Design

DoInk Makes Simple Animations A Snap

We’ve shown you how to make your own comic strips, but what about animations? DoInk is a free and sophisticated web-based tool that brings your still images to life.

DoInk is both an application and an online community for animators; the actual animation application we’re linking to is quite feature rich, especially for a free offering. You can use the drawing tools to create objects from scratch or pull them from the substantial database of user created submissions. Cloning individual frames is easy and the ability to fine tune changes from frame to frame makes smooth animation a snap. Your animations are easily shared via email, embedded links and through social networks. There is even direct-to-YouTube publication tool if you’re dying to get your creation out to as big an audience as possible. Check out the tutorial video below to see it in action:

For samples of work created using DoInk, check out the featured animation section here. DoInk [via Webware]

Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)

  • McWhammer

    This is actually just what I needed. My company is going to overhaul the website, and I wanted to make a nice animation splash screen... this will definitely ease the process, and I won't have to buy some stupid program to do it.

    Thanks Lifehacker!

  • GoodBytes

    This is like Flash. Just simpler.

    GoodBytes

  • GoodBytes

    This is like Flash. Just simpler.

    GoodBytes

  • Phoshi

    @GoodBytes: Oh great, I'll go use fl... wait, it costs considerable sums of money.

  • lmaonaise

    A very simple animation tool. Thanks~!

  • willy1234x1

    It isn't getting me off of Flash anytime soon.

    My $0.02

    willy1234x1

  • Ibrahim Ashry

    coooooool, i like it

    Ibrahim Ashry

  • Ibrahim Ashry

    coooooool, i like it

    Ibrahim Ashry

  • Jordan117

    Ho. Lee. Crap. Is Lifehacker reading our minds now? Because this is *precisely* what I've been looking for recently, a simple way to do drag-and-drop animation without having to mess with the complex keyframe interface of something like Flash. Why, just yesterday I searched Google for "simple animation software" and turned up nothing. But this? This is perfect. Thank you!

    Jordan117

  • ib2009

    Still needs a lot of time to learn. Nothing is very very simple

    ib2009

  • Tex1961

    Looked cool, signed up, verified my email, started, Firefox crashed 3 times. Maybe another day.....

    Tex1961

  • pale_blue_eyes

    If you're needing an animated presentation, you might want to take a look at Prezi [prezi.com]

    pale_blue_eyes

  • pale_blue_eyes

    If you're needing an animated presentation, you might want to take a look at Prezi [prezi.com]

    pale_blue_eyes

  • Krunky

    @pale_blue_eyes: Very impressed with Prezi...Thanks!

    Have you purchased a licensed version?

    Krunky

  • Steven_S

    Looks cool - I'll certainly try that one!

    Steven_S

  • Steven_S

    Looks cool - I'll certainly try that one!

    Steven_S

  • Aaron White

    @Tex1961: Aaron here, one of the folks behind DoInk... I'd love to know what version of FF and platform you are on, would love to squash what sounds like a bug w/ our site! Let me help? aaron@doink.com, thanks!

    Aaron White

  • Marla Chupack

    Great animation tool!

    Marla Chupack

  • pale_blue_eyes

    @Krunky: Nope -- just found out about it yesterday. But it really looks cool, doesn't it?

    pale_blue_eyes

  • justatwork

    FF 3.0.8 worked perfect.

    justatwork

  • Dentman

    @ib2009: I was able to use this program Friday night to make a 15 minute animation and win first place at the Movie festival on Saturday!
    It's super simple. I didn't even own a computer 4 month's ago.

    Dentman

  • Tex1961

    @Aaron White: Thanks for the concerm. FF 3.0.8, Windows XP SP3

    Tex1961

  • Tex1961

    @Tex1961: I had an old version of Java Sun's site said it was pre 1,4,2. Sorry ffor the trouble. The site works fine. My bad!

    Tex1961

  • Tex1961

    @Tex1961: I had an old version of Java Sun's site said it was pre 1,4,2. Sorry ffor the trouble. The site works fine. My bad!

    Tex1961

  • Aaron White

    @Dentman: would love to hear your story (and see your animation!) please email me if you get the chance: aaron@doink.com

    Aaron White

  • Follower46

    @willy1234x1: Agreed, there is something great about having $600 worth of control. Money well spent.

  • rlofblad

    Been on this for a while, it's full of win and awesome. I'm going to use it to make an animation about medical imaging!

    rlofblad

  • antiDesign

    I looked through two pages and will never go back again. Too much bad anime and bad grammar for me to handle.

    antiDesign

  • sniper001

    simple for kids to get started in animation,anything more advanced needs flash

    sniper001

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