SL -> Flash

I'm trying to figure out how to create flash based shows using SL for SL.

So far I've found that by turning off distance fog and using "full bright" green background prims I have been able to create nearly perfect green screen segments of each pose.

I used Corel Photo-paint to create animated Gif files, but I've decided that it would all less SL load to use flash than to use scripts to change prims.

I next need to figure out how to overlay the looped animations over the background and add audio.

What is a good software program to create flash files?

I would suggest you try using Flash to create Flash files.

Adobe Flash CS3 Professional $700(us)

I was hopping for something less expensive.

I might just see if the QuickTime video will work better if I lower the frame rate and keep background moves to a minimum.

or... try here http://www.avs4you.com/AVS-Video-Converter.aspx
Bear in mind, that the quicktime pluggin cannot handle flash at more than version 3 (pre-actionscripts) and each viewer has to have flash enabled in their QT preferences.

Not sure if I'm quite catching this; but if you mean to use Flash animations like animated GIFs on textures...it's not possible afaik.

You could use video though on textures. But you'd need to have owner rights to the Land Media settings.

- Infrared

You could of course use the Silver Stream Network media system, that allows multiple streams into a parcel without using the SL media functions it only needs drop objects and run scripts to work. Placing multiple screen/player units in horizontal and or vertical formation within your parcel, will allow users to view multiple streams at the same time. Give me a IM ingame and I can show you how it works, also visit http://www.eml-entertainments.com/silverstreamtechnology.html for a explaination of the system.

Thanks. I'll look into that. *scribbles it down*

My goal is to play one "play" at a time so the "Silver Stream Network media" system would be overkill.

My original plan was to use flat layered prims that would be moved around based on a note card. (Think actors)
Animated gifs would then be used for motion scenes involving animations.

But it looks like I will create less LAG to use a QT flash movie.

The artwork is currently being gathered in snapshots and AV files and I tested converting the animations into animated gifs, but the video is in a raw format.

>pre-actionscripts)
The main advantage of Flash in this case is to loop a section of video for a set amount of time. I'll have to look and see if Version 3 supports this.

If it doesn't then I would be better off just using QT since each frame of each loop would have to be sent to the viewer.

You can try SWISH:

http://www.swishzone.com/index.php?area=products&product=max&tab=purchase

It's one $75 which is much less that Flash.
I use Flash myself but have a couple of friends who use Swish and can produce many of the same results that Flash can. So it's worth downloading the trial if you have time.

~Maddy

Xara Extreme/Xara Extreme Pro can create flash animations
Xara Extreme is just about my fav GFX software! (vector based!)

We did some experiments using a 'film strip' texture, then using a script to move the texture in increments that matched the 'cell' size, therefore creating a looping illusion of a movie/animated film (which is how it is done in RL).
The limitations are size of cell (calculate 2048x2048 into say 15fps), the time it takes to fully rez a 2048x2048 texture before the animation showed. On a plus side, you can use transparent backgrounds and therefore create what appears to be a dancing object.

We have seen some very good examples already in SL. I supose with a little effort, you could swap the 2048x2048 texture out for another one repeatedly, or swapping the prim face (each with a different texture) from transparent to show, and use the 6 faces to extend the potential 'film'/animation.

Doesnt the 2048x2048 pixel texture get converted to 1024 when uploaded??

Yes probably, but at least starting at that resolution, you get better results.

As opposed to bringing the resolution down in a Pro graphics program?
I've never thought about comparing the results

So what program, for the flash, did you go for in the end or not yet decided/tried?