SUBMIT vers 1.0a

Thursday, February 21, 2002

personal notes:

just so I don't forget. these are the primary key points in layering the button.

1) basic animation. button [text, label, label shadow, world animation] world animation 12fps = 24 frames total.
2) fade in (text animation)
segment 1 - 24 frames, text fades to glow
segment 2 - 24 frames, text glows, plain world animation
3) create instance of both segment 1, segment 2
the key point in doing this is flattening the 4 layer animation into a single layer.
4) create 3rd instance, 3 keyframes
keyframe 1 beginning
keyframe 2 frame 25, the beginning of segment 2
keyframe 3 frame 48, the end of segment 2
process goes like this:
insert new keyframe (frame 1)
drag from library instance segment 1 into keyframe 1
insert new keyframe at frame 25
clear stage
drag from library instance segment 2 into frame 25
insert new keyframe at frame 48
5) to create proper animation where segment 1 plays only once (the text lights up only once -seg1, then stays lit -seg2)
process goes like this:
open frames panel for frame 25
name the frame something, i.e. segment 2
go to frame 48
open actions panel
choose goto, frame label, segment 2
== now the frame animation for the over button is set.

sidenote: problems w/ creating the up and down button, they retain the globe animation.
after the button was created, make sure to edit the individual button instances...
i.e. click on up button (in edit), and edit instance, change the scroll bar
from movie to graphic, and the behavior from loop, to single frame.

== antoher side note:

atfirst I couldn't figure out how to apply the loop and other action directives to a layer/animation that has just
a single instance refrenced in a key frame. meaning, how do i loop when it reaches frame 24 when the actual
stage has only 1 frame w/ the instance dragged into it.

the work around is to create blank keyframes, i.e. insert a keyframe at the end of the timetable where
the instanced animation ends. you can then use these blank frames as you would w/ the instance.
flash refrences back to the key points of animation even tho. the instance refrence sits only on frame 1.

[This entry be scribed at 1:36 PM]

Right now everything is pretty plain, but I'm going to be creating more lush and interesting art/flash as soon as I got the basics of flash and action script down. The site will start to get weirder and more interesting once the real stuff I want to do gets started.

[This entry be scribed at 1:09 PM]

I've optimized the button. Using the 12fps animation, I was able to shrink the animatiion from 100k to 40k. It loads alot faster, 8 seconds compared to the eternity of half-a-minute w/ the full 24fps animation. In retrospect, I know it takes a long time to usually load up movies, but this is a button, and the menu shouldn't take so long.

It was difficult to rebuild the button, as I originally thought I'd just reinsert the new graphic, forgetting completely that the button is made up of atleast 5 different component layers built on eachother. In the end I had to rebuild from scratch using modified peices of the original library I had built.

The animation looks a little choppy playing at 12fps, but thats what you get for chopping frames out. 24 is the magic number in the animation world. 24fps is the animation speed traditionally used at Disney.

Even though the globe graphic on index.2 has a preloader animation, it still feels like it takes forever to load because there's no indication of time passing. Creating a status bar should fix that, so that may be the next thing I add.

I'm pretty satisfied for now w/ the first button, so I'll prob. start on the button for my I-net broadcast.

Next project will be more interactive. I want to add something so that buttons on one side of the screen will affect animation on another side of the screen. Layered movies, etc. Build on movie complexity, etc. culminating on a mixer type interface. I'm basing this on the 'I know where bruce lee lives' flash animation I've seen. I want to do something like that.

I'll probably be building the flash-projects/experiments part of this site at the same time, which will probably become the main-content of this site; the two button deal will work perfectly since I'll have one section be flash-experiments, solo art projects and the other be connected w/ the whole supervillain theme.

[This entry be scribed at 1:03 PM]

The beginnings of the front menu are up, there's only one button so far.. but so far, i've been able to incorporate animation, sound, and a 2 part animation into it. the words light up which is the first part of the scene, but then it loops only to where the text is lit. this entailed breaking the animation into two scenes, one where the text lit up, and a second scene where the loop is just the globe and the lit text.

So far the button's animation is too big, 100k, which takes 30 secs to load on a 56k modem, so i've created alternate animations, one w/ 12 fps vs. the full 24 fps of the current button. The 12 fps animation is around 46k, but I'm thinking thats still too big since I'm going to incorporate animation into the other buttons as well. I was thinking of adding a preloader to the button but decided against it just for aesthetic reasons. Currently the animation on the page is pretty staightforward and direct compared to other more intricate flash art out there. In the end, I'm going to have to find the median/threshhold between the 3D components I'm creating and it's flash counterparts, or find that elusive method of optimizing the 3D elements that won't sacrifice visual quality.

[This entry be scribed at 9:38 AM]

I've decided I'm going to create a section devoted to individual flash projects, both small experiments (visual/otherwise) and larger ones dedicated to the whole supervillain-storyline. What's difficult tho. is coming up w/ an elegant interface that can launch all these things, thats easily modifiable etc. I want an interface simular to the one on the ray of light website (no, not related to madonna, its an incredible flash site, www.rayoflight.net of Yasuto Suga, Ray of Light Productions). he has an intricate calender/yearly thing, its impressive, and unites all the individual flash entries into a semi-journal thing that can be called up from an interface that remains unchanged on the bottom of the screen.

[This entry be scribed at 9:31 AM]

Tuesday, February 19, 2002

On a more technical note, I'm looking for a way to streamline the 3D to flash process more efficiently. Right now for instance, the globe graphic has way too many polygons, hence the large flash size. Instead of just an outline of the continents, its also retaining all the structural triangles w/in that was part of the original model. I'm looking for a way to optimize the flash element even more so, to shrink the size of it. That way, it'll leave it more open to larger amounts of 3D objects on the stage.

[This entry be scribed at 4:12 PM]

I haven't updated on the site for awhile. sue me, i'm lazy. I've been slowly learning more of what flash can do. The globe flash now has a pre-loader graphic that goes with it. I'm adding a flash menu w/ animated buttons soon, thats the next major thing thats going up. I've been trying to think of a way to add content to this site thats not traditional... its not a cam site, nor an e/n site. i'm playing around with an idea. We'll see if i'll pull it off. The Live365 broadcast has been up for days now, but I haven't finished the front menu, once that goes up, you'll be able to access the broadcast from there. This particular blog may be replaced eventually, w/ an entirely fictitious one w/ pictures and graphics and junk. I'm thinking of eventually doing a small flash movie, an interactive one...

[This entry be scribed at 4:05 PM]

Monday, February 11, 2002

STEPPING OUT OF CHARACTER UPDATE--
It's slow going actually. I love flash, and I find its flexibility amazing, the globe and eat the planet graphic took maybe an hour's total of work; conception in my head to realisation on the screen was practically instantaneous. The hardest part was the 3D modelling, and no I didn't use any damn stock models or any bullshit like that, everything is original. SANCTU SANCTORIUM is my primary site, just to clarify. I haven't done away with it, this whole EVIL SUPREME OVERLORD thing is amusing and is inspiring alot of ideas and directions for my studies into what flash can do, so it really is literally my flash playground/lab-experiment. I'm very intrigued and pleased so far especially w/ how 3D crosses over into it. I am not using any quick-pre mold programs, this is all MAX/MAYA/LWO cgi work. Low-poly modelling considerations also apply since the translation retains the polygons and increases the flash size. At anyrate, this all will prob. be the frontpage for awhile while until I get bored w/ it. Then its back to updating SS every 3 months again. heh. I'm playing around w/ the idea of resurrecting my i-net radio broadcast, just for kicks; I'll prob. do a show twice a week and let it repeat on my offdays. I'm thinking an hour show... possibly tied in w/ this whole evil overlord schtick. I miss spinning at the clubs, and being in the scene in general, but personal and family health issues remain at the forefront of everything. For now, the i-net is my publisher/whore unf unf unf.

[This entry be scribed at 1:47 AM]

Sunday, February 10, 2002

progress was slow going today. besides having the bubonic plague (WHICH I CONQUERED), I decided to spend some time w/ my harem. I have about 30 women, and when I visit, I usually like to spend quality time w/ every one of them, two or three times even. I am the most ultimate stud in the entire world. Though they're all beautiful almost beyond description and I treasure each and every one of them, I'm worried about the one who calls herself Agent-99, she's constantly writing things in a little note-pad and talking into her shoe. I think she's a little funny in the head, but oh well, I'm so big hearted, I love her anyway, I love them all!

[This entry be scribed at 11:07 PM]

I am watching Emeril Legazi live, and I'm tortured w/ hunger pains. This must be some sortof mind-control rays broadcasted through my local-cable tv provider. It's brilliant, I must discover what makes this technology tick. Operation hunger pains, I'll use this technology to make everyone in the world who's watching t.v. so hungry, that will not be able to do anything at all besides sit and stare at thier t.v. trapped by thier hunger... leaving my minions free to TAKE OVER THE WORLD! Emeril, you are a devious devious sonofabitch, BAM indeed.

[This entry be scribed at 3:59 PM]

I've been sneezing continuosly all day. My eyes are runny and I feel like crap. Conclusion? It's obvious, biological warfare! Damn you Geocities and your crack team of super-spy agents, this round goes to you my dear nemesis. My scientist are hard at work in finding a cure to what I have obviously been infected, the black plague. There goes the 3 billion dollar budget I was going to spend on the world cracker, this 100 story high hammer that'd crack the earth open. bahahahahahaha sneeze. damnit!

[This entry be scribed at 3:56 PM]

Saturday, February 09, 2002

I've noticed the geocities banner is constantly blocking my page, and when you click to close it - it jumps you back to the main index. I know for a fact that they're a front for my nemesis, an ultrasecret multi-national organization of superspies bent on foiling my plans. The 3 Gagoolehertz moon-based laser I ordered from amazon.com hasn't arrived yet. When it does, I am crushing geocities!

[This entry be scribed at 8:03 PM]

I woke up late today. I am way too groggy. I'll take over the world tommorow.. after lunch.

[This entry be scribed at 11:56 AM]

con�quer (kngkr)
v. con�quered, con�quer�ing, con�quers
v. tr.
1. To defeat or subdue by force, especially by force of arms.
2. To gain or secure control of by or as if by force of arms: scientists battling to conquer disease; a singer who conquered the operatic world.
3. To overcome or surmount by physical, mental, or moral force: I finally conquered my fear of heights. See Synonyms at defeat.

v. intr.
To be victorious; win.

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[Middle English conqueren, from Old French conquerre, from Vulgar Latin *conquaerere, from Latin conqurere, to procure : com-, intensive pref.; see com- + quaerere, to seek.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
conquer�a�ble adj.
conquer�or or conquer�er n.

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Source: The American Heritage� Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright � 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

[This entry be scribed at 1:27 AM]

Ok, before I get any worried e-mails from the people I know, this is just me experimenting w/ blogger and flash. I've always wanted to see where I can take Flash, and this is just the beginning. At anyrate, this will probably be the last straight-forward sane post. All flash animation done by myself. Bow before me puny peons!!

[This entry be scribed at 12:30 AM]

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