The new version of Animatic Builder is up. This update includes a whole offline system taking advantage of HTML 5′s manifest and localStorage for offline use anywhere. To complement the new offline functionality is a redesigned UI which now scales to mobile platforms as well, specifically the iPhone. The are a number of speed improvements allowing well over 200 frames in a sequence without impacting playback performance. (The SQL updating and the uploading for the demo are disabled.)
In the specification for HTML5 several methods for storing data locally are outlined including localStorage and manifests. While building out the offline storage for Animatic Builder, I attempted to keep the stored data dead simple; as in the case of the shot information which is stored as one long JSON string. In this way the shot data can be pulled into any other use by reading the string. Keeping the images stored proved more difficult due to the number, potentially hundreds, and their format as many separate files. As well as making sure the storage is universal on mobile and full client systems. Continue reading »
After pulling together most of my storyboards on paper in my sketchbook I have moved on to building out the frames in Photoshop because I left my sketchbook in another state. Brilliant I know, but it was time to move into the digital realm. I was able to trace over the storyboards I have completed and separate out the actions into individual frames.
I have completed about half of the storyboards and I’ll begin plugging them into Animatic Builder so I can edit the film as I go through my day.
The most important part of a large scale project, especially one undertaken solo, is a break. The constant drum beat of, “I need to finish this and send it out tomorrow!” takes a massive toll. Stepping back for a day without thinking about the project makes you realize that your life will continue even if you don’t finish this film, painting, etc. Even better? When you start working again you will come with fresh ideas and a renewed drive. Continue reading »
Opening Shot
It has been a busy week but I managed to get through most of the storyboards for the film. Rather than try and make a series of thumbnails, a bad idea by the way, I decided to commandeer one of the sketchbooks I hadn’t used yet for the task. Although index cards are normally preferred, I’ve been running around too much to make a proper storyboarding wall. Instead I’ll scan the pages and put them into my app so I can edit the animatic on my phone.
The most difficult parts of the film to conceptualize are two “story within a story” sequences which need to be bold graphically and have very simple story arcs. The shot setup is a bit odd in that the doll has to flip the pages off then have the wind carry the pages behind the foreground so they can be framed over the doll’s shoulder. Then once framed the pages need to continue flipping through even when they are not being torn off the stack. I don’t have this sequence shown here, but I’ll make sure my animatic is shared at some point. Continue reading »
Opening Shot
Whitney Krape
