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A:M Forum Rules
GENERAL FORUM GUIDELINES
The A:M Forum is for technical support and the sharing of tips and ideas between users/prospective users of Hash software. It is moderated constantly by technical support representatives.
DO'S!
-Ask questions about the software.
-Assist other users... everyone was new at this once.
-Inform people of your version/platform when asking for help.
-Share resources; tutorials, models, textures, tips and techniques (link to useful websites).
-Post links to your work, or where your art is being used online (on websites, in games, toons', etc.)
-Search the A:M Forum and FAQ. The question you are about to ask may have already been answered.
-Organize and inform others about user groups, IRC chats, image and animation contests, job opportunities, etc.
-Discuss what you are working on and let everyone know about magazine reviews and articles that relate to your projects.
DON'TS!
-Do Not be rude or disrespectful or mean to other forum members in any way. Personal attacks will be removed.
-Do Not post bug/crash reports to the list (send bug/crash reports to http://www.hash.com/reports.
-Do Not complain about forum content. Complaints or suggestions can be sent directly to hash@hash.com
-Do Not reprimand other forum members for violating forum rules, that's the moderators job, which (unless you are a moderator) you are not.
-No complaining or whining on the forum or distribution of misinformation.
-No flames of any kind.
-No Off Topic posts. (Posts in the Off Topics section should be related to A:M in some form or fashion or benefit the A:M community as a whole).
-No soliciting of any kind without prior approval.
-No threads or comparisons related to other 3D Applications.
-No "Wish list" or feature requests, they should be sent to www.hash.com/reports for categorizing and prioritization (User requests define the future development of the software).
-No "me too!" posts
-No discussion of Hash Internal Affairs (finances, advertising, PR.)
-No posting of private email to the forum unless permission of the author is granted. (Private correspondence should remain private)
-No very general questions like: "how do I make a good 3D model" make your questions as complete and concise as possible.
If you have questions as to whether it's appropriate, send it to: support@hash.com, We'll be happy to let you know whether it is, or is not appropriate.
User Led Forum Considerations
Firstly and foremostly, please remember this is Martin Hash's forum and that it is every A:M User's primary resource for information about A:M. In order to remain relevant we need everyone's continuing support and interest.
Secondly, understand there is a distinction between A:M (the program) and the A:M forum. There are some topics and issues that are outside the scope of this forum and most can be deduced by reading through the forum guidelines. These include such things as Hash Inc internal policies, business practices, trade secrets, and specific plans for the future not yet publicly released. Each of these would be fascinating topics of their own but are better reserved for private communications with a representative of Hash Inc.
Related to the second, is purchasing, customer service and other areas outside the purview of the common user who may have no interest in such things; subjects relating to money exchanging hands are beyond the scope of the A:M Forum and often can lead to conflicts of interest between users and/or Hash Inc. (If Hash Inc cuts you a deal on volume purchasing it's really no one else's business). Likewise, individual complaints about a product or service are best remedied by going direct with Hash Inc representatives empowered to make decisions. Please allow them them the time necessary to resolve your specific issue and consider the cost of customized solutions.
This last area is likely the source of much confusion because many see the A:M Forum as the official outlet for Hash Inc... and it is. But the forum is not designed for conducting business and private matters best resolved by going to Hash Inc directly. Similarly, bug reports are best resolved by entering them directly into the A:M Reporting system.
Many problems can be easily addressed at the user level just by asking fellow users in the forum. If someone at Hash Inc suggests the forum as a source, it is very likely a problem can be easily resolved. For tougher issues there is even more reason to take the issue directly to the source... you don't want the issue discussed... you want it resolved quickly.
Finally, remember that we want to pass this forum on to future moderators and generations of A:M Users in the absolute best condition possible. A:M is just that good a program and is worthy of our consideration.
Thanks for making the A:M Forum a great community.
4,160 topics in this forum
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- 14 replies
- 1.1k views
I have a very simple stick figure in which I installed the skeletal rig from the cd. I asked a question a few weeks ago about constraints and carrying boxes. This is slightly different. My little figure is going to mime, air guitar style, while holding a broom. What would be the best constraints system to set up so he can swirl the broom around ' a playin a guitar?'. He needs to be able to swing it side to side, behind the his own neck, and side to side , like elvis ... Pete Townshend, Jimi, Jimmy Page, George Harrison... Thank you in advance regards simon
Last reply by John Bigboote, -
- 2 replies
- 1.1k views
Hey Guys, I'm Back I was wondering if anyone can tell me the total I would pay for a subscription? I know they are using paypal now and was not sure if it added anything to the $79.99. David
Last reply by thumperness, -
- 8 replies
- 1.1k views
Hi, Is there known issues with the CutPlane Wizard plugin? I've tried to use it a few times to create a 45 degree cut so I can make a corner desk. It works fine until I close the the widget window. Then AM crashes to desktop - no warnings or anything. It just shuts down. Is there another, better way to accomplish this?
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 12 replies
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Ok so here is my problem: While i am modeling in a modeling window my FPS is about 80fps +/- and is very good. but while i rig my character, and use it in a action window to animate it drops to 7FPS and this only happens when i use bones. I wonder why this is happening becase i have a strong computer. The model is only 1600 patches Animation is very hard to do with this low framrate here are some pictures i took This is in the modeling window And this is in the action window I hope somone ca help me. thanks!! Elias
Last reply by eliaskiller, -
- 10 replies
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how can you make sand with the partical emmiter i want to make some thing like in the mummy.
Last reply by kylemb, -
- 22 replies
- 1.1k views
Alright, I've had this pop up a couple times now. Bump maps (and normal maps) change DRASTICALLY from patch to patch. Anyone know what causes this? Normals are all facing the same direction.
Last reply by HomeSlice, -
- 12 replies
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i was wondering if AM has the ability to save a small animation as a animated gif or a item of the same relevance
Last reply by Masna, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
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Alright, so anyways i was modeling, and ive notced that my Control Points are black, and my lines are white, and this gets insanely annoying, expecially for when i was modeling an eyeball (black and white) lol. Also one other thing, my graph seems to be really small when im zoomed, out. Im doing Excersise 10, the fighter modeling one, and the thing that you have to zoom out far, it just makes the graph looks like very many Teeny Tiiiny small square, and it really gets in the way, does anyone know how i can enlard these graphs?
Last reply by AMkyle, -
- 4 replies
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Following chapter 3 of "A:M A Complete Guide" by David Rogers, I'm rigging my flour sack with bones and assigning CP Weights. When I turned on "Has Falloff" to the bones, all the numbers assumed some default values, for example: Pivot Outer 35%, etc. As instructed by the book, I used "Compute All CP Weights" from the model window contextual menu. However, I don't know what effect that is supposed to make. I don't see any changes in the "Falloff" numbers, for example. I tried "Remove All CP Weights", and likewise don't see any change anywhere, either in the property values or the coloration in Shaded mode. The Shaded mode coloration seems normal, wit…
Last reply by sb4, -
- 2 replies
- 1.1k views
Does the lifetime membership for $300 include all new versions for life? Or is it only the $80 a year that keeps you up to date with the latest and greatest?
Last reply by thumperness, -
- 1 follower
- 9 replies
- 1.1k views
Am updating from 7 to Windows 10 and wondering if I'm to expect any bumps with AM? Thought I'd ask here for a heads up. Any help appreciated.
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 1 follower
- 14 replies
- 1.1k views
I know these are most likely going to be very basic questions, but we all gotta start somewhere right... I would know how to do these things in a polygon modeling app, but with splines are a bit different, so even the basics sometimes are a bit misleading. I want to build a very small, very cartoony building. Big enough for maybe two people to stand in. The front of the building needs to have a working door, that opens to show the inside of the cude, as well as a hole for a window. No glass in the window, just a hole that someone could lean through if they were inside. Something similiar to the GIF file attached... So how would I start this? Oddly enough, …
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 7 replies
- 1.1k views
Hi all, So, as my subject says, I'm a returning member here to the world of Animation Master. My last trek with it was around 2007 or so I guess. The last version update of the software I own is 2006, the Sasquatch CD. I also have the 2004 disc with the Gorilla. I took time away from pursuing A:M as I was really devoted to working on my own upstart game projects, and life very rudely interrupted me a few times in the interim (lots of moving around). I am still interested in getting into game design, however, not with something of my own. I have the goal of being hired at a major game studio as a level/environment designer. I veered away from "doing my own …
Last reply by MikeV, -
- 1 follower
- 6 replies
- 1.1k views
I know there's been a lot of alpha channel talk lately, but I don't think this has been touched on- I'm using a .TGA sequence to rotoscope a 3D element into my real footage. One problem is the shadows. While I've read tutorials that suggested making objects that match those in the scene, and then project the same decal from your main camera onto those, I think having a live actor in the shot makes this more complicated. What would be ideal to me as compositor, would be a way to export the ball and some darkness under itself softened by another alpha layer. In my mind the way to do that would be to make the surfaces that receive shadows, and then t…
Last reply by Caroline, -
- 11 replies
- 1.1k views
Hello Working on the "move it" tutorial, using the Rabbit. I've noticed that sometimes when I select bones, only the rotate and scale manipulators are available. Why is that? Shouldn't the translate manipulator be available as well? Am I clicking on the wrong part of the bone? I am in skeletal mode, so that's not the problem. Not sure what I'm doing wrong.
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 1 follower
- 7 replies
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I have been using V. 12 for while with no problems. All of sudden today, the program loads, but immediately crashes almost like it is timed to stop working. I have V. 11.1 and that works fine. I have the Yeti disk. I uninstalled V. 12 completely and then reinstalled -- same thing. As an aside, I tried to install V. 13 about two months ago, but could not get it to work -- it did the exact same thing. Does anyone have any idea what the problem may be? If I hold down shift so nothing loads with the program, it stays up for slightly longer, but will crash if I try to do anything. I'm in the middle of a project that I need to get done, so any help would be grea…
Last reply by JMorris, -
- 5 replies
- 1.1k views
I just got Animation Master at Ces show and this is my first model I just made. Now I have To keep working on him
Last reply by RedEye4Ya, -
- 12 replies
- 1.1k views
Me again, sorry. I worked on this all day yesterday, changed settings, did every thing I could think of, even Reset AM to defaults. I just cant figure out why my rendering looks like this. Any Ideas? This is what my finished animations look like or just Black. After it finished then AM crashes. Have to go to work now just to clear my head. LOL Wally
Last reply by Gerry, -
- 9 replies
- 1.1k views
How I can add video clips made by camera into AM V13.0 ?
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 4 replies
- 1.1k views
I've made a pose slider with Translate to and Orient Like constraints. I want the enforcements of these constraints to have the same setting as the pose slider. I've set keyes for the enforcements at 0 and 100, but when I move the slider away from 100% the enforcement settings changes instanlty from 100% to 0%. How do I make the enforcements match the slider setting?
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 7 replies
- 1.1k views
Hello again, Just popping in quick to see if anyone knows of any podcasts related to Animation Master? I have the privilege of being able to listen to music or what-not at my job, and so I usually like to keep myself entertained by listening to music or podcasts/interviews about various topics of interest. Since A:M is back on my list of interests, I'm wondering if there's anything about this program I could listen to? Google search hasn't really yielded anything, but sometimes it's just a matter of finding the right oddball combination of terms... Thanks!
Last reply by MikeV, -
- 1 follower
- 3 replies
- 1.1k views
I seem to remember a setting so that I could see my decals in Shaded mode, but I can't for the life of me find it again. Isn't there a way to get your decals to show up in shaded mode instead of having to render them all the time? thanks, tommy
Last reply by TommyDAQ2, -
- 16 replies
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Alright, the first one is an old friend that I had problems with before and thought I had... well, not fixed, but minimized. When the legs are fully extended, they "snap" pretty noticeably in the first few inches of movement. Before it had been suggested that perhaps the hinge bone was not aligned exactly with the top of the thigh bone and bottom of the calf bone, and when I did that it made the effect quite a bit less noticeable. The legs also end up pointing in slightly different directions, but I suspect this is because they're not 100% perfectly symmetrical on the body. Animation_MasterScreenSnapz002.mov However, as you can see from the movie, it's become very…
Last reply by Meowx, -
- 1 follower
- 22 replies
- 1.1k views
no point in starting a WIP just yet, i'll just keep spamming the newbieland; i've just played with the toggling of perspective/non-perspective views (using the keys involved) and seem to have blown thom's hip null out of view. first i didn't even notice it, then it was easy to ignore and now it's all i think about. everything is fully functional, the n and r tools appear with normal sized visual tools, but the null star is like four times the height of thom (but centered where it should). it's possible this could have happened while testing the mouse earlier; shift-dragging w middle button down. i might accidentally have nudged a wrong button and given a shortk…
Last reply by dblhelix, -
- 11 replies
- 1.1k views
Hi, i bought animation master v 10 and installed in my pc wich has windows xp, the question is that im going to buy a mac next month, and dont know if i can use the same disc to install on windows and mac....can someone help?
Last reply by jon, -
- 1 follower
- 9 replies
- 1.1k views
I am modeling a room but I am adding lots of other elements that will animate and models that have been created independatly. I am getting frustrated because when I add them into the room I loose stuff like bone position. WHat is the best method to proceed on large scale things with lots of elements and animation? I am assuming adding everything into one model is the worst procedure. Do I add everything in an action? Do I add everything in a chor? WHat are the advantages and disadvantage? Thanks
Last reply by mouseman, -
- 8 replies
- 1.1k views
Hello, I'm new to A:M (Well in fact I used ist 10 years ago - but the times they are changing...) I have a very easy question but somehow I don't get it. I want to make some simple animation, with a black figure on a white ground. So the figure is black and everything around her is white. but of course I want to see the schadows of the figure. So I made a plane for the Figure to walk on answitched the camera to white background. but always is something wrong. sometimes the plane is not perfectly white, but the shadows are there or, the plane is white but the shadow disapears. I used bulbs as lights I tried also flat shaded and riecive shadows, with shadow…
Last reply by Florian80, -
- 2 followers
- 12 replies
- 1.1k views
Having got my camera questions sorted out [Thanks again to all...] two other things I'd like to include in this first animation is [1] shafts of light coming down from above. I suspect it's a volumetric light solution, but could someone get me jump-started? In Carrara, we could install 'light cones'. [2] Does A:M support caustics for shimmers of light on the ocean floor? Thanks.[attachmentid=12862]
Last reply by Eric2575, -
- 14 replies
- 1.1k views
I want to preface my question with the comment that when you think you've found a bug in something very basic, usually it means you have a flawed understanding. In a choreography, numerous times I've needed to copy and paste a block of keyframes and I've been unable to get them to paste exactly where I want it to go. For example: [attachmentid=15565] After selecting some keyframes that I want to paste elsewhere, I've tried setting the frame number to where I want the keyframes to go and then do a paste: [attachmentid=15566] Now, when I captured these images, it was my intention to show my problem. That is, the keyframes only approximated going t…
Last reply by Paul Forwood, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 1.1k views
I've learned that i need to upgrade to an ATI RADEON graphics card, rather than an NVIDIA graphics card. which RADEON card do you recomend? and do RADEON cards work ok in a computer having an intel VIIV DUAL CORE PROCESSER E6400?
Last reply by DarkLimit, -
- 14 replies
- 1.1k views
I keep getting an unhandled exception 001 when I try and open the advanced tutorial. It locks up the whole program and shuts it down. It happened once when I was doing something else as well. Anyone know why this is happening?
Last reply by Rob_T, -
- 7 replies
- 1.1k views
I have both the models for my treasure chest in the same project file, they both show up in the PWS. However, they're in separate windows and I'm not sure how to combine them into the same window, other than using cut and paste or exporting a model and then reimporting it into whichever window I choose to be the active one. Is this how it's done or is there something obvious I'm missing?
Last reply by Gerry, -
- 11 replies
- 1.1k views
i just installed A:M last night and i'm already having problems whenever i try to shade render a charecter, it doesn't work right. the parts that shouldn't show show, like the toung or teeth, and ther's no hair on the charecter with the entire model looking transparent instead of solidly shaded. also in order to even start A:M i have to have the disk in the computer. i'm wondering if this is normal. and finaly i have no idea how to get anything from the extras dvd. please help
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 1 follower
- 14 replies
- 1.1k views
I folks I could sure use your help. I am using carolines tutorial on the tsm 2 rig. Its great. But I am stumped at the mirror bones part. I have read the documentation by sgross and carolines info but its just not working right. Any thoughts. Could some one do a quick tut.
Last reply by jason1025, -
- 9 replies
- 1.1k views
Hi everyone, I need to do an easy animation in A:M (I'm using v12) using a 3ds model of a car that has been given to me. The model has been modelled with not too much polygons (in max I guess) and A:M can import it by using the wizard for importing 3ds models. My problem is that the result after importing the model is not the desired because some "ugly things" appear all over the mesh of the model as if the bias of every spline had been changed. Is there any other way of importing 3ds models without the appearing of those extrange artifacts? or, are there any tricks for avoiding this problems? I don't need to animate the model itself but using it as a static ob…
Last reply by ddustin, -
- 16 replies
- 1.1k views
Hi y'all! I hope, my thread won't get deleted, i dont mean this offensive, just out of curiosity. Animation:Master was my first love in the 3D World... Well, actually the third after Ray Dream 3D and Softimage 3D on the SGI Workstation of my father... But i always loved the ease of use of A:M, but have since moved on to Blender and a little App for the Mac called Cheetah 3d. I haven't heard much of A:M on the other Boards or in 3D circles in general. The Website isnt very informative either. A lot of Message Boards are dead silent which saddens me a lot espcecially, since i already thought about maybe buying a subscription. I think A:M has still a lot of go…
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 9 replies
- 1.1k views
All, Just a note from your friendly neighborhood New Users Forum moderator to say I'll be out quite a bit in July. I may have limited connectivity to the internet so my ability to answer personal mail etc. will be effected. This is something of a summer family vacation that will take me to Illinois, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Los Angeles and a variety of other places in between. The tour should end with a visit to SIGGRAPH 2005 where I'm looking forward to meeting some of the great people that frequent this forum. If you see a guy that looks lost in LA it'll probably be me so please direct me to the Hash Inc booth! I'll be checking the forum every time I'm near…
Last reply by vf124, -
- 9 replies
- 1.1k views
I have 13... I need to know how to Export DXF files or where the Plugin is for Exporting DXF Files. I see Option of IMPORTING DXF but Not EXPORTING DXF Help Please! Thanks!
Last reply by Nuba X, -
- 8 replies
- 1.1k views
I've had problems with the terrain plugin before, but now whenever I use it at all my computer comletely crashes! Is it something wrong with my computer or just the program? Can anyone help me?
Last reply by Masna, -
- 15 replies
- 1.1k views
Hi there, I have some difficultie in labeling a bottle. I modeld the bottle with a doubleside-wall and put the fake glas mat on it. But then the label disapears. (See bottle in middle) I tried different versions with a liquid inside (Left) and no transpereny at all (right), doesnt look good. Also I tried the flatten command in applying the label. Is cyulindrucal here the better method? Any hints to get better results? I enclose the proj done in AM13.0 t Thank you Jake BottlelabelTest.zip
Last reply by jakerupert, -
- 6 replies
- 1.1k views
I'm making animation frames for a game. These are made of a base model, construckting poses for their behaviour. This has going right always, but lately I find skipping bones appearance. So I start with an action from a base frame, and then suddenly in the 5th pose the bone looses its line shape. It becomes a sort of haze and as soon as I try to catch it with the mouse it's gone. The former radio button that showed off its "show bone"gets locked. The rest of the pose I can only hope the rest of the bones keeps its excistency. Here are some screens to show the effect. Did I miss a an option somewhere?
Last reply by Madfox, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 1.1k views
Hi all, I was asked to do the opener animation for the local film fest here and had a blast animating the fesival's logo rocking out. However, 'm getting unwanted artifacts in my renders that I aren't visible when rendering a Quick Render (file below, "quick_render.jpg). When rendering the same frames to any format (AVI, BMP, TGA), they always come up with these unwanted artifacts, most visible in the light circle on the floor and the character's shaded side but if you look closely you see it's all over the character (test_render.jpg. I tried adjusting different render settings, changinging to Multi-pass (16x), etc., but no real change. My render settings are: …
Last reply by Meowx, -
- 4 replies
- 1.1k views
I am struggling to learn about constraints. I want to make eye bones aim at a null target, but I have two problems: 1. How should I do to add a constraint to a bone? I can only add a constraint in choreography. But as I want the constraint to be saved with the model I don't think this is the way to go. The reference guide explains features of different constraints but don't say how to add a constraint... So the question is: How do I add a constraint to a bone that will be saved with my model? 2. When adding an Aim at-constraint to the eye bone in choreography mode it will not work unless I move the Eye bone from the head in the bone hierarchy. The bone woul…
Last reply by Visping, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 1.1k views
I have a lobster i modeled and then used the 2001 skeleton so that i could use the walk cycle and all the stuff from the acion libraries. Ok when i bring him into the choreography window the problems are 1 his claws are funky they are scrinchec and twisted. I used the theumb for the short part of the claw so that i could make the thumb move. 2 his legs are backwards 3 he walks on his toes. His feet will not sit flat when he walks thanks for your help!
Last reply by itsjustme, -
- 9 replies
- 1.1k views
is there any way to speed up the rendering for this project? New_Group_Project_Choreography.prj
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 1.1k views
-Hi guys, -I have circled my problem in my pic, I copy and flipped half of my model and the model on the left shows the outcome which looks odd and nothing like the original half [ one on the right ]- -Any ideas?
Last reply by DarkLimit, -
- 11 replies
- 1.1k views
Hi - about a year ago I saw something on the forum where something was applied to an object and it realistically broke into pieces? Does anyone know what I am talking about, that can refresh my memory? Thanks - E
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 1 follower
- 10 replies
- 1.1k views
Hi Folks, Are there any decent tutes on creating and modeling a character. I did the Cooper face tute in ToaA:M, but I'm thinking more cartoony character or somewhere in between. Just thought I'd ask. Thanks
Last reply by jimd, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 1.1k views
Hey everyone... I remember something like this happening awhile ago. I've searched, but the "solutions" I've found didn't work. I recently purchased the 1year subscription (vers 15.0 J ). I downloaded the complete "data" folder also, and per the email instructions, placed it in the program files / hash inc / ver 15 folder. I have other models I've used in other version of A:M. I copied the one model folder (toon shark) to the same destination directory, but placed the "Toon Shark" folder inside the Data - Models - Aquatic folder. When I boot up A:M, I don't see that model or the others I placed in that default DATA folder. What am I missing? Tha…
Last reply by HomeSlice, -
- 8 replies
- 1.1k views
I have decided to start a series "Afternon Pondering". In this series I plan on putting in new things as I learn, new characters and models as I learn modeling. In this way I feel I can learn and put stuff out at the same time, and learn to take criticism
Last reply by Gerry,
