Edit December 18 – Version 2.5.0 is finally out for iOS users. Enjoy, and please do redeem the Android users for not finding the super secret…

Changelog (2.5.0) (iOS)

• When testing smart-stretch, static nodes cannot be moved (fix will come to Android soon)

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Edit December 15 – Version 2.5.0 corrected a bug I thought I fixed in 2.4.9…My bad. What a waste of a great version number…

Changelog (2.5.0)

• Smart-stretch testing will not crash anymore
• Fix for a rare Open Project crash

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Edit December 14 – Version 2.4.9 is now released for Android users (iOS users #rekt again). This is likely the last release and iOS will be receiving the update any day now.

Changelog (2.4.9)

• Incremented allowable textfields (max 10, from 5)
• Fix – Can no longer zoom when a dialog window is open
• Fix – The “Reset length” button now applies any smart-stretching
• Fix – Crash when using the “Finish polyfill” button
• Fix – Android 9 / Pixel devices unable to open Stick Nodes
• Fix – Rotating a stickfigure with a locked node now keeps the node locked
• Fix – Stickfigure limit is back 🙂

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Sorry about that. I forgot how to push out new updates the past three months but I figured it out, we’re good now.

This was jok btw.

First thing is first, what’s new in 2.4.8? Well here’s the changelog.

Changelog (2.4.8)

• New feature “smart-stretch” which allows for more complex limb stretching. Read more about it under “Segment Tools” when in Creation Mode.
• Individual node lock, see under “Segment Tools”. Use to keep a single node in position regardless of other node/stickfigure movements.
• A “Quick Menu” has been added to help quickly jump around menus. Can be shut off in settings menu, under “App Tools”.
• Some bug fixes and tweaks.
• Something super secret has been added, good luck. (Pro only)

It may not seem like such a lot for such a long wait, but that Smart-Stretch kicked my ass in terms of trying to figure it out (math/code). It takes some learning to use, you can’t just tell a node to “yo do smart stretch” and expect it to work 100%. Limbs have to be built a certain way, best way to learn is to just try it out.

1. Smart-Stretch requires the node to be “Stretchy” and have “Smart-Stretch” enabled.
2. That’s not all. All children nodes (that you want to be squishable) need to be “Static” and “Stretchy”. So for example, a hand node would have “Smart-Stretch” enabled, and all forearm detail nodes would be “Static” and “Stretchy”
3. It’s easy to set all children nodes “Static” and “Stretchy” of an existing figure by using the “Modify Branch” window in Creation Mode.

Individual node lock is another useful feature. A good use case is to lock a foot in place, then move/reposition the limbs and body while animating a walk. As you’re animating, the foot will stay in place. No more tedious repositioning of the main node and aligning with the onion skin to keep a foot in place.

Here’s examples of both of those in action:

1. Properly applying “Smart-Stretch” to the first node of an otherwise static stickfigure, like the face, will make that stickfigure nicely squishable
2. Smart stretch limbs allow complex arms/legs to be properly stretched
3. Locking the foot will keep it in place even as you move the knee around

Also, many small tweaks and fixes were added. Not to mention the “Quick Menu” at the top. While possibly intrusive at first, I recommend leaving it there and trying to get used to it, helps jump around the menus a lot quicker. Otherwise you can set it to disabled in the app settings window.

And that’s all for this update! Please do let me know what I’ve broken down in the comments.

It will be coming to iOS very soon, watch this post for updates!

…

Oh, yeah, i guess something super secret was added, too. Whatever.

Alrighty then, that was a very successful first go of a stickfigure-based contest on the StickNodes.com website if I do say so myself.

If you didn’t know, here is the list of the finalists that the five judges considered when voting for their favorites. These finalists were chosen based on a combination of downloads, ratings, and overall popularity. The final-final winners were voted on directly by five judges (who did not enter the contest). They are listed on the above-linked page.

Anyway…without further ado. Here are the winners of the StickNodes #Halloween2018 stickfigure contest!

The winners are:

1. Fortnite Dire – By JackFly ($50)
2. Lava Monster – By Scorching Scorpio ($25)
3. Sir Jack O Lantern of Haunted Kingdom – By VariousPond ($10)
4. Kilther Pack – By Chaotic Thunder ($10)
5. Halloween Background Pack – By Regoma ($10)

And there we have it. It was tough deciding, many great stickfigures were submitted. I had to increase the winners to 5 from the original 3 because it would have been impossible to decide otherwise.

The five judges voted, and these stickfigures above won out the most points. If you’re interested in the tally, here were the final results:

1. Fortnite Dire (22)
2. Lava Monster (16)
3. Sir Jack O Lantern of Haunted Kingdom (14)
4. Kilther (10)
5. Halloween BG Pack (7)
6. Unwelcoming Street Background (5)
7. Will O Whisp Effect Pack I (1)

In future contests, what I’ll do is have a few more judges but also separate stickfigures into categories for equal voting (people, backgrounds, effects, etc).

But that’s all. Thank you to all who entered, it was a relatively smooth experience, a few issues here and there, but most submissions got in on time and were promptly uploaded.

If you’re a winner above, I’ll try to contact you, but regardless, send me an email [email protected] and simply tell me who you are just be all “sup I won the contest yo”. Some of you don’t check your emails etc so it’s easier if you contact me first.

Happy Halloween!

PS The demon is fake.

Submissions are closed! Any more incoming #Halloween2018 stickfigures will undergo the normal wait/approval/upload process as the contest is winding down.

Here are the finalists!

The judges will choose their favorites Monday/Tuesday – and on Wednesday (Halloween) I will announce the winners. :O

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Pretend I littered this post with a bunch of seasonal spooky puns.  I’m not clever enough to come up with any.

Alright, so let’s do something special for Halloween this year. Starting today, all stickfigures submitted with the #Halloween2018 hashtag are entered into a contest to win some cashmoneys.

What the rules is?

1. 

   Each user is allowed a max of 3 submissions.

2. When you submit the figure, make sure you write #Halloween2018 in the description or I won’t know you want it to be entered. I will not be assuming or adding the hashtag for you.
3. Submissions must be relevant to Halloween/spookyness…obviously.
   This could mean a pumpkin, a realistic vampire, a Freddy Krueger dude, or even your own OC killer (within reason – for example, a “hitman” style killer isn’t really Halloween-ish). I can’t account for everything here, so this will be determined on a case-by-case basis, likely in the comments of your stickfigure.
4. Winners will be announced on Halloween day (USA time).
   Account for the fact that if you submit on October 29th, for example, I very well might not get to your submission in time. I will do my best, but it’s best to submit early, that way it also allows your stickfigure to gather downloads/votes. Which leads me to judging…

How will this be judged?

1. At the end of the contest, I will gather all stickfigures entered into the contest. Based on the amount of downloads, votes, and overall reception – I will compose a list of about 10-15 stickfigures containing the best of the best.
   Now, we all know “downloads” can be misleading (I’m looking at you, Dash.nodes) so I will be using a little common sense as well.
   Also, I will have to account for the fact that submissions entered on October 10th will have many more downloads than those submitted on October 25th, for example.
2. This list will be provided to a panel of 5-6 esteemed and smart and handsome judges.
   Each judge will rank their top three choices based on a variety of criteria including originality, usefulness, humor, detail, etc. Rank 1 = 3 points, rank 2 = 2 points, rank 3 = 1 point.
   I will gather and tally the results. The three winners are those with the highest combined scores from the judges. Note, a single user cannot win more than one prize even though they may have more than one stickfigure in the final judging.

Judges yet to be determined. So far likely to be @ralph (me), @sbyrnes, @dmlan, @binarycode, and a couple others (who will not enter the contest).

Winners will be emailed to the same email they used to submit the stickfigure. Or if they’re a user here, they will be contacted on the website. Either way, a post will be made when the winners are announced, so you can also check that to see if you won.

What are the prizes?

1. The top three winners will receive $50, $25, and $10 in that order. This will be paid through a Google Play or App Store gift card. If not doable, something like a Steam code or even Paypal will be used.
   Note, stuff like this varies greatly country-to-country. For US-based residents nothing mentioned here is a problem, but for anyone else we may have to make different arrangements if ordering an international gift code, for example, simply isn’t doable.
2. The top three winners will also win a #Halloween2018 badge and be forever etched into the history of Stick Nodes greatness.

A little tip – people love custom thumbnails – might be a diabolical way to get downloads. Typical custom thumbnail rules apply (must appropriately showcase what is being downloaded and do so clearly).

And that’s about it. If this goes well, mayhaps might just do it again for Christmas…