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There's no question one of LiveMotion's assets from the beginning is the timeline. Of course, it's based on AE so all of the familiar methods are there. As a result, it is far easier to use than the clumsy timeline that still exists in Flash MX. In addition, Adobe has automatically included layers to identify Frame Labels and Frame-based ActionScripts. Since most of us use both of these features in Flash, it's amazing that Macromedia has never added these offerings to the Flash timeline. Then again, there's a lot many of us can rant about when it comes to Flash's timeline and I'll save that for another time. Like AE, the ability to hide layers from the comp and nest comps is here which means you don't have to see all your layers at once which means less scrolling around the timeline editor. While I like Flash MX's new folder feature in it's timeline a lot, the fact I just cant make a timeline layer temporarily disappear is still very disappointing.
Another major feature to LiveMotion is the Preview Mode feature. If you've ever used any version of Flash, you know the only way to truly get a feel of how you're SWF works is by going to the Test Movie feature, which in turns takes you out of the stage, saves a SWF file you may or may not want, and then and only then can you test your movie. LiveMotion has made it much easier. Click the Preview Mode button on the bottom of the toolbar and BOOM! you're now testing and debugging your movie in the SAME window you were creating your masterpiece. Killer. [an error occurred while processing this directive] As you might expect, LiveMotion integrates exceptionally well with all Adobe products. For example, you can easily import a PhotoShop file into LiveMotion and maintain all layers in the LM comp. You can't even import PSD files into Flash. So basically a 20-layer PSD file takes approximately 170 steps to successfully import a document into Flash vs. 2 in the new LiveMotion. Sure, in Flash you can import a Fireworks PNG as layers (into a movieclip) but it's not the same and nowhere near as effective. For PhotoShop users, this is huge news.
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| The timeline - you think you're kind of in After Effects. |
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| Scripting has drastically improved and supports Flash 5 ActionScript as well as JavaScript. |
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| Inputing variables |
| Click on images for a closer view |
In addition to the Script Window, LiveMotion offers many automated script features including what is called 'LiveTabs' which are small LiveMotion movies that allow you to add automated features like animated text effects (similar to Wildform SWFX or !nfinit! Character Generator effects.) or easily add stars or other shapes. So far, most of the live tabs that ship with the product are basically for motion graphics and are not as interesting as Flash MX's new Components which make adding Scrolling Text Bars, Form Elements and Calendars a breeze. I'm sure someone is developing third-party LiveTabs to do this, but not at the current time of this writing.
One thing I found interesting with Adobe's new release of LiveMotion that should be mentioned is their de-emphasis of the SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) format which Adobe helped to create and champion for some time as a replacement to the Flash SWF format. In the new version of LiveMotion both the SWF format and Quicktime are emphasized as the export formats of choice. SVG is discussed only briefly on one page of the LiveMotion manual. Like PNG, the SVG format looks like it will be one big Edsel or Yugo in the web graphics car lot.
Documentation in LiveMotion is better than Flash weak documentation in their current version. There are two softcover manuals. One is a 180 page User Guide and the other is a 300+ page Scripting Guide. While the docs are OK, (you'll still probably need to buy another book, alas.) what really shines is the fact Adobe included another CD-ROM in the package which is a HyperCD featuring 90 minutes of LiveMotion training from the team at Total Training which is known for their excellent After Effects tapes. In addition, Adobe is offering a special where another 90 minutes of video is available of their website. Great way to lure in new users. (NOTE: While LiveMotion is now OSX ready, the tutorial CD is not. You will have to start up in Classic to use the CD-ROM if you're on a Mac.)
While there are many features that put LiveMotion 2.0 well ahead of Flash MX in usability and functionality, there are still some major missing elements. Besides no Flash MX ActionScript syntax, there is also no support for Streaming Media which is one of Flash MX's biggest advantages. As mentioned previously, there are no Components although some of Flash's component features could eventually be added to LiveTabs I assume in the future. Also, the documentation seems to emphasize that LiveMotion is basically still meant to be a Web Animation tool with Scripting abilities while Flash MX attempts (and in many ways, succeeds.) to be whole enchilada as a dynamic web app that can do live video, connect to databases, offer Instant Messaging, Chat Rooms and E-Commerce. While LiveMotion can do some of these features they are not heavily emphasized in their literature as much as Macromedia does in their's.
So should you get LiveMotion? It all depends. If you're creating animated web content and Motion Graphics, then LiveMotion is the way to go. It costs less (right now there is a special $199 offer which is half off their $399 list price.) than Flash MX and it does a lot of great stuff. However, if you're trying to create the killer web app with live streaming media and other dynamic features, Flash MX is still the way to go. If you really have the budget, consider buying both programs. While you can't import .FLA files into LiveMotion (and likewise .LIV files into Flash), you can export to .SWF from both apps and load them into a single site via empty movie clips or into levels using ActionScript....I mean LiveMotion JavaScript.....No. I mean ActionScript. LiveMotion JavaScript is just too damn long to say!
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