Toon Boom Animate tutorial (part 1)
I just published an article on Toon Boom Animate and its “Parenting Layers” feature. I’ll be writing and posting more as I continue to play with and learn this wonderfully powerful program 
Create Better Flash Animation
A brand new Toon Boom blog focused entirely on how Animate can make your animation life a lot easier. Spread the word!
Walk cycle using Toon Boom Animate
Simple learning exercise using Toon Boom’s latest software program Animate – tutorial as to how I made this using Animate’s layer hierarchy in the works.
Animate can integrate with Flash due to its SWF output. Animate even has “Symbols”! But I have to say it only has 1 type of symbol – which is a good thing. They work very much like Graphic symbols in Flash. So, that said, Animate can be used alone or with Flash but it really depends on the type of project you are creating and the final output.
I would never say Animate will replace Flash or vice-versa – these are 2 different programs and they both represent the best of what the 2D vector animation world has to offer – the main difference is that Flash has deep roots with developing applications and it will continue to support that – as a result, it’s strength in one area can also be it’s weakness in another. Animate has more of a straight and narrow road – make that a 10-lane super highway – targeted directly to animators producing animation.
iCreate review of Toon Boom Animate
Read it here.
FITC – Toronto
As some of you may know I will be attending and speaking at Flash in the Can April 25-28th. Upon heading home I also plan to stop by the Toon Boom offices in Montreal for a meet and greet with the awesome folks from Toon Boom. As you may also know, I am actively learning Toon Boom’s latest animation software; Animate and will likely blog about it’s features and my overall experience. Now don’t think I am turning my back from Flash for Animate – they are both great tools for anyone interested in animation software. I’m bi-partisan here folks and if I could, I’d have a Ford and a Chevy in my driveway. What is interesting is what makes these 2 animation programs different, yet the same. Where’s the overlap and does one offer more than the other. More to come on this topic…
Digital Pro
Toon Boom has released the successor to Solo: Digital Pro. TB asked me a year ago to kick Solo’s tires and provide them with feedback. I did and I admit to having a really hard time with Solo overall yet was very impressed with its features. My problem was trying to overcome the dizzying array of menus and buttons and panels (oh my!). But I also ran into cerebral snags with several other UI implementations (X-sheets!). I felt like I entered a foreign country and didn’t know any of the language. I understand some software programs can take time to learn, but after what accumulated to several long hours with Solo, I barely got past drawing a ball and animating a simple squash and stretch sequence. Ugh. The luxury of free time is not something I have an abundance of and I had to put my Solo education on hold in order to pay the bills (Flash).
Toon Boom listened and has now overhauled Solo into what they call Digital Pro. The UI is simpler and with over 4 hours of online video tutorials, it has become easier to learn. With features like IK, 3D stage and Glue, I can not wait to try this product again. I have downloaded and installed the personal learning edition with hopes of spending some time with it this weekend but to my dismay the program will not let me past the splash screen where it requires me to enter a license key (which I don’t have). My only other option is to close it 
So for now, embracing Toon Boom software will remain a distant but hopeful goal, at which time I will surely blog about my experience with it here.