KToon
Encyclopedia
KTooN is a software application for the design and creation of 2D animation
. This tool, inspired by and for animators, is being developed by an open community. It is covered under the terms of the GNU General Public License v3, meaning that KTooN is Free Open Source Software
.
, Colombia
in 2002 as an initiative of two young animators working at the Toonka Films and Soluciones Kazak companies. They were looking to create software that would encourage the evolution of the incipient 2D animation industry in Latin America at that time. From the beginning of the project they determined that the application would have to be open and portable to as wide a range of operating systems as possible. Initial priority has been given to open source platforms like GNU Linux based distros. During this first planning phase, the name KTooN was chosen for the software, the first interface designs for the application were made and the Qt library was selected as the main library for programming the software.
During the same year the project applied for and received a grant from Colciencias, a public entity of the Colombian government dedicated to the promotion of science and technology. This grant sponsored KTooN's development for the first year, supporting a team of two programmers and one consultant. During this first cycle the project's website was published at http://ktoon.toonka.com, and the first release (version 0.7) was published.
In 2003, looking for new sponsors, the project applied to Sena, a Colombian government institution dedicated to public education. The project received a grant that sponsored KToon for another year of development with a team of programmers similar to that of the first cycle. Release of version 0.8 was completed and the project started gaining popularity with users around the world.
Unable to secure further funding, the project was dormant for three years, until 2009. In 2009 the original creators of the project, now with a new company called Labtoon SAS, resumed work on KTooN with the intention of making it the premier project of its type. In the middle of 2010 KTooN's re-launch was announced from its current domain (http://www.ktoon.net) and version 0.9 of the software was released. There was a considerable re-design made to the graphical interface and the new website focused on catering to the user community with resources such as forums and a public bug tracker. The new model of development includes frequent delivery of the source code with the latest updates.
The funding of the project in its third cycle is based on donations made from the community through the Internet.
which allows the creation of simple animations in only 5 steps.
Despite still being in beta phase, the software already includes these features:
(Free and Open Source Software) world, two other projects focus on the same topic:
2D computer graphics
2D computer graphics is the computer-based generation of digital images—mostly from two-dimensional models and by techniques specific to them...
. This tool, inspired by and for animators, is being developed by an open community. It is covered under the terms of the GNU General Public License v3, meaning that KTooN is Free Open Source Software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
.
History
The project began in CaliCalì
Calì, also written in English as Cali, is an Italian surname, widespread mainly in the Ionian side of Sicily.For the surname Calì is assumed the origin of the Greek word kalos , or from its Sanskrit root kali, "time."The surname refers to:...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
in 2002 as an initiative of two young animators working at the Toonka Films and Soluciones Kazak companies. They were looking to create software that would encourage the evolution of the incipient 2D animation industry in Latin America at that time. From the beginning of the project they determined that the application would have to be open and portable to as wide a range of operating systems as possible. Initial priority has been given to open source platforms like GNU Linux based distros. During this first planning phase, the name KTooN was chosen for the software, the first interface designs for the application were made and the Qt library was selected as the main library for programming the software.
During the same year the project applied for and received a grant from Colciencias, a public entity of the Colombian government dedicated to the promotion of science and technology. This grant sponsored KTooN's development for the first year, supporting a team of two programmers and one consultant. During this first cycle the project's website was published at http://ktoon.toonka.com, and the first release (version 0.7) was published.
In 2003, looking for new sponsors, the project applied to Sena, a Colombian government institution dedicated to public education. The project received a grant that sponsored KToon for another year of development with a team of programmers similar to that of the first cycle. Release of version 0.8 was completed and the project started gaining popularity with users around the world.
Unable to secure further funding, the project was dormant for three years, until 2009. In 2009 the original creators of the project, now with a new company called Labtoon SAS, resumed work on KTooN with the intention of making it the premier project of its type. In the middle of 2010 KTooN's re-launch was announced from its current domain (http://www.ktoon.net) and version 0.9 of the software was released. There was a considerable re-design made to the graphical interface and the new website focused on catering to the user community with resources such as forums and a public bug tracker. The new model of development includes frequent delivery of the source code with the latest updates.
The funding of the project in its third cycle is based on donations made from the community through the Internet.
Features
A main purpose of this project from the beginning has been to provide an easy user experience, starting from the design of the GUIGui
Gui or guee is a generic term to refer to grilled dishes in Korean cuisine. These most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetarian ingredients. The term derives from the verb, "gupda" in Korean, which literally...
which allows the creation of simple animations in only 5 steps.
Despite still being in beta phase, the software already includes these features:
- Modular user-friendly interface
- Animation and preview modules
- Basic tools for vector illustration (still beta)
- Timeline and exposure sheet (still beta)
- Bitmaps Importation (useful for Stop MotionStop motionStop motion is an animation technique to make a physically manipulated object appear to move on its own. The object is moved in small increments between individually photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement when the series of frames is played as a continuous sequence...
) - Export to various formats (Ogg Theora, AVIAudio Video InterleaveAudio Video Interleave , known by its acronym AVI, is a multimedia container format introduced by Microsoft in November 1992 as part of its Video for Windows technology. AVI files can contain both audio and video data in a file container that allows synchronous audio-with-video playback...
, MPEG, SWFSWFSWF is an Adobe Flash file format used for multimedia, vector graphics and ActionScript. Originating with FutureWave Software, then transferred to Macromedia, and then coming under the control of Adobe, SWF files can contain animations or applets of varying degrees of interactivity and function.,...
and a sequence of PNG images)
Development directions
The goal of being a tool for introducing rookie digital artists to the world of animation was fulfilled with the first releases. Currently the KTooN team is focused on reaching a professional level that will allow advanced users to make professional-looking animations. Some of the elements of their route map are:- TweeningTweeningInbetweening or tweening is the process of generating intermediate frames between two images to give the appearance that the first image evolves smoothly into the second image. Inbetweens are the drawings between the key frames which help to create the illusion of motion...
- Particles
- Sound Support
- Object Library
- Bones, Inverse Kinematics, Pivots
- Keyframe Support
- MorphingMorphingMorphing is a special effect in motion pictures and animations that changes one image into another through a seamless transition. Most often it is used to depict one person turning into another through technological means or as part of a fantasy or surreal sequence. Traditionally such a depiction...
Alternatives
Within the FOSSFree and open source software
Free and open-source software or free/libre/open-source software is software that is liberally licensed to grant users the right to use, study, change, and improve its design through the availability of its source code...
(Free and Open Source Software) world, two other projects focus on the same topic:
- PencilPencil (software)There are two software products named Pencil, that are not related to each other. This article is about the graphical animation software.# A 2D graphical animation software that runs on Mac, Windows, Linux and BSD...
: Traditional frame by frame 2D animation tool - SynfigSynfigSynfig Studio is a free and open source 2D vector graphics and timeline-based computer animation program created by Robert Quattlebaum with additional contributions by Adrian Bentley....
: An industry quality software designed for 2D animations - Tupi: 2D Magic: KTooN fork
- Blender (software)Blender (software)Blender is a free and open-source 3D computer graphics software product used for creating animated films, visual effects, interactive 3D applications or video games. The current release version is 2.60, and was released on October 19, 2011...