I was not expecting a Procreate Dreams update, and I was not expecting it to release so fast. Usually, I find out when it’s in beta and still six months from release. This time I found out on the day it released. Don’t know if that’s a good thing or bad thing.
Good: I didn’t have to wait.
Bad: I didn’t know; I wasn’t in the loop.
So far, the update to the animation app is a dream. Hee-hee, couldn’t resist.
Within using the app for only a few minutes, I noticed a change. It was a lot easier to move around, and the app seemed more user friendly.
I liked the separation between the flipbook and drawing modes. It took a moment to realize how I close the mode and return to my timeline; you have to tap on the mode title and then on finish whatever your mode is, like “Finish Drawing.”
I am so glad that they reworked how to adjust video duration and frame size. Instead of having to go into settings to change how long the video is, it’s right at the end of the timeline. The handles to adjust frame size come up much easier.
Reaction: The Bellwoods Game by Celia Krampien Ch 1-4
I wonder if Bailee’s aunt had something to do with Abigail’s disappearance. She’s only called “aunt” and she left town and never looked back, claiming the town was haunted (or is it guilt).
Bailee: Those last two (zombies and ghosts) are just stories; they don’t scare me.
Me: Famous last words.
It will take me some time to get use to the three timeline modes of Perform, Compose, and Keyframe. I keep adjusting the image’s size on Keyframe making the adjustment part of the video. The timeline cursor is a little harder to move around now. It keeps wanting to move the frame or highlight something; you have to get it just right. Also, the split frame command is now under a different area, and it isn’t as exact as it was; however, with how easy it is to adjust the frame size, it isn’t that bad.
Of course, like everyone says, I think the selection tools are SO much better. It is so much easier to select frames for moving or grouping. The addition of selection tools (as well as effects like blur) to flipbook and drawing make life so much easier I can’t even begin to explain.
The update to resizing the timeline is a game changer. It is much easier to zoom in or out on your timeline; the pervious way was so frustrating it was one of the reasons I stopped using the app as much. You can also now resize the video so that you can focus on the video or the timeline. If you want to review the video, you can shrink the timeline. If you want to work on the video, you can shrink the video preview.
Another great addition to the app is the ability to transform video or photos into flipbook frames. It makes adding effects to a video easier, and understandable. It does seem to erase the audio though.
Importing and exporting brushes and fonts is no trouble at all. The new system of using iCloud to store, copy, and move brushes and fonts is genius. However, many of the new animation brushes with Procreate Dreams 2 don’t work in Procreate, unless I’m missing a step. It is a shame because some of those brushes are awesome.
While it still needs some work, like adding auto-shapes–they really need to be added–Procreate Dreams 2 is a more enjoyable app. It is more user friendly; work flow is better; the new brushes are great; being able to transform video and photo to flipbook is great; and moving, selecting, and resizing frames and time duration (as well as resizing the timeline itself) was a much needed addition. Some things will still take some time to learn, but I left feeling I wanted to use it more.
Spread some holiday cheer: give the gift of a bookish adventure
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