How Does Stykz Compare With Pivot?

Since Stykz was designed to be a superset of Pivot, you might think that it does everything the Pivot does, and more. But that's not exactly true; there are some feature differences as well as different methods of working between the two programs. The table below summarizes these differences:

Item

Pivot 2.2

Pivot 3 Beta

Stykz 1.0

Creating Animations

Frame-based animation

Enter key creates new frames

Can use Enter key while dragging a figure for quick frame creation

Undo support


(editing base figures only, one level)

(editing base figures only, one level)

(all actions*, unlimited)

Can work with multiple documents at once

Creating Figures

Figures can be created or edited


(separate window)

(separate window)

(directly on the Stage)

Can add segments to a figure on the Stage


more info

Can delete segments from a figure on the Stage


more info

Can create static segments


(click a checkbox)

Can create hidden segments


(set thickness=0)

(set thickness=0)

(click a checkbox)

Can create filled regions in figures


(requires special skill, non-intuitive)

(requires special skill, non-intuitive)

(use PolyFill tool, very intuitive)

Filled regions adapt as you pivot segments


more info

Manipulating Figures

Can move figure on Stage via drag node

Can move figure on Stage via dragging a segment


(optional)

Can scale figures on the Stage


more info

Can rotate figures on the Stage


(requires special skill, non-intuitive)

(requires special skill, non-intuitive)

more info

Can adjust the stacking order of figures on the Stage


(front/back only)

(front/back only)

(front/back, forward or backward 1 layer)

Can cut, copy, and paste figures

Manipulating Segments

Can select and manipulate individual segments


(separate window)

(separate window)

(directly on the Stage with Subselect Tool)

Can pivot segments on the Stage


more info

Can stretch, or distort segments on the Stage


more info

Can adjust the stacking order of segments in a figure


(front/back, forward or backward 1 layer)

Can split a segment into two segments


more info

Can combine two adjacent segments into one segment


more info

Frame Backgrounds

Can set a background color for any/all frames in an animation


more info

Can use a background image for any/all frames in an animation


(all frames)

(any frame)

Importing

Can import sprites

Can import Pivot 2 .stks


more info

Can import Pivot 3 .stks


more info

Exporting

Export to Animated GIF


more info

Export to QuickTime


more info

Export to Series of Images


(.bmp only)

(.bmp, .jpg, .gif)

(.png, .jpg, .gif)

Export a Single Frame


(.png, .jpg, .gif)

* Applies to current frame only; undo resets when you go to a different frame.