Has the use of movie creation software such as 3D studio and Soft Imagereplaced most simplistic image flipping ? by simplistic i mean where you take and create 48 different frames in a image (bmp, pcx, jpg, etc..) format of the animation that you want, and then display each frame, one after the other, quickly, to simulate motion? take for instance I have a pic on the screen of the title of my game. I wanta line to come from the right hand of the screen and move to behidn the text, and then pulsate a glowing effect. Would I have to build 48 image, updating the line position , OR should I use a program such as 3D Studio or etc. to create a movie?????? to Code, or Not To Code

you have to choose between either 2d or 3d first of all. if you chose 2d animation for your effects (which is what i''d do, since it''s only text) then go look for paint shop pro. it comes with animation shop, which is exactly what you''d need. otherwise, you can create 3d text with 3ds max, and also add your glowing effects with special plugins and filters that 3ds max comes with. either one of these programs allows frame animation, and can output to *.avi, *.fli, flc, etc.

if you want less work to do, go 3d. if you wanna really get working, (lotsa labor) go 2d.

a2k

Great! thanks a2K. Seeing as I laready have 3DS, I think i will stick with that... 3d just looks a lot better too!

Thanks again man

to Code, or Not To Code

you have chosen well, my young jedi. =)

anyway, for a little bit more advice, since you''ve chosen max...
for your glowing effects, you might wanna assigning an effects channel in the materials editor, assign that material to the object, go into Video Post, and add a GLOW filter event. this''ll brighten up that object real good. ghostly and fiery. if you get stuck, i''ll try to clarify further.

a2k