Chapter 9. Exporting, Editing, and Publishing

Now that you have a scene animated, polished, and ready to go, you will need to export your cartoon for the world to see. Is this scene just one part of a larger cartoon that you plan on editing together? Maybe you're looking to export the file so it will be compatible with a website such as Newgrounds. Or maybe you just need to create a quick render to test how the animation plays out on video. Whatever the case, this chapter will cover all that you need to export your file out, test it, and get it ready for distribution.

In this chapter, we will cover the following topics:

• Previewing your work

• Choosing your file format

• Exporting your scenes

• Exploring different video editors

• Breaking down the editing process

• Exporting your completed project

• Finding your audience

Previewing your work

With Anime Studio Pro 10, there is a new preview option that allows you to do a quick render and view your animation as it appears on the workspace. This is ideal for complicated projects that may drop frames when viewing the project with the timeline and the Play button. Accessing this new feature is easy. Perform the following steps to do so:

1. Find the portion of animation you want to preview. To do this, pick a starting frame on your timeline, hold in the Ctrl key (command on Mac) and left-click. A green rectangle should appear on the timeline.

2. Find the frame you want to end on, hold in the Ctrl key (command on Mac), and right-click on it. A red rectangle will appear on the timeline, as shown in the following screenshot:

   

3. Navigate to File | Preview Animation. The shortcut for this is Shift + Ctrl + R on Windows (Shift + command + R on Mac).

4. The timeline will play from your start to end point.

5. Your computer will then automatically launch a default video player. You can preview...

Choosing your file format

If you are looking to share your animations on streaming websites such as YouTube or Vimeo, or if you're looking to submit your cartoon to a film festival or a similar vendor, you tend to export your files as videos. Anime Studio handles the exporting of videos better. The thing you have to decide is which format and codec you should use when exporting out your animations. The .swf files, which are not videos, can also be created. However, you have a chance of limiting your audience by taking this route because only a certain number of services use the .swf files. Not to mention, you eliminate the possibility of altering the animation further in a piece of video editing software.

Exporting QuickTime files

QuickTime is a video format that was created by Apple. However, you don't need an Apple computer in order to utilize or view videos using this format. If you are using Windows, you will need to download QuickTime Player, which is free, from Apple's website so that...

Exporting your scenes

Whether you decide to export everything at once or as scenes are completed, you will need to know the proper procedure for exporting your files.

The following is what you need to do to export:

1. Once you have completed a scene, navigate to File | Export Animation (Ctrl + E on Windows, command + E on Mac). Here, a panel will appear giving you a wealth of options.

2. The frame range at the top is the same as you'll find on the top of your timeline. You can use this to dictate which frames you want to be included in this render. This can be useful if you want to test or re-render a certain portion of the animation. Given this is your first time rendering, you'll probably want to select the number of frames that your animation runs for on the timeline.

3. Below this is the Output format drop-down menu. This is where you can select one of the three file types we just discussed in addition to a few other image types. Select QuickTime Movie from the list of choices, as shown in the following...

Exploring different video editors

It's now time to put all the pieces together. We have all these separate video clips lying in folders on your computer, so how do we bring them together to form a cohesive narrative that reflects your script? First, we are going to need a video editing software. These come in many types and, depending on what you need, you could spend upwards to $1,000. Obviously, these expensive software are loaded with features, but if you're looking for something a bit lighter and basic, there are free alternatives you can choose from. In fact, without even knowing it, you probably have one of these free programs installed on your computer right now.

Using free video editors

For Windows users, Windows Live Movie Maker comes installed on all modern iterations of the operating system (starting with Windows XP). If you're an Apple user, iMovie is the Mac equivalent. Both allow you to import, trim, and rearrange clips as well as alter audio, add titles, create clip transitions...

Breaking down the editing process

For this section, we will be using Adobe Premiere as a reference. However, most video editing software work in a similar fashion, so you should be able to apply these steps to whatever you are currently using.

To follow along, you can use your own clips or refer to some of the book's work files, export them out, and play around with the editor from there.

Creating a new document

When creating a new document with a video editor, you will have similar considerations as you did when making a new Anime Studio document for the first time. In the case of Premiere, perform the following steps:

First, create a project file. You will then be prompted to create a Sequence.

When saving your project file, simply give it a name and place it in the folder where you have been saving your clips and Anime Studio project files. This will help keep things organized.

You can have multiple Sequences within a project file, depending on how you want to work. As an example, you could...

Creating titles in a video editor

While you can create titles and text with Anime Studio's text tool, you may find it's easier to create such clips within a video editor. With Premiere, you can go very simple with the text or create some more detailed designs. There are even templates that can help bolster your titles. If you're looking to create some good-looking credit sequences with 3D and other special effects, After Effects may be worth checking out.

Adding basic titles in Premiere is easy, as shown in the following steps:

1. Go to the top and navigate to Title | New Title | Default Still..., as shown in the following screenshot:

   

2. Choose the resolution and frame rate (which should default to your Sequence's settings) and write a name. Maybe this could be Movie Title or Credits.

3. Once you click on OK, you will be brought to the title editor. Here, you can choose the position of your text as well as its font, color, size, effects, and more. What options you choose is up to you!

   

4. Once you are done...

Exporting your completed project

Once you have assembled your cartoon, added audio, polished, and test viewed it, the final step is to export the entire animation.

1. In Premiere, you can navigate to File | Export | Media (Ctrl + M on Windows and command + M on Mac) to create the file.

2. You will have similar options present for when you export your clips from Anime Studio. As before, it's recommended that you stick to QuickTime. If you're targeting the Internet, go with H.264.

3. This will present you with different templates, as shown in the following screenshot, some relating to YouTube, Vimeo, and so on. Going with the appropriate template (depending on the resolution of your video) should give you some pretty good results.

   

4. If you want to distribute the animation in a different, high-quality fashion, H.264 offers high-quality HD exports. But, if you want to burn to DVD or Blu-ray, MPEG2 may be a good option.

5. There are other options you can play with too. First, if you click on the Output Name field...

Finding an audience

It's probably safe to assume at this point that you have a pretty good idea of how you want to distribute your work. The most popular way today is through websites like YouTube and Vimeo, but traditional methods such as DVD and film festivals are still viable. And, maybe, you plan to do a combination of online and traditional distribution. Regardless of how you do it, this final section is meant to give you some insight on the process in terms of marketing and finding an audience.

Taking the traditional route

We are living in an age where online media is quickly becoming the norm. However, there is still a market out there for more traditional distribution. While you could burn your animation on DVDs and try your hand at selling or giving them out, the best course of action would be featuring your work in a film festival.

Now, not all festivals accept animated works, and there may be other rules to consider. For example, many festivals will not accept a work if it's already...

Summary

Editing is just as important as animating. Whether you decide to use a free or premium editor, the techniques you use will ultimately be the same. What's important is for you to find a consistent flow, just like you did with your character designs and animation techniques. Once you perfect this, it will stick with you for the rest of your life. The hardest part will be finding your audience. As long as you're persistent and maintain a high threshold for quality, there should be nothing stopping you from achieving your dreams of becoming an animator.

Although you may not want to hear this, there is a very good chance that things will start off slow when trying to push your content on the Web. YouTube is a big place with countless videos, and it takes a lot of effort to stand out. This is especially true with how fast interests or trends change. A video that is a viral sensation one day can be thrown aside the next when something new comes along. You may encounter people who give you...