Synfig Studio for Windows

Used Synfig Studio for Windows?

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffSeptember 21, 2018

The last time we reviewed Synfig Studio, we were deeply impressed by this powerful freeware animation suite but more than a little daunted by the installation and setup process (make that processes). Synfig Studio is still totally free, but now it's also totally easy to install and easier than ever to use. Of course, creating digital animations is not exactly the same thing as applying the red-eye filter in your image editor; it's still a detailed process that involves a lot of steps. But Synfig offers tons of help, tutorials, examples, and extras, making it as easy or easier to use than other Flash animation tools, and it's fun to see your animations come to life.

Synfig Studio's user interface consists of three floating windows: the Toolbox, which serves as the main window and control panel; the Canvas, or working surface, which can be more than one instance; and Panels, which centralize access to a variety of project tools and information. Panels can be opened, closed, ragged around, and changed in various ways. The Toolbox looks like a cross between a calculator pad and a tool palette, with a variety of icons for accessing system features and tools. We started with the wiki-style Help file, though we could also view tutorials and a Reference page and access Web-based resources. The Canvas page opens with a default Root Canvas, "Synfig Animation 1," but its toolbar suggested doing various things to ducks, so we quickly retreated to the comfort of the Help file and tutorials. We got our feet wet in the Help file by clicking the heading labeled "Diving In." It turns out "ducks" aren't waterfowl at all but instead are simple means of controlling a parameter, such as the radius or diameter of a circle.

There's something to be said for the fact that Synfig Studio exists at all: you can download, for free, a full-featured animation creation studio that can create digital animations surpassing anything Hollywood could do not so long ago. Anyone who has used a video editor or similar tools should be able to learn the basics of this capable suite, with some time and effort, not to mention a little animation and some fun.

Synfig Studio for Windows

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: April 30, 2012

Latest update: September 21, 2018

Version: 0.63.05

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows 7
Windows 10
Windows Vista
Windows XP

Additional Requirements: None

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 107,974

Downloads Last Week: 5

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Last Updated

User Reviews

3.5/5

15 User Votes

Ok interface, easy enough to use, but clunky
DragonGrl25July 4, 2012
Pros
It works very much like Flash Mechanics are logical Once you figure out the interface, it works well
Cons
The interface could be better It's clunky, and the animation I produced through the tutorial was also clunky. The tutorial was wrong about a few things, and unclear about others
Summary
I would have kept this program despite the weird interface and its slow performance, but when I viewed the animation I'd created - a ball moving from left to right (3 keyframes), it was jerky, pixellated, and simply looked bad. If it can't manage a simple ball, I don't want to see what it can't do with anything more advanced.
So far, the most powerful 2D animation software
GbeworldFebruary 24, 2012
Pros
simple interface and easy to use.
Cons
Few tutorial resource.
Summary
Horrible. Simply horrible.
DigruntledSynfigUserFebruary 7, 2012
Pros
There is a button that allows you to close and escape the nightmare of this terrible program
Cons
The single most NOT user-friendly program i have EVER had the displeasure of using. EVER.
Summary
I reccomend NOT downloading this program. EVER. For ANYONE. It is awful and I, along with any sane person on the planet, hate it more then satan. SATAN. What I am trying to say is that THIS PROGRAM IS SATAN.
Amazing, Powerful Software!
josfarneyDecember 31, 2011
Pros
It is as powerful as Flash and free open source!
Cons
Difficult to learn, but so is any animation software.
Summary
Good product , freeware with rich features
KamalooXDecember 4, 2011
Pros
free and easy to learn ...after a bit of tutorialling
Cons
interface is not flexible
Summary
Great animation program...
joeycagleNovember 5, 2009
Pros
Very similar to Flash, so it's easy for me.
Cons
It'snot actually Flash
Summary
You can't actually do Flash animations. I don't know why this article says you can. It's something they're working on, but it's not implemented yet. If you can do Flash animations in this, someone please let me know how. I'm using Synfig Studio in Kubuntu Linux. I have found no way turning my animations into Flash animations.
Hard-to-install, GNU = FREE def worth it, I reccomend
Vi3_Game_HkrJune 5, 2009
Pros
This is very great software and it is absolutely free! It is a great replacement for Adobe Illustrator/Adobe Flash, I recommend it! Plus it runs on the GNU platform so you can hook it up with your linux systems as well!
Cons
The installing isn't exactly the easiest thing and GNU isn't exactly the best formatted interface. Personally I'm a fan of the .NET stuff but GNU is great for cross-platform. There is a video of how-to-install listed on the download page.
Summary
I gotta say, I've seen Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Flash, sure those may be more powerful but spending over a thousand dollars for this stuff isn't my cup of tea, I'm not a professional studio and I don't need everything they have to offer. Synfig Studio (get their newest version, 0.61.09 at synfig.org!) is an awesome replacement and it's got tons of features. I've notice they really strive to point out how good the layer system is, and I agree it is unique and really good. I looked for a long time to find something equivalent to this, I haven't figured out if I can export stuff to a sprite-sheet (I'm a game developer, GIF vids aren't good for games) yet but if not I know some external programs that will do that for me. I definitely have to recommend this software if you don't have money but would like to get into 2D animations. I wouldn't recommend it if you aren't already familiar with the GNU interface, but everyone has to start somewhere right? combined with GIMP, this makes for some professional quality animations!
Thank GOD !!!!!
benwah001September 12, 2008
Pros
S*#%W Adobe,Synfig is a Gift , ThankYou Synfig ! To previous idiotZ w/ useless reviews READ THE DIRECTIONS, downloaded GTK+ & other installz,on Vista HomePre (refuse to use SP1 yet) 2.5 Intell Celeron & 2G memory--- Up & running like new money !
Cons
Haven't yet learned if Synfig has Flash like interactivity, ( ActionScript 3 like idea or something ... "SynScript" haha). Don't know enough about it But I know Vector graphics & timelines w/ Layers is always a GOOD start !
Summary
spell before actual reviews can be submitted as serious
crashBetaAugust 26, 2008
Pros
the program is awesome
Cons
none just read the manual
Summary
any user that take the cons from people who can spell shouldn't take the review serious, please people: <#include io.h> Crash_Beta
Good, useful, lots more potential development.
BagederApril 15, 2008
Pros
Some users' comments do not do justice to this tool, and that's why I decided to comment. SynFig provides a sophistcated set of facilities for developing layered pictures with animations. "Tweening" (automatic smooth transition from one fixed picture to another to produce animation) is a powerful labour-saving technique. There is an installation video on their web site which, although low resolution, removes the uncertainty, and the Help menu connects to a series of textual/pictorial tutorials which progress through the multitude of features. There is also an ambitious set of enhancements in the development pipeline, including major speed improvements. Follow the links to the Wiki and you can see some of what can be achieved!
Cons
This is not for you unless you are prepared to take it seriously. It does require you to put some effort into learning, just as other sophistcated packages do, such as Gimp and Flash. Do check for updates on the synfig web site.
Summary

Developer’s Description

Create vector based 2D animations on your Windows PC.

Synfig Studio is a vector based 2D animation program. It is designed to be capable of producing feature-film quality animation. It eliminates the need for tweening, preventing the need to hand-draw each frame. Synfig Studio features spatial and temporal resolution independence (sharp and smooth at any resolution or framerate), high dynamic range images, and a flexible plugin system.