Why is Spine so sketchy?

CVB

Been thinking of getting Spine for long time but when I try to buy it, it is always sketchy as f**k and I think I'll do it later.

Why is there no https security on most of the pages? Why does it not take Paypal? Why is the IK implementation displayed in most confusing way in the version features matrix? Will prepaid cards work? Why is there no price in EUR? Why does purchasing Spine feel like I am buying electronics on an alleyway from some dude's car trunk?

CVB

Luke

Hello,

-In regards to HTTPS not being present on all pages: we use HTTPS on all pages that contain sensitive information, such as the Spine purchase page or the software downloads page.
-Paypal: we used to accept Paypal in the past, but found that many customers had a whole host of issues paying for Spine with Paypal and subsequently removed it as a payment method. We accept many forms of payment, such as most major credit cards, Alipay, and bank wire transfer.
-The "IK implementation" being displayed in a confusing manner: the purchase page mentions IK constraints as a feature only once so that you know it's one feature among many that makes Spine a very powerful program.
The IK constraint is explained in far greater detail here. If you have a suggestion that would improve the features table for Spine, please let us know.
-Prepaid cards: That's up to Stripe, the company we use to process credit card transactions. However, if you run into any issues when purchasing Spine, please let us know.
-No EUR price: we're a US-based company, and use USD as our standard currency to avoid also having regional specific pricing. This in turn means that no particular country or currency has a pricing advantage or disadvantage over another; every user, business, or entity that wishes to license Spine pays the same amount that's listed on our purchase page.

CVB

The IK constraints part is confusing. Hovering over "Posing" in feature matrix, it says there is IK in all versions. IK constraints is only on Pro. Is IK constraints more of an real-time interactive thing (and all versions have traditional IK for baked-in animation)?

Nate

The Pose tool in the editor uses IK to set the rotation of bones. The Pose tool IK is only used when dragging around the Pose tool handle in the editor. This is in both Spine Essential and Spine Professional.

IK constraints also set the rotation of bones, but they do it whenever the target bone moves, both in the editor and at runtime. IK constraints (and other constraints) are only in Spine Professional.

CVB

Sorry, still bit confused.

Is the Pose tool IK similar to what it would be like in Flash's armature posing?

Nate

Sorry, I'm not familiar with that feature in Flash and a quick search doesn't turn up much.

Pose tool docs are here:
Tools - Spine User Guide: Pose tool

To use IK with the Pose tool, select 2 or more bones then start a drag from any of those bones (or the handle at the tip). You can give that a try in the Spine trial.

The Pose tool is sort of Spine's "multi-tool". It can do both rotation and translation, without you needing to change tools. To translate, drag from the origin (start) of a bone. To rotate, drag from a selected bone or the handle at the tip of a selected bone.

Unlike all other tools in Spine, the Pose tool is the only one that requires you to grab little handles to manipulate things. With other tools you can drag anywhere to manipulate the selected objects.

CVB

In Flash I can for example pin down characters feet bones so that when I move hip bone up and down rest of the legs animate naturally (while feet remain at the same position). Is this something that can be done in Spine Ess or does it require Pro?

Nate

That sounds similar to an IK constraint, which needs Spine Professional.

CVB

OK, thanks for the info. I have gotten so used to IK working like that in Flash so that is deal breaker for me. Shame because program seems very good but not taking full advantage of IK's in $69 version forces me to find another software solution (likely sticking to Flash).