[Steven Wills]

I will follow your instructions exactly as posted, and try this 1st thing tomorrow.

Thank you for showing me these tips. I’m sure after looking at your example, I’ll be (and many others) much more proficient. Thank you for your time and the examples that could have probably been better spent with other things…like your family. I’m so very grateful & humbled by your kindness.

I’ll keep you informed, and I won’t give up…it was just a frustrating couple of days, and I’m
sure many of you have had quite a few of them also when you started.

You inspire me.
Thank you
Steve

[Steven Wills]

Wow. That’s about all I can say.

Sorry, it’s been a very flustering couple of days. I’ve worn myself into a frazzle and overloaded my brain. I really don’t want to stop either. I want to learn this as best as I can. So let me try again. I’ve learned I need to “flatten” my pieces then import them into ZW 1st (I believe).

So I’ll regroup, and give it another shot. I just need to read more of my AI manual and then focus on ZW more. Thanks for the inspiration, it’s just what I needed at just the right time. I guess somehow you knew…

Thanks

[Steven Wills]

After reading all we could about AI and ZW, we have decided to give up.
It’s too complicated for us.
Thanks for trying to help us though.

[Steven Wills]

…”it’s best to isolate the objects into different layers. For example, one layer may contain the leaves, one layer contains the eagle, another contains the top banner, bottom banner, etc….”

That’s exactly what I’m trying to accomplish, although I’m having some difficulty getting just the “leaves”
section to come in “together” in ZW…then just the star, then the circle etc. I have been only working on one (enlarged) logo at a time to simplify things, and I believe it’s the way I’m grouping them in AI (before sending it to ZW) that may be the key to my “layers” problem in ZW. I”m not sure.

So now that I’m beginning to understand this better, I think I should re-start from the beginning (tomorrow) and apply all that I have learned from (all of) you, and it might make this learning curve a lot less steep. I apologize for taking too much of your time, all of you have been more than gracious and kind.

Thank you. I’ll keep you apprised.

[Steven Wills]

Nice shortcut, and I see where it would work with larger objects….it didn’t quite come out right, but I’m sure it’s me being impatience. I will keep it in mind from now on. Actually, this is beginning to become somewhat fun. I’ll experiment with a few other tests soon to see how I can improve the look.
Thanks!

[Steven Wills]

Yes, I’m using ProAnimator as a standalone.

I haven’t gotten to the animation part yet since I’m still trying to keep my groups like the leaves (about 150 parts), eagle and sunburst layers etc together (but on separated layers). Right now I’m trying to move (separate) them in “z” space so I can see and identify all the elements, and give each one the details needed. Even after grouping in AI, I still have 299 elements in ZW though. My thinking is I may need to group just the parts I need in AI, then delete the others, and save them individually, and then import them into ZW. Then do it all over again with the other parts.

Since this will probably animate in from z space, I will need the layers to fly “in” by layer, so they can fly in one after the other (ie, building the badge from the back to the front). I doubt that part will be very difficult.

It’s a very enlightening experience to take this on, but the only way to the top of the mountain, is to press on. Thank goodness I have plenty of time to make this…and I know it will make me a better animator for sure. Adding bevels and color etc is not a problem at all, Zaxwerks makes it very easy.
“I” just need to spend more time learning the program but in “this” area, very few even know of the program, so there is no help locally available, but it’s good to know a life raft is nearby. Thank you.

[Steven Wills]

Thank you both for the valuable input.
It’s coming along and I’m re-grouping all 299 layers (of just the Police badge), into about 15 separate groups in A.I. and it imported well into ZW it seems. Part of the problem was (is) getting the “groups” to stay together in ZW…I’m still working on that part.

After speaking to the designer of the AI file, she said she could have made my life a whole lot easier if
she had known what I was attempting, but we’re past that part now. Each part (line) was hand drawn, and looks great for her print purposes, but as you well know, that doesn’t translate well sometimes to Zaxwerks.

ZW has always been a tremendous program for my simple needs, but now I’m taking the plunge into much deeper water, and sometimes integrating Zaxwerks and Ai, with After Effects can be a daunting task, but well worth the time spent.

I was a little panicked (ok, a lot) when I posted yesterday, but once you break it down to the elements you need, it becomes much more manageable.

I’ll keep you up to date on the progress…and thanks for the assist.

[Steven Wills]

Sorry, here’s the link to the logos.
https://forums.creativecow.net/thread/334/2928

(admin: This may be in the wrong location. Feel free to move it as needed).