I've been a little slow in the past week, mainly due to computer troubles eating some content I'd been working on. So, rather than surprise you, instead here's a preview of what's coming up this week (assuming my laptop doesn't get hungry again):

• Review of CrazyTalk 6.0 Pro: I've reviewed a past version of CrazyTalk, but this one really blew me out of the water. It's so far above the first edition that it's practically a wholly new application.
• How-To Guide on Picking Animation Software: We covered this question in brief in the FAQ, but this week we'll go through a step-by-step series of questions to ask yourself, with examples of software packages that meet that criteria.

So far we've had one submission to the Animation Showcase. One. C'mon, guys, I know you can do better than that. Most animators want to show off their work, and it's free publicity. The next five people to send in a submission for the animation showcase will get the extra bonus of a feature spot in the left-hand sidebar for a week. The submission guidelines are easy as pie; it's as simple as point, click, and send.

A reader recently wrote in to ask me what animation software "the big studios" use, so she could learn how to use it. Unfortunately that's a very vague question, and one that doesn't have a concrete answer. There is no industry-mandated software package that all studios use, but there are some that many studios prefer depending on their medium and target audience.

You might find studios like Pixar, who develop their own proprietary animation software - or Warner Brothers, who've been known to use everything from Toon Boom to Flash. DigiCel Flipbook has been a favorite of traditional animation studios for years, but not the only one. You might find a studio using Maya one day and Toon Boom Digital the next, depending on the production format and their needs; in fact, you might even see composites of content produced in many programs, united in one scene.

In the end they use the best program available to get the job done for the lowest cost - whether they use a mainstream package or create what they need themselves. You should worry less about using the software the studios use and worry more about honing your animation skills to the point where you produce excellent animations no matter what program is at your fingertips.

I am one clumsy sucker with a mouse - especially with my laptop's touchpad. There was a time when I could draw detailed, proportional art on-screen without use of a graphics tablet; now I'm lucky if I can hit the link I was trying to open on the first shot. I blame old age and carpal tunnel. (Or I'm just an uncoordinated mess; can you use "old age" as an excuse when you're only 29?) Because of this, I often goof up when tweaking gradients in Flash. It's not uncommon for me to accidentally add five or six unwanted color swatches to a gradient's palette, just from trying to adjust the position of existing swatches. Thankfully I don't have to drive myself batty by manually dragging them off the color bar area until they disappear; just a little keyboard shortcut fixes the problem. Well...assuming I can hit that tiny square on the first try.