Q: I can't view any of the animations. Why?
A: In order to view the animation, you need to have the latest version of both QuickTime and Flash installed on your computer. You can obtain a free copy of QuickTime from Apple while you can obtain a free copy of Flash from Macromedia.
Q: I have QuickTime installed but I still can't see the movies that you have on the site.
A: You probably have an older version of the software. All of the movies on this site require QuickTime version 4.0 or higher. You can download the latest version of QuickTime from Apple's site.
Q: How do you do the animations? What software did you use?
A: The early animations were done in QuickTime by doing the initial artwork in TotallyHip WebPainter. If there were any effects that I wanted to achieve that was beyond WebPainter's capabilities, I would do a couple of frames in Adobe Photoshop and import them into WebPainter. Once I got the animation down, I'd export the file as an animated gif, import that file into Adobe ImageReady and optimize the file (which means that I shrink the file size as small as I can without losing the quality of the animation), then import the file into QuickTime Pro (which is the professional version of QuickTime that you can obtain from Apple for US$30). After that was done, I would work on the soundtrack. (The music comes from a variety of souces, check the end credits of each movie for details.) Once I assembled everything together, I exported it out as a QuickTime movie. At that point I could post it directly on the World Wide Web.
Since I've gotten a copy of Macromedia Flash, I now do everything in that software. However, from time to time, there may be instances where I decide to use QuickTime instead of Flash (such as making a live action movie or assembling a bunch of photographs together into a multimedia piece).
Q: Since you initially did the early animations as an animated gif then import it into QuickTime Pro, can you edit animated gifs in QuickTime Pro?
A: Once you import an animated gif into QuickTIme Pro you can edit the gif by removing or adding frames. You can learn more about this method in the book QuickTime Pro for Macintosh & Windows by Judith Stern and Robert Lettieri, which is published by Peachpit Press. (You can get this book through Amazon.com and in most major bookstores.)
Q: [In the early animations posted on this site] I noticed that you do the initial animation work as an animated gif before importing it into QuickTime Pro. How long in time can an animated gif be? I had always thought it could only be a few frames.
A: Theoretically an animated gif can be as long as your computer memory and disk space can withstand. In reality you don't want an animated gif to be too long because it will increase your visitors' download time. I wouldn't go beyond seven minutes myself. (And even then you'd better have interesting content if you plan on creating an animated gif that long or else people will just surf away.)
Q: Does your QuickTime movies have sound and voices in them?
A: As you listen to each movie, you'll realize that there are more sound effects and music, but no voices. I don't have voices because I can't afford to hire voice actors (which explains why the characters in the QuickTime movies all speak with cartoon balloons). If I ever get an angel venture capitalist willing to finance this site, I would consider switching to spoken dialogue and hiring voice actors.
Q: Where do you get the sound effects and music that you use in your movies from?
A: Some songs I did myself using a cheap, yet very effective, software package called GrooveMaker. As for other songs and sound effects from all over the Internet, a good starting point is The Free Site, which has links to sites that offer free music and sounds (many of which are in the .wav and .midi format). If you want to know which songs I've used in the animations, see the credits at the end of each movie for the source of the songs used (along with the URL of the original site that I got the music from).
Q: I use a PC. Is there a Windows version of QuickTime Pro available?
A: Yes. You can obtain it from Apple's site for US$30.
Q: I need help in how to use the Message Board.
A: See the WWWBoard Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for details.
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