Replying to: willow

I want to use Pivot 3 or Pivot 4 figures, how do?
How do I download/import new stickfigures?
How do I use a pack (ZIP file)?
When importing a stickfigure, the app is giving me an error message – what do I do?
How can I share my animation (GIF or MP4)?
Why is my GIF animation not moving on my iOS device?
How can I upload my animation to Youtube?
How can I add sounds/music/voices to my animation?
How can I delete stickfigures/projects/exports from my device?
How can I remove an imported stickfigure from the library of my project?
How can I add more sounds to import?
How can I create a ZIP (also how do I submit a ZIP or submit stickfigures)?
How do I export in high quality?
If I buy Pro, do my projects and stickfigures carry over from the Free version?
I have an idea for Stick Nodes, will you add it?
Q. I want to use Pivot 3 or Pivot 4 figures, how do?
A. By default, Stick Nodes can easily import STK files made with Pivot 2 and lower. If you have a Pivot 3 or 4 stickfigure, you will need to DOWNSAVE it using Pivot 4. Open your stickfigure in Pivot 4, edit it, and re-save it as a V2 file. See this image.

Q. How do I download/import new stickfigures?
A. Check the dropdown answer at the top of the stickfigures page.

Q. How do use a pack (ZIP file)?
A. Check the dropdown answer at the top of the stickfigures page.

Q. When importing a stickfigure, the app is giving me an error message – what do I do?
A. If you’re importing a Pivot STK file, make sure the stickfigure was made with Pivot 2.2.7 or earlier (not Pivot 3 or Pivot 4, you can use Pivot 4 to re-save a stickfigure as a 2.2.7 file and then import that).

If you’re importing a NODES file, make sure your Stick Nodes app is up-to-date as this is most likely the issue. If you’re using an older version of the app, you may be trying to import a stickfigure that was made with a newer version of the app. As a result, your Stick Nodes app doesn’t know how to open the file.

Q. How can I share my animation (GIF or MP4)?
A. After exporting your animation as either a GIF or MP4 file, go to the Gallery/Camera Roll of your device. Find the file you just created and share it to any social network as you would with any other piece of media on your device. (Note you cannot share a GIF file to Youtube as it is not a video, read below to find out how to convert a GIF to a video file.)

Q. Why is my GIF animation not moving on my iOS device?
A. This is an old issue for IOS users, as of recent IOS versions GIFs will play just fine in your gallery. If you notice your GIF is not animating, and you have an older IOS version, that is the issue. The GIF will still play fine if uploaded/sent via email.

Q. How can I upload my animation to Youtube?
A. If you have the Pro version of Stick Nodes, simply export your animation as an MP4 file. Afterwards, go into the Photos/Camera Roll on your device and find this video file. From there, you can share it to Youtube just the same as you would with any other video on your device.

Now, if you only have the Free version, you’ll be limited by only being able to export a GIF file. After exporting, you’ll need to import this GIF into another app or desktop-based video-editing program and re-export it as a video file. You would then upload this file to Youtube.

Q. How can I add sounds/music/voices to my animation?
A. As of the 1.6.0 update, Pro users can add sounds to their animations from within the app! Select a frame and look under Frame Tools for the sound options.

For Free users, however, all is not lost. You can very easily take your exported GIF or MP4 files and import it into another app or desktop-based video-editing program. From there, you’ll more than likely be able to add sounds/music/voices and re-export your animation as a video file.

For desktop, programs like Windows Movie Maker, Flash, or iMovie would very easily do the trick. I’m sure there are also many apps like this as well.

Q. How can I delete stickfigures/projects/exports from my device?
A. As of the 1.6.0 update, you can delete stickfigures/projects from the Import/Open windows in the Stick Nodes app. To delete exports, go to the Camera Roll/Gallery on your device and delete them like any other photo/video.

Q. How can I remove an imported stickfigure from the library of my project?
A. Since the 3.0.0 update of Stick Nodes, you can “Edit” the list of imported stickfigures (see the edit icon next to the imported stickfigures lists in the app). From there you can rename and delete-from-the-project any imported stickfigures.

Note that deleting a stickfigure from the library of a project will remove that stickfigure from all frames as well!

Q. How can I add more sounds to import?
A. If you’re on Android, the app should automatically find compatible sounds in your /download/ folder (they must be MP3 and less than 256kb in size). So simply Google for a sound you want, download the file, then open Stick Nodes and go to import the sound – it should be there in the list if it satisfies the above criteria.

If you’re on iOS, since the 2.2.3 update it’s much easier. If you’re downloading an MP3 sound from Safari/your browser, just replace the “http” in the URL with “stknds”. This will open the SN Pro app and download the sound into your library, then just go to import the sound – it should be there in the list (if it was an MP3 under 256kb in size).

Still regarding iOS, if you’re instead OPENING an MP3 already on your device (aka not on Safari/your browser) – for example an email attachment or a file in Dropbox, then long-press the file and select “Import with Stick Nodes Pro”. This will open the SN Pro app and download the sound into your library, then just go to import the sound – it should be there in the list if it in fact was an MP3 under 256kb in size.

Q. How do I submit stickfigures / a pack of stickfigures?
A. Check under Library Tools in the app for the Submit Stickfigures button, use that to select all of the stickfigure(s) you wish to submit. The approval process takes a few days, you will receive back an email once your stickfigure(s) are approved and live on the website.

Q. How do I export in high quality?
A. When exporting a GIF or an MP4, simply change the resolution to 1280 x 720 (or 1920 x 1080). It will take longer to export, and some devices may struggle with 1080p, but will look much better!

Q. If I buy Pro, do my projects and stickfigures carry over from the Free version?
A. On Android, yes. Stick Nodes Free and Pro both share the same folder.

On iOS you need to transfer the files yourself with iTunes. DO NOT UNINSTALL THE FREE VERSION UNTIL YOU’VE PERFORMED THIS TRANSFER.

After buying Pro, connect your device to a computer and open iTunes. Click the little device icon at the top and then click “Apps” on the left. On the new screen, scroll down to the “File Sharing” section and in the list you will see “Stick Nodes” and “Stick Nodes Pro”.

Go into “Stick Nodes” and select all of the project and stickfigure files from the list and save them to your computer (for example, just save them onto your desktop).

After, select “Stick Nodes Pro”. Now select all of the files you just saved (for example, from your desktop) and simply drag them over into the list. They will automatically be uploaded into your device.

You’re simply temporarily transferring Stick Nodes Free files onto your computer, and then immediately moving them into Stick Nodes Pro.

Q. I have an idea for Stick Nodes, will you add it?
A. Maybe! Please do let me know. Feel free to @ralph me in the Activity section of the website. Not to sound ungrateful, as I truly love the enthusastic users of the app and the new ideas they come up, but I sometimes get asked the same things over and over, so here’s a quick rundown on some of the more common requests in in a tl;dr fashion:

1. Transparent nodes/segments?

This is a roundabout way of asking for filters per segment. Unfortunately, allowining filters, or even proper handling of transparency on a per-node basis, requires a whole extra layer of rendering logic. And if you’ve used Stick Nodes with a moderate amount of nodes/filters on the screen, you already understand how the app is pushing it to the limit when it comes to processing power vs lag. So no, sorry. Not anytime soon.

2. Drawing?

Stick Nodes isn’t a “drawing” animation app, it’s more of an object-based/building system. It would be too convoluted to combine the two.

2½. Music?

Maybe, but it’s not on the priority list right now.

3. Unlimited nodes PLS!

As it is with most denied ideas, memory has to be conserved or you’re gonna have a bad time. The node/stickfigure limits are in place to keep all users within a “reasonable” state of use to keep the playing field even (for sharing/creating) as well as to prevent you from crashing the app and then come yelling at me because you had eight million dash effects on the screen.

More nodes = more lag, as well. Much more lag. In fact, TRY to actually conserve node usage when creating stickfigures, it will only result in a much more lag-free stickfigure!

4. Multiple backgrounds?

This might happen eventually. I originally just took a page out of Pivot’s playbook where Pivot also only allowed one background image. This does help to conserve memory, as well, since images eat up memory fast. This will be addressed in a future update.

5 Pls text layering…

Maybe.

7. Stick Nodes PC when!?

Oof. Look, I want Stick Nodes PC too. Badly. It would be awesome. It still might happen, too. Here’s the thing. A typical day for me is basically wake up – work on Stick Nodes – go to sleep. And that’s WITHOUT a “PC version” in the works. That’s all just app work. And website work. And stickfigure-submission handling. And community management. Etc…

So will it ever happen? I hope!

8. Pivot projects or newer STK files?

Okay so back when SN was young, being compatible with Pivot files was very important. I’m still happy that I did add support for Pivot 2 stickfigures, but that was only doable because some madlad was able to decode the STK format and properly make sense of all the bytes so, in turn, I could turn that into code for SN to read.

So unless said madlad comes back and can decode Piv3 / Piv4 STK files, I have no plans of adding compatibility with these formats to Stick Nodes, sorry. I mean, there are over 50,000+ and counting stickfigures available on the website, surely you can find something.

Oh and as for PIV project files, same goes for that. I do not not know how to read the files but also, at this point, PIV and STKNDS files are so different (features) that compatibility may even be impossible. Text, camera, moveiclips, filters, sounds, etc…

9. Auto-Save pls

There is auto-save in Stick Nodes, it’s called “Save Reminder” and it can be turned on/off from the “App Settings”. While it doesn’t actually save the app automatically, it does give you the chance to by reminding you every X minutes.

It has all the benefit of auto-save by reminding you to save but not FORCING you to stop and wait 1,2,3+ minutes while your project saves when you really would prefer it had not interrupted you.

Now, auto-saving a stickfigure you’re creating/editing in Creation Mode is a different story, and is on the to-do list to be added eventually.

10. But there was no six?

Good, nobody likes the number six it’s the worst.

11. Masking? Layers? Music?

Very OP features which would require an entire app rework from the ground up. Always possible in the future, but right now, these are for a hypothetical future Stick Nodes PC release only.

12. I want to record sound pls?

Just use a proper (and more robust than SN could ever do) sound-recording app, save as MP3 (edit/crop the audio if necessary), and import into Stick Nodes.

13. My audio cuts off when playing why do you suck Ralph?

This is actually a built-in memory-saving sound limit that is used by the underlying framework Stick Nodes is built upon. While I can hack it away, until I have time to look into that and its repercussions we must suffer.

14. How do I update Stick Nodes?

The same way you update any app, visit the app store from where you downloaded the app. If you visit that store page and don’t see an “Update” button, then you are not logged in to the same Google Play / App Store account from which you bought the app.