Hello I'm totally new to programming an was hoping someone would be able to give me some advice to point me in the right direction. I'm willing to learn a programming language - but not to learn ones inappropriate to what I need! So I thought I ask lovely nice people who would be familiar enough with programming to see what would work best. I want to create an application(?) which would be a cartoon graphic that could be customized by the users, with the finished graphic to be printed out on a pdf (launches on Adobe). The graphic would have a menu with the changeable options to the side. I have seen something similar, but I'm clueless as to how it was done. My idea is that the graphic was formed of layers, some of which could be changed, something like this; Top Layer - Non changing (static) black outline of the cartoon with rest of layer transparent. Middle Layers - There would be a "Mask" layer with a "Pattern" layer underneath. The mask layer would be transparent, except where the masking was to define where the pattern would show on the graphic (i.e. only where hair was) & the pattern layer can be cycled through/changed by using the menu. Bottom Layer - A graphic wide background - to change the background would change the whole layer. Basically, the application builds up a graphic by layering different graphics (png/gif/jpeg?) over each over - and on some layers the graphics can be changed. To stop the layers just smothering each over, the masks are used so only parts of a layer will show. I'm hoping I can use the same png/gif/jpeg in several applications at the same time to save memory i.e. the application is drawing on a folder of pattern graphics, instead of adapting each png/gif/jpeg to get the right areas transparent. (But I'm guessing another way of doing it instead of using masks would be to use some sort of mapping - however, I doubt it would be effective around curves & would be arduous to change for a new cartoon.) If possible, there could be a way of creating a "to print" pdf that will repeat certains defined aspects of the cartoon i.e. pdf would print one full cartoon, but also just the figure, just the head, objects/logos etc all on the same print page. Lastly, I need it to be small enough memory wise to fit several customisable cartoon graphics on one CD - or possibly placed on a webpage. Even to me this seems to be asking a lot! So, does anyone have any ideas what type of programming would be able to create this? Or even if there is a better way of going about this?
Heh, sounds to me like you want to learn Flash. . . You can then either make a standalone complex or you can embed it into an application. . . Also if your entirely new to programming then flash might be a good step forward until you have a more solid grasp on programming concepts. Otherwise some other good languages to start out with for programming beginners are Visual Basic, RealBasic and any form of basic. . .
From your description definately Flash. Once you know basic Flash you can advance in ActionScript (the programing language behind the scenes)
Windows Programming would be good for you.. Just joking. Maybe start from C++ then windows programming.. Windows programming is quite hard because of its vast arrays of functions and data types.
Thank you very much, ToddMicheau, ranabra & cipal15 You were very helpful. I think I'll check out Flash first, then if it doesn't do what I need, I'll progress to C++.