Nolita

14th November 2004 07:52 UTC

Stupid noob question/request
Hi,

I tried searching, and was coming up with zip, and a lot of .zip, but no answers:(.

If there was a forum for beginners where a few kind hearted, experienced coders would generously come in and check the posts from time to time, I would be posting this there. There isn't one, so I'm posting here. I must apologize ahead of time for how stupid my questions are, but I'm a beginner. I'm sure I'll get lots of answers that only bother to call me a n00b with n00b questions. Hee, tell me something I don't know:).

First of all if the answers have allready been given, a link would be greatly appreciated, I must be searching all wrong. Secondly I know you all are really busy, so I'm willing to wait patiently for replies.

Question 1: Is there a tutorial out there which explains how to make simple shapes? For instance when I open the avs editor one of the renders available has stars(nifty but I want to make different shapes:)).

Question 2: These questions should be in opposite order(I just realized), is there a tutorial for how to draw a line? I figured out how to make a line go across the screen by alterring one of the provided movements, might have been dynamic movement. So I realize it sounds like an awesomely moronic question.

I'm trying to make shapes which I could then move around the screen along x or y, even d or r(it's tricky to get the hang of, because I'm used to x, y, and z being parameters in 3d modelling and animation software, I'm almost positive it doesn't work the same in avs, which is why I'm asking here). I'm trying to keep from letting my pre-conceived ideas of how things should work from creeping into what I'm doing in avs.

On the bright side, I'm normally painting in Corel's Painter, or modelling and animating inside of either 3ds max or 3d anim8or. In fact 3d anim8or is an open source freeware application and they provide source code and tips for implementing it inside of other applications(like if you made a game and wanted to use 3d models and animations from anim8or, then you could, without tons of litigation about intellectual property). So that means, basically that while I understand almost nothing about avs, I understand things like color theory and perspective.

For example when using perspective, things appear to get smaller as they are farther away, and closer to the horizon. If we add color theory to the mix, cool colors(blue is an example of a cool color) recede, while warm colors(red and yellow are examples of warm colors) come forward, almost projecting themselves.

So you see, though I can't write much in the way of code(yet), once I understand how to code, I won't be mashing colors together that aren't complimentary to one another, or trying to force impossible perspectives. I tell you all this so that you can understand and see that I am serious, but also that it will take me some time to learn.



After all that, I'm sure you'll all be very relieved to see I'm not asking any questions about 3d(I don't think I am anyway). The reason is simple, imho you can't make a sphere without first knowing how to make a circle, and you can't make a box without first knowing how to make a rectangle(rememberring back in 7th grade geometry, how all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares).

I think once I understand how to make basic shapes and designs, it will be relatively easy to figure out how to implement the illusions that make them appear to be 3 dimensional or move within 3 dimensional space.

So basically I'm asking for help taking my first baby steps of making things. I have made some seriously ugly crap so far, so ugly that no, I won't share it, because I don't want to intentionally inflict pain on others. If they hurt my eyes, I know they'll hurt yours.

I'm coming at this from a non-coder's perspective(I'm learning how to code, but it takes time to learn, so I'm reminding myself to be patient). I have the box source from the sdk open in visual c++ and I'm copying it while studying a beginners' c++ tutorial I found in a websearch. Slowly I'm starting to understand what does what. Unfortunately the tutorial in the sdk looks to me like it's geared towards experienced coders and programmers. That's cool and all, since nobody probably figured on inexperienced folks such as myself even attempting to make anything.

What I need, is something similair, though not nearly as huge as that tutorial. Basically something that breaks it down with the // being before, not so much comments as instructions. So it would say something like // this does [insert what exactly the code does here] and then the following line(s) of code would do just that, really simplistically written so that even a baby could understand. Since when it comes to coding that's exactly what I am, a baby. However, I am positive I'm not the only baby out here.

Enormously grateful, I offer thanks in advance.

Thankyou,

Nolita *bracing myself for the towering inferno yet to come*

^..^

14th November 2004 10:47 UTC

First, Welcome to the wide world of AVS!

Second, are you definitively sure that you searched the forums for "tutorial" or some tantamount words? If so you surely made something wrong, cause there are many out there. I could give you tons of links etc (actually not tons but at least some ;) ) but you will surely find some (not all!) them on your own. Perhaps you should read some more threads around here before. Besides the "sticky" ones (very informative!), i saw a thread on the mainpage that was titled "Teach me". Though the author asked for 3D explanations he got many replies concerning general tutorials, explanations.. (and some more "noob-flames"! :mad: ).
Try again and be aware: there are many noob-flamers around. Oh, to late they're coming... Hurry up!:eek:

Nolita

14th November 2004 11:42 UTC

Thank You,

I must surely have enterred the wrong search terms. Off to search again. Hey, they can flame away if they want to. It's okay. Heck I've seen some pretty hilarious flames so far. It's probably an initiation of sorts, instead of hazing, on the net we get flaming.

I saw the "Teach Me" thread, but didn't read the whole thing since I thought it was going to be nothing but a bunch of folks beating up on the guy. I'm going to give it another looksee, and see if I can't find the tutorials of which you speak. Also I will change my search terms and try the search again.

The_King_Pin

14th November 2004 11:44 UTC

Hmmm, time to pull out the can of n00b spray and light...lol nah im a n00b to

^..^

14th November 2004 12:20 UTC

@ nolita
Yeah that sounds better, although you call yourself a "avs-baby" nobody wants to treat you like one (i hope you don't want to be treated that way either.. ;) ). As far as i remember the most common tutorials/guides... and their respective authors were mentioned in that particular thread nad it's located on the aminpage, so i told you about it.

But in case i was wrong, here are my favourites:
(no scoring order)

- piR's tutorial can be seen as a manual for the plugin

- Atero's Primer (gives presets as examples to explain the effects)

- and last but not least the programming guide PAK-9 made (besides his explainations you can/should do exercises)

There are others but i mentioned these three, because they helped me the most (or i don't know the others) ;)

/puh seems to become the thread with the longest replies

Nolita

14th November 2004 14:27 UTC

Hee,

If there was a chatroom I'd be using it right now. There's not, so I'm back again, and so soon too:). Thankyou, ^..^(hope I spelled your handle right). When I was actually botherring to read beyond the flames in the teach me thread, I found the link to Pak-9's guide. I'm in the middle of using it. It's amazingly good. Couldn't resist skipping down a bit and looked at the 3d section, turns out I'm not nuts thinking in terms of x,y, and z coordinates:) Apparently I'm not the idiot I thought I was.

I noticed more replies when I came back to search for more tutorials. No I don't have Pak-9's entire guide commited to memory allready, but it is getting easier to remember stuff allready. I couldn't resist fiddling around a bit, and replaced a y with an r, put it over the blue hills.jpeg included with windows xp(just saved as a .bmp), made what looked like a rippling water reflection. It would be lousy as a preset, and I know a much better way of making a desktop wallpaper with rippling water, so it's just an "ooh you can do that!" thing for now. This learning stuff is very addictive, should come with a warning label.

^..^

14th November 2004 15:14 UTC

Pleased that you like it.
Have fun with it and good luck! :)

Mr_Nudge

16th November 2004 01:53 UTC

Question 1: Is there a tutorial out there which explains how to make simple shapes? For instance when I open the avs editor one of the renders available has stars(nifty but I want to make different shapes).

The superscope can make nearly eveything! or at least everything you'll need to make. There is a great tutorial for making superscopes here: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/11200891/

I'm trying to make shapes which I could then move around the screen along x or y, even d or r(it's tricky to get the hang of, because I'm used to x, y, and z being parameters in 3d modelling and animation software, I'm almost positive it doesn't work the same in avs, which is why I'm asking here). I'm trying to keep from letting my pre-conceived ideas of how things should work from creeping into what I'm doing in avs.

Warrior of the Light

16th November 2004 07:02 UTC

I'd like to add that AVS isn't coding alone - there are artists that about know all there is to know when it comes to coding, but lack the abilities to create the 'attractive' part of the preset.

style is something you can't do without. remember, it's called AVS artist for a reason, not AVS programmer

mysterious_w

16th November 2004 11:40 UTC

Random question: Do you class me as a n00b, or just a 'tard?

Mr_Nudge

16th November 2004 13:11 UTC

a n00btard actaually

mysterious_w

16th November 2004 15:21 UTC

Ah, so not as bad as I thought.

^..^

16th November 2004 17:53 UTC

Originally posted by Mr_Nudge
There is a great tutorial for making superscopes here: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/11200891/
That's exactly how avs works - you should be able to make awesome stuff if your into 3d modeling!

Originally posted by Nolita
I found the link to Pak-9's guide. I'm in the middle of using it. It's amazingly good.

Tuggummi

17th November 2004 00:14 UTC

secret avs chatroom!

If there was a chatroom I'd be using it right now.

Nolita

17th November 2004 01:24 UTC

Oh, I totally understand there being no AVS chat in the AVS chatroom. I'm usually lurking/participating in the Epilogue chat. New folks come in, and except for the ones who seem to be under the misconception that AOL chat is now on the irc("ARE THERE ANY GIRLS HERE!" and "are u a boi or a girl?") they can't wrap their brains around why we aren't all sitting around chatting about art 24/7. Sometimes you just need a break, and it seems the only folks who understand are the same ones taking a break from the same thing you're taking a break from. However, head over to the chat at Rendo(when I'm desperate for chat believe me), and it's a ton of art chat/art spam.

Hope you don't mind Tuggummi, but I played Dr. Frankenstein with your 'Club Seizure(color enhanced)' preset from the winamp 5 collection. I totally credited who I missappropriated stuff from, so while I'm a thief, I'm an honest thief, hopefully that counts for something:).

Tuggummi

17th November 2004 02:23 UTC

As long as you credit the people who's stuff you use, it's all good. That's the policy around here :) 'Give credit where credit is due'

Nolita

17th November 2004 02:38 UTC

Cool, that's what I thought, but still, I think it's good to double check when possible. You may want to take a look at the preset. I posted it in the My first preset well sort of thread I started(maybe just a topic, needs answers to be thread right?:D) anyway, it doesn't contain so much as a lick of code that I wrote(oh yeah like people wanna stare at a square and a line all day long*rolls eyes*). Still it may take you back to the day when you first saw Winamp and realized, hey yeah, I can do this. It's not the greatest but it's fun, good for your wtf? folder. As in Why the F_ck did I download this piece of crap?(hopefully it's not pure crap though, I mean I didn't grow the ingredients myself, but I did choose them carefully).

I think the important thing is, I had fun making it. It doesn't matter if it's not the most original preset ever, or if it's not perfect, or I didn't hand code all or even any of it, so long as I had fun, right? That's really saying alot since I'm bogged down with the flu right now. I had fun while coughing, sneezing, and hacking up, what I hope aren't any vital organs, and with a fever too. Now that's saying something.

S-uper_T-oast

17th November 2004 02:45 UTC

Re: secret avs chatroom!

Originally posted by Tuggummi
Seriously there is a irc channel #finnish-flash @ quakenet where few of us gather, but i wouldn't count on it for a source of help because the talk there is anything but avs ;) And if someone talks about avs it's usually something highly advanced and very complicated. (atleast in the field of avs that is)
[/B]

UnConeD

17th November 2004 23:08 UTC

http://forums.winamp.com/showthread....nt+x+y+z+shape

PAK-9

18th November 2004 17:32 UTC

owned

MaTTFURY

20th November 2004 00:21 UTC

i didn't know better ... :(