a very low chance of this happening however, since I had no issues with Adobe last time and never any so extreme that I would have to move to another program.
Excellent work Tina, thank you for taking the task seriously, well done.