Inscribed is a web application that lets users create stop-motion animations and slideshow presentations using Excalidraw drawings. It provides a simple interface for sequencing drawings, adding transitions, and exporting the final product as a video or GIF. The tool leverages the familiar Excalidraw drawing experience, making it easy to create engaging visual content, from animated explainers to dynamic presentations.
The creator of VideoToFlip.com offers a service that transforms digital videos into physical flipbooks. Customers upload their videos, choose from various sizes and paper types, and receive a custom-printed flipbook that animates their video when flipped. This allows for a tangible, nostalgic way to experience digital content. The service is marketed towards individuals seeking unique gifts or a personalized way to preserve memories, and also caters to businesses looking for promotional materials.
HN commenters were generally impressed with the craftsmanship and niche nature of the business. Some expressed concerns about copyright issues when converting copyrighted video content into flipbooks. Others questioned the practicality and longevity of the offering in a digital age, while some praised its unique tactile and nostalgic appeal. Several commenters suggested potential markets like gifts, promotional materials, or educational tools. There was also discussion about the technical process, including printing methods and binding techniques, with some users offering alternative approaches. Finally, a few users shared personal anecdotes about creating flipbooks in their youth, further highlighting the nostalgic element.
Summary of Comments ( 4 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43078555
Hacker News users discussed Inscribed's potential, particularly its integration with Excalidraw. Some saw it as a valuable tool for creating explainer videos and presentations, appreciating its simplicity and the familiar Excalidraw interface. However, others questioned its value proposition compared to existing tools like PowerPoint or dedicated animation software, expressing concerns about limited features and potential lock-in. The lack of offline functionality and reliance on a closed-source platform were also points of concern for some commenters. There was also a discussion about the challenge of effectively using stop-motion animation for conveying complex information.
The Hacker News post for Inscribed, a tool for creating stop-motion animation and slides using Excalidraw, generated several comments discussing its potential uses, limitations, and comparisons to other tools.
Several commenters expressed enthusiasm for the application, praising its intuitive interface and the clever integration with Excalidraw. One user highlighted its potential for creating engaging presentations, envisioning its use for crafting animated explanations of complex topics or producing short, animated stories. They appreciated the ability to leverage the familiar drawing tools of Excalidraw within a dedicated animation environment.
The discussion also touched upon the limitations of the current version. Some users pointed out the absence of features like onion skinning (the ability to see previous frames while drawing the current one), which is a standard feature in most animation software. This limitation, they argued, makes it challenging to create smooth and consistent animations. Another user suggested the addition of tweening functionality (automatic generation of in-between frames) to simplify the animation process.
Comparisons were made to other tools like Rough Animator, which some commenters felt offered a more robust feature set for animation, albeit at a cost. The open-source nature of Excalidraw and its integration with Inscribed was seen as a significant advantage by some, who valued the flexibility and control it offers. One commenter specifically mentioned using Excalidraw for storyboarding and expressed interest in how Inscribed could further streamline their workflow.
The conversation also drifted towards broader topics like the potential of web-based animation tools and the increasing accessibility of creative software. One user pondered the future of presentation software, suggesting that tools like Inscribed could pave the way for more dynamic and engaging presentations compared to traditional slide decks.
While some users expressed concerns about potential performance issues with complex animations, the overall sentiment towards Inscribed was positive. Many viewed it as a promising tool with the potential to fill a niche in the animation and presentation software landscape, particularly for users already familiar with the Excalidraw ecosystem.