It really would've been nice to hear back from this company after I sent an email (on their website) and made comments here about my inability to properly activate the software (I wasn't the only one apparently). I guess it's a pox on their customer service that they failed to reply, but furthermore would make anyone wary to actually purchase their software.

Software installed - failed to run due to incorrect configuration:-(
System is XP SP3...

Despite numerous installation attempts, I couldn't get this to run on a win 7 64 (clean install). I don't have Stardock as mentioned in others posts, puzzled. I kept getting the error message received by others 'side by side configuration incorrect.'

Its a shame, as was just what I was looking for. :(

Install without problem on XP sp3.
The program saves in exe normally, but the file can't be open (Gif & video work fine).
If "List of examples" is checked, two new buttons appear and you can't use the "Base properties" of an animation anymore.
Thanks for this (fun) giveaway.

I get the same error messages as #10, 35, 39 and 40 (and maybe others). I would have liked to have this programme but can't if it won't instal. I don't have Stardock Fences, btw. Disappointing.

Unable to install this program, despite trying numerous times. I get a 3D-device error, then an EditorGif.exe Application error.

Win XP Pro, I'm the only user on this computer.

Could be a very useful tool for interesting Web Design efforts. Be sure to unpack the authorization program AND the data otherwise it may fail. Extension packs are a good deal since two for US$17 and you get lifetime license. Don't have to leave the program on my laptop.

@69
exit from the program
extrat all files in new folder run activate

hope this help

it works for me with win7 but ihave problem runing it in WinXP

install with no error but when i start I get the message
"The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0150004). Click OK to terminate the application

WinXP

#61 - Thank you for the tip about Internet access. I did have such access, but that didn't seem to be the problem. Like so many others today, I received no indication whether the software has been activated or not. Personally, I am unequipped to fiddle with the registry. Contacted publisher to ask for a license key...been waiting all afternoon and evening.

Hi, Update to my earlier Comm #48 - DP Extension Pack I've purchased back in Nov last year coincided with (then) GAOTD Offer of Animated Wallpaper Maker. That free (for Software!) License Key covers also Animated Screensaver Maker, and I was able to update both these Programs earlier on today indeed for free.

However! - The same "DP Ex.Pack" Key does NOT work with Today's DP Animation Maker, for which - to make it free and updatable, you would have to purchase "Extension Pack: Nature". I have tried to apply that Key to Animation Maker, and although it "took it" - on next startup I was back to Unregistered (Trial) version.
IMPORTANT! - Good job I saved GAOTD License Key to Notepad before changing it (habit:) - and was able to re-apply it to register this Program back!! That saved L.Code starts with Z-513...

Also - as for advice I gave earlier about keeping the original Example Packs "safe" from accidentally altering them AND saving the changes - thus loosing the original settings of them etc - They can be found in respective Folders (with Examples) in Docs&Setts/My Documents, so if copied from there to safe location somewhere else on PC beforehand - can always be over-copied back THERE for original reference without going on Internet to download them again.

One thing I don't have time to do tonight (as it's mighty late here in UK) is to purchase that Nature Pack TODAY, and I hope the chance of doing so extends to GAOTD's Users who installed and activated DP Animation Maker today - AFTER today's deadline, if not - so be it:)

I get the same error as #51 & #67.
side by side configuration incorrect.
Talk about a message that says nothing

I have Fences, that wasn't a problem. However, I did have to quit and restart the program before it did the actual registration thing.

So far I very much like it. There doesn't seem to be a way to import an existing .gif and add to that, but it takes photos and adds some pizzaz. Dead easy to use for that.

#66: I have Fences on my Win7 machine, and this program is working perfectly. I have found, by trial and error, that sometimes (but not apparently always), the program has to be run 'As Administrator'. (That is, right-click on a program icon, and choose 'Run as Administrator'.)

Looks like a great program. However: I have two Win7 machines. It installed cleanly on one, but not the other. Both machines have two User Accounts, normally one Administrator, the other Standard. On the first machine, I installed 'As Administrator' from the Standard Account, and it installed perfectly. I then reinstalled into the Standard Account, to make sure everything works properly from both Accounts - which, as usual, it did!

I then moved to the second machine, where, due to an oversight, both User Accounts were Administrator. Here, on one Administrator Account (the one that was supposed to be Standard Account, the software refused to install. It would not do so because, it told me, it could not write to E:\Aquarium Example.asw. Now, E: on that machine is the CD Drive, so why it wants to do that, I don't know. I then switched to the other Administrator Account, were it installed perfectly. Make what you can of that!!!

I downloaded the program then when I went to open it, a message came up: render_wnd 'Switching to the reference rasterizer.' I click OK, then I get this message: render_wnd 'failed creating the Direct 3D device.' I am on a desktop, Win XP sp3, Direct X ver 9.0c. I ran 'test Direct 3D' in dxdiag and all tests were successful. I was hoping to at least check this program out, I would like a animation maker. I hope this info helps DesktopPaints. Thank you for offering this program, thanks to GOTD also.

Fun and simple animation program. I especially like the free full license when you purchase the add on pack. Wish it did Apng as well.

I have Fences pro running and had no problem installing and registering the program on a Win 7 64 bit computer.

Thank you so much! I love playing around with this! I wanted to tell you that at first I got an error nessage and it had to close, but then I remembered it said to put the other activation file, (activate.GCD) in the DP Animation Maker folder which is in Computer/Program files 86/DP Animation Maker. Just copy and paste it in there and it should work fine. I have Stardock Fences and have no problem as some say they had, but I think it's because they didn't put that file in the folder it should be in. It says right in the read me it won't work right without it in there. I'm running Windows 7 64 bit. Also, click on your regular "Activate" file before you click "Finish". Then go back to the downloaded opened zip file and copy and paste the Activate.GCD into your My Computer/Program Files/DP Animation Maker. Then open the program back up and it should work just fine.

Installed on XP and finally got activated but it won't save in any version. Lost my DP from last GOTD.

Great software. No real peers.

Incidentally, I was wondering what Mr Giovanni would come up with - as clearly this is by no means a saturated field.

"So once again with your Italian friend Giovanni there’s no need to pay anything anymore even for this kind of apps!!!"

Well, the software listed by Mr G are not peers to this application.
Blender? Give me a break! Sure, if you have several days to watch youtube tutorial videos, and commit to a learning curve to achieve...what? 3 D modelling? Did you even try this software Giovanni? It's not even the same category of software.

Today's software is a nice offering. Thanks GOTD and DesktopPaints!

Re my earlier post , is it registered or not .
I have now had a chance to try the software
and Forest, Matrix code, Seascape example works and comes up and the effects are good.

However Aquarium example does not come up, or at least is white space.

According to help file on their website you can load any picture , by clicking button change back ground.

When I try it will not load any image, I just get the white back ground with a black boarder top and bottom regardless of pic or format .

This looks like a good prog.... if it worked ! Anyone else had this problem or know of a fix ?

To those having reg. problems; when you extract the files you should come up with four extactions; 1) the gotd; 2) file page; 3) readme 4) set up.To install run the setup, then untick the fact and question and the run. Second you activate wiyh the giveaway key. After that you can start the animater and in the tool bar you can check the key button, and it should read a code plus sum 911. then you are good to go. Enjoy I know I am thank you DP and giveaway team.

Do GAOTD actually try out their registration wrapper BEFORE offering each prog ? This is wrapper is a right pain and there must be a better method , please try and find one !

Win XP Sp 3 . Problem is the prog registered or not ?

Installed prog with winzip and extracted the extra file to same folder. Double clicked on activate exe, with winzip and nothing happens, so extracted it to same instal folder and familiar icon came up. Double clicked this activate icon and it takes you to familiar web page saying installed and activated.

Despite a restart , DP Animation maker under help has register with two boxes.

First box has a code in it and second box " your license code " is blank. Copying pasting code in second box has no effect. Apply code and get code button still active and takes you to developer download page.

Well is it registered or not? Please can GAOTD or the developer post yes or no and if not what do we do? I have not had a chance to try the prog yet I am too busy getting annoyed with it , trying to see if it is registered!

I'd like to try this program out but i keep getting this notice: "The application failed to initialize properly(0xc0150004)Click on OK to terminate the application."
Tried googling this error but didn't find out much if anything...if anyone has any ideas i'd appreciate it. I'm running windows XP with Service pack 3.
THanks kindly.

love this program, needed it! don't care about non looping, had it awhile back and pc failed and lost it ..SO glad to have it back as I never had the chance to explore fully. Need to grab the xt packs I see.. also FYI...all those sweeeeet people who comment about odd dollar/cent amounts. uh, these are exchange dollar rate values from foreign currency original retail prices converted to dollars. IMHO. I guess. So thank you so much again, all y'all and hope everbody get their issues fixed. cheers, kat

Two TRUE and FREE alternatives
(not mentioned by Giovanni...btw I'm italian too):

1. Sqirlz Water Reflections (by XiberPix):
http://www.xiberpix.net/SqirlzReflect.html
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/WEB-Design/Flash/Sqirlz-Water-Reflections.shtml

2. Reflet (by PhotoFiltre's developer):
http://www.photofiltre-studio.com/freeware/reflet-en.htm
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Graphic/Graphic-Others/Reflet.shtml

Although this program looks like fun, I'm going to uninstall it (cleanly, using my Registrar Registry Manager Lite program.) I do use "Fences," so maybe that's the problem, although enough other people are also complaining about this program's failure to register. Frankly, I'm annoyed. I guess I've been spoiled, but GAOTD's programs usually install and register without any aggravation. This time, it's a dud. Thanks anyway.

After installing and opening DP Animation Maker, my initial plan was to just play around for a minute then go about my business... WRONG! I ended up 'playing around' for 45 minutes! *Embarrassed* LOL. It's very cool, has a neat and clean interface, has a nice amount of options, and it's very easy to forget about the time while just 'playing around' with it! Overall, I am very satisfied and have already suggested it to all my fans on my site's FB FanPage even though this software has NOTHING to do with my website! LOL. Thanks GAOTD and Desktop Paints, it's a keeper!

Has anyone found an answer to the problem with registering yet? I have been through the entire comments and tried everything that anyone has offered (yes, obviously initially tried following the instructions in the readme file), but I still show that I have an unregistered copy. Running the Activate.exe returns nothing-- It pops up and asks me if I want to make changes, but then when I click yes, nothing else happens. Every time I open it up it asks me if I want to register or use the evaluation copy. I love the SW so far but am very worried that I won't be able to get this registered. Any thoughts from GAOT or DP?

I get the same error as #51.
side by side configuration incorrect.
Talk about a message that says nothing

Well the software does not work for me?

Get this message:
"Could not find comparable Direct3D Device"

I see this posted above in post 43

"The program does not work if you have Installed Stardock’s Fences"
I do have fences installed

So guess I will have to pass.
To bad

Thanks Anyway,
Dave

Thanks very much TK (number 60)

Needs to be able to export .gif with transparency. I used a transparent .png and no ability to choose a transparent background which make it kind of useless for a website.

Also and this is a biggy....output either needs better optimization. A 659 X 166 animated .gif with just 3 butterflies came out weighting a whopping 1.30MB! This is un-acceptable weight for a web page.

Also...back to the transparency issue....the ability to choose a mat color would be needed in order for the transparency to blend against a background.

Also agreee about the looping. And animated .gif really should loop smoothly and constantly.

Didn't install on XP Pro-sp3. Fails to start 3D engine, send error. Program deleted, I'll try something else....oh well! doc

Is this program for personal use or personal and commercial use?

Not sure if activation is working. Rgistration still sends me to buy page and unlike other software from GOTD, the registration key is still there after activate/

I am thrilled about today's Giveaway! Thanks so much GOTD and Desktop Paints! I wrote a happy review (and posted the weird fun animation I made already with it so far, to test the program out) here: http://alltheworldisart-funcreativitygod.blogspot.com/2012/09/free-animation-software-today-woohoo-dp.html Check it out! lol.
It downloaded easily and works great in all respects on my Windows Laptop 7 x64. Saved 3 ways and gif, video etc. all work. (my video was only 60 seconds long.)
I love how you can add different animations to whatever you want to include as background etc that you can make yourself. Next time I'm using one of my original artworks I drew as a background :)
I pray pray pray I have it registered right...the empty box down there is a little confusing, but I don't have anything popping up asking me to register so hopefully...I agree that a downloadable pdf ebook manual would be wonderful :)
I really want expansion pack, but broke as usual. Good marketing idea though.
You've really made me...and I'm sure many of my followers on my website, happy with this! Bless you!

Two problems
1.) It isn't animation as I expected it to be, maybe that's my fault, but I expected it would be making animations, as in moving images/cartoons, not just putting together elements of a picture, some of which move. i.e. like screen savers.
2.) For the first time since I discovered Gotd a programme wouldn't register.

I really like this. It has a lot different animations you can add/subtract to an image and it really does cool things.
I installed this as an administrator just to make sure I didn't have any problems with the installation. I didn't have any problems.
I have seen a lot of the giveaways, but this is my favorite. Very easy to animate just about anything.

I just LOVE this software, and am always happy to see DP taking part in the GAOTD site. It only takes a few minutes, and a small knowledge of .gif capabilities to be able to create really FUN animations. What is new in this version, that I have noticed, is a camera, with adjustable perameters, that will send the 'camera' scanning over the image ! Very COOL !! If you try to keep your animations rather short...and I mean 10 or 15 seconds, they work really well. Also, don't try to make them large, as in desktop size. With an image from your Photos, it is very easy to add all kinds of animated things...leaves, and snow, fog and flowers and yes...even GLITTER ! SOOOO easy to learn and get the hang of. If you are an artist at heart...try DP Animation maker. SUCH FUN !

I have installed /uninstalled twice but cannot get any response when trying to open Activate.exe after successful setup.

What does happen after setup is the program's FAQ opens online and the DP Auto Update tries to get on the internet through my firewall -- I have tried both allowing this and denying this but I get no Activate Confirmation from GAOTD as is normal.

Therefore, the product remains unregistered which means it is not activated. What to do?

#29 ... Not wanting to be nasty, but get a life! Giovanni has enabled me to find lotz of kewl stuff. How he finds the stuff he finds is irrelevant to me, and I guess heaps others! But I for one REALLY appreciate his ongoing efforts. I don't have the time to do the research that he must do and I really appreciate his efforts. So instead of bagging someone why don't show how it could be done better? Easy to gripe, but instead why not show how you could help all the ppl who come here?

As I said, I don't have the time (health reasons u know), but I do appreciate ppl like Giovanni and Ashraf for that matter!

Cheers - cableuserau.

When i installs the program and activate it everything goes smoothly
But when i try to start it - i get an error
The programm can not start because side by side konfiguration is wrong

What shall i do?

Hi folks,

Back again, I downloaded and installed this SW on Vista Home Prem., x64. Installed and Registered A-OK as followed WR Install guidance to the T.

For those asking earlier, this is version 2.1.3. I tested the existing Included Animation Projects, at the bottom left hand and I was impressed by the Quality & Looks of them.

So, yes go ahead and GRAB this one!

G!:)

Hi, Few Technical points for those who are interested in "what's new" in each Version of these Animating Tools - I find Blog Section of the Home Page of DP Animation Maker to be quite informative, for instance, quote from there:
"June 6, 2012
This month the collection of animation tools was extended with an awesome fire brush. This brush makes the whole screen fire effect obsolete, because now you can place flame of any form on any part of the scene, change its colors, texture, and even direction"

Also - from my previous experience of using DPs (BTW, I love this Program, together with AWM and ASM a lot:) - when creating something new from Samples - make sure you save it safely as something else (your own name of file) and when asked on exit if you want to save changes remember to say "no". That is if you wish to keep these Examples intact. They are quite useful with their original settings as a starting point. If however something goes wrong, and in my case (in excitement:) it did - a fresh download to different location of Trial with original "pack" of Examples can be copied back to your Registered version (Examples only, I mean!) That's for "emergencies", lol.

Since I've bought Extension Pack previously I have to look into this Program yet - to see if I need Today's updated Version, or simply (and safely!) use the other Code (promised with EP) to obtain it. I would hate to mess something up.

Lastly - Giovanni came up with lots of "Goodies", and many thanks for that!:) - one of Progs on His list is Funny Photo Maker.. Fantastic fun and used frequently by me (still have it), but with all precautions not to except any "extras" - my own investigation lead me to believe that with it came unwanted little "nastie" called “Yontoo.exe” messing with text on Internet (highlighting random words to advertise various products..) It can be (and have been since) quite easily removed, not effecting that Photo program, but sorting out my "yonto problem":)

Thanks GAOTD and DesktopPaints.com for Today's Gift. Great fun!

Hi GOTD Team & WhiteRabbit & Ya a,ll

@ Ton & Giovanni ... I do Google Searches, but sorting thru whole bunch of junk ... it seems Giovanni posts offer a more of a streamline ...

Now Giovanni can enhance it's comment post by at the "End" of his comment to give his "Actual" Thumbs Up or Down on the piece of software like Ton suggested ... to actually tested it ... even minimally.

There was a guy on this site by the name of "Ashraf" who would do Reviews of the SW and even provide some Freebie advice ... I had found that to be Very Useful ...

I find Giovanni's posts very Helpful to me anyway!

Thanks for GOTD & WhiteRabbit allowing the post and Not Clipping it out! WR :Wink: if u know what i mean!:D

G!:)

I do not often download GOTD software and even more rarely comment. Today I had to because the software is amazing! The functionality is through the roof due to all the features it has. I am very impressed. As I was playing with it, the thought went through my mind that creating similar effects in Photoshop would take hours. I applaud the developer for taking the time to create all the effects. Not only are there all the effects one could wish for, the effects actually look good!

Just an idea, porting this to Android could make the developer a lot of money. If the developer can figure out social media integration, this could be the next Instagram.

A big thankyou to DTP and GAOTD for this little gem. I used the last one but this has so many extras, and for free today! I particularly like the ability to manipulate fire and water, and the lightning is fabulous, as are all the new effects. I do agree with #27 though. The "list of examples” doesn't work on this one as it did on the last offering, not that it matters in the end but it is a glitch.
Not to everybody's taste but I guess that depends on the degree of expertise and reason for use. As for me, overall I'm extremely happy with this beaut little program and would certainly pay $30 for it. - Cheers

I've installed it on win xp sp3 (32bit), but it won't start...
I've got a message about the file "editorgif.exe"
what can I do?