Saturday, October 13, 2012

My App Is DONE!!! - Tutorial?

I'm finished! I'm just checking spelling and functionality one last time and then it's hit the submit button.

I Eat You! was so fun to make using the Talespring tool and now I want to share my process with you. If there is enough interest I would like to make a video tutorial and sell it at folioacademy.com Talespring is really easy to use if you know your way around the computer but if you're a bit iffy on preparing your artwork, making audio files, and using internet tools a tutorial might be for you.

What I would cover: How to start your story app on Talespring. How to use the text editor and highlighted text. How to attach voice recordings to your text. Ways of making voice recordings. How to clean up your voice recordings using audacity. How to optimize your images. How to prepare your images as .PNG or .jpeg files and when to use one vs the other. How to make hot spots. How to move assets using the talespring animation tools. How to string animations together. Work arounds for some of Talesprings limitations. Incorporating interactivity. Etc.

 So here's my iPad/iPhone story app cover - if you watch the video you can see some of the light animation I've used in the app.


Here are my little fishies - I love drawing and rendering fish - so much fun. I enjoyed both the writing, illustrating, voices and formatting... wait - that's 4 things! Wow! So cool to be able to do everything. I must admit that working this way opens up all kinds of new possibilities and my brain starts to hurt when I think of all the them.


The following video will show a little of the app and I talk about and show you the Talespring work space. Again let me know if you would pay money for a video tutorial that walks you through the creation process.

33 comments:

  1. Will, this is a fabulous idea. Please create the tutorials. I wud definitely purchase. Although a seasoned illustrator myself, I strongly believe we never stop learning, and even if I only take one thing away from a lesson, it has been still see this as a valuable success.It is something u didn't know before, and now I do.
    While I might know my way around a computer and digital drawing, I need some hand holding in the sound production and animation area. It would make me feel more confident in my journey knowing I had some exposure to what lays ahead. I loved your digital illustrating tutorial. Your passion, artistic skill and willingness to pass on your experiences is inspiring.
    Thank you for posting this blog, it is very fortuitous. I was just talking with my husband this morning about the creation of an a story book app, and how there will definitely be products that take away the guess work and the need for outside professional expertise. It can just take time, energy and money to filter out the good, the bad and the ugly. I like the idea of having full control of my project - the sense of satisfaction of know "I did that!"
    So please, think about doing the tutorial, I will definitely tell others about it!

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    1. Thanks for letting me know Karen - I really want to be able to make this tutorial. :)

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  2. You have my vote for a tutorial on Folio Academy. What was the other company you mentioned in this video. "Quickture"? I'm trying to find it online but can't find anything like it. I'm shocked at how hard it seems to pull up good info on ebook and app publishing. Thanks for all your great info!

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    1. Thanks Dan! That's Kwiksher - sorry - I should have put that up on the video. http://www.kwiksher.com/

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  3. If I have the money, I'm so all over this. Of course I have about four other Folio courses to add to my lineup, but this would probably take precedent over the other. I'm having such a struggle with Adobe (I think by design, they had apps much more user friendly like Catalyst, no longer offered) it would be worth it to me to spend a little less money, a lot less time for the same product and SHARE ANY (Any in triple bold because it's so discouraging, lol) profits. Still that being said, I won't be at the point for a few months, so no matter what I'd want to see and listen to your process, but by then you'll know if it's a good fit....

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    1. Good to know - I would like to de-mystify the process of preparing art work and gearing up to make one of these.

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  4. I'm really excited for you! This app looks super cute and I can't wait until you release it.

    I don't know if I would buy the tutorial or not. It would depend on how difficult I found the program to use. From your video, it looks pretty simple.

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    1. It is pretty simple Dena and a lot of people will have no trouble. I would gear the tutorial towards the person who doesn't necessarily work on the computer that often. Perhaps the person who doesn't know how to separate their art into assets. Scan and clean. Or even make simple animated gifs.

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  5. I too would love a tutorial on how to do this! Very interesting and would be up for that class

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  6. A tutorial would be well received! Your blog has been a wealth of information Terry. A big thank you for all your hard work and thoughtful topics!

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  7. Make it and I will buy it. LOVE your tutorials... this would be a great one!

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  8. How much is the tutorial? I am very interested, but I dont have a lot of funds... either way, I'd buy it outright or save up for it ;) Love your stuff its ALWAYS worth it! Best of luck on your fish book, Will!

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    1. Hi Rachael...I'm thinking 20-30 bucks. I would gear it to the person who doesn't do too much on the computer. With a little help just about anyone can make an iPad book.

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  9. Yes!! I would totally buy the tutorial. Thank you for sharing your app experiences. You are, by far, the best source I've found for info about ebooks and story apps. :)

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  10. Yes, I would be interested in a detailed tutorial. Thanks for sharing and I also wanted to know if you ever moved forward with working with developers on a book as you had mentioned in a previous post?

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    1. Thanks Angelo, Yes still working with developers on other apps...I'll be updating on those projects as well in the future. Learned a lot this past summer.

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  11. I haven't watched the video yet (I'm at work, and videos are blocked), but I went to the talespring website. So it cost $150 for you to do this, and they take half the profit? Is that normal? Do they also promote the book for you? I'm just curious, because I'm not sure how many books I would be able to sell, and for them to take half the profit on top of that...

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  12. Hey Crystal...it's the best deal I've found on a "money out the door" comparison.

    Traditionally published book- you get 5%
    Talespring - you get ten times the percentage - 50%

    if you find a better deal please let me in on it,.

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    1. That makes sense. I doubt I'll find a btter deal if you didn't!

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  13. A tutorial from you would be wonderful! Figuring out how to make an app is rather overwhelming. You'd do an excellent job of making it understandable.

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  14. Thanks for the heads up on this Will. I had no idea anything like this existed yet. I'd be very interested in a series of videos. Even If I didn't use this app the tutorials would be very helpful for making the artwork for using any kind of software to make apps.

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  15. Wow Cool! Looks like a heck of a lot of fun to use! Thanks again for sharing some of the gold you have found from net digging. My challenge is that I am using PS Elements 9 to create my images...and my computer is about 7 years old any tips as to if a system setup such as mine would work on such an app site? I have always been a pc user. Also, do you know if talespring is open to Canadians? I know I am asking for a lot of free random advice, and I just want to say thanks for symplifying my next step... app making research. I would love to support your tutorial endevor as I consider myself a life long learner:)

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  16. Hi Will, I would love to get the tutorial. Hope you get enough people. Phyllis let me know about you!

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  17. Hey kids, lets put on a show! I would definitely pay for this tutorial, Will. P.S. You have the friendliest-looking fish in the sea.

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  18. I would pay too! Am working on my first ever story and this story would also work with animation :) THANKS Will!

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  19. Yes Will I would really be interested in a video on this. I would be a paying customer as always.

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  20. Tutorial? Yes please!! :)
    If you offered it through your blog or the Folio Academy...I'm there!

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Feel free...