Anoneh's Blog

Pencil animation software

Of late, I have an interest in animation software after playing with Nintendo DS Flipnote Studio. Was able to create a small (256 x 192 frame size) animation with 2 colours. Flipnote is impressive! But I wonder how a full fledged software on a PC is able to produce.

Found such a software and I like it so far. Its called Pencil. It’s open source and it comes with Mac, Linux and Windows version. Works very well with a tablet. Mine’s a wacom bamboo.

Some nagging issues

Only in Mac it can export to movies. Other versions can export a series of .PNGs.
My workaround : If you don’t have a Mac, then you can combine the .PNGs in Macromedia flash to create the movies.

There was a problem in windows to import images.
My workaround : Use a graphic software (photoshop or fireworks) select and copy it. Then go to pencil and use the select box and make a box big enough to fit the image. Paste and you got it.

Other workarounds would involve open its native files with a PNG file created with a graphic software.

Another bug is the step forward one frame using the arrow key will some time fail to work. A workaround is to alt-tab to another app. Then come back to pencil and you will see the arrow key can control the frame again.

Conclusion

It works albeit a “few” bugs. However, for real work, you need something established like Adobe Flash.