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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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- 1 follower
- 12 replies
- 1.1k views
Hello, I was in Fry's the other night and just happened to find a copy of the A:M software while looking at video editing applications (I do quite a bit of audio engineering and mixing and just got into video). Anyway, animation and modeling strikes me as fun. I have no goal for using the software other than something fun to do during spare time and if I were to get good enough, perhaps have some fun composing music for short animated videos. Anyway, to the question: I have no animation or modeling background, so how realistic is it that I would be able to learn how to use this software? More specifically, I guess I'm looking to figure out whether the time i…
Last reply by Bob Savage, -
- 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, -
- 10 replies
- 1.1k views
Hi my name is Daniel and I am 13. I hope I can learn how to use animation master and, the reason why is that my Dad uses animation master all the time for work and I always wanted to use it so now I have the chance to.
Last reply by FlyingMonkieBoy, -
- 1 follower
- 10 replies
- 1.1k views
Hey-ho. I have a problem that happens every so often: CPs that aren't attached to anything, ones that should only have one bias handle, have two. This makes it so that it's impossible to connect another spline to them and have the two merge into one spline. Anyway, a better explanation is the picture below. That CP has two handles. When I connect the spline to it, I get a spline and a patch that are just weird. What causes this? To fix it I'm having to rip out entire splines (at the moment this seems to be a catching problem, as deleting that one CP makes the one behind it have the same issue), and it's driving me nuts. Thanks in advance, ~ Charles
Last reply by kattkieru, -
- 20 replies
- 1.1k views
Ok.. still confused on this keyframe issue. All I want (for starts) is to move the left arm, then then the right arm. However, my character moves the right arm and the left begins to follow. Can someone please clarify this to me in a "book for dummies" mode please? I'm seriously lost again...I thought I had it, but lost it again. I've attached a screen shot of my work. Maybe that would help? Right where the vertical line is, his left arm begins to move. Thanks.
Last reply by jakerupert, -
- 8 replies
- 1.1k views
Gang, I recently purchased the ExtraDVD and cannot successfully link the library tothe PWS for drag n drop. I have followed the instructions found at link http://www.hash.com/lib/. They were very helpful. I was able to move the original V11.1 data from the CD and the models, materials and projects all show as expected. I successfully transferred the ExtrasCDVol1 and the folder shows in the PWS and I can drill down to all the great content. Unfortunately this does not work for the new ExtrasDVD. No folder exisit in the PWS area for drill down. Perhaps there is some folder hierarchy which I am not following. Any help is appreciated. Thanks, Mike
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 4 replies
- 1.1k views
OK last knite i decided to try and make a rotor blade for a helicopter it looks OK i guess , just wondering if any of you have any idea to make it better rotor1.mov
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 10 replies
- 1k views
Hello, I continue my exploration of AM which I find brilliant in the design. On the other hand, the tutorials are not progressive enough. to explain the details ;-). When you are looking for something, you very quickly come across sometimes complex tutorials ... which is great when you have already acquired the basics of use! For example, I'm looking for a tutorial that could help me build a character with a basic IK skeleton. In the exercises, I only find examples with compensation bones and other somewhat complex details that I don't want to tackle until I have fully understood the basis in an exercise that takes me when up to interesting movements. …
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 13 replies
- 1k views
Hello - I have a client that wants an animation project for a website - and she also wants it put on a High Definition DVD - Does anyone know anything about that, and if it would be rendered at a different setting or something? I have made DVDs, using a render of the animation from AM and making a DVD from it with Premiere, but wasn't sure about HD DVD. Any info would be great. Thanks, Eric
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 1 follower
- 16 replies
- 1k views
ok im making a car of sorts and got the basic model riged but it has ocured to me that i dont know how to make the wheels turn execpt by frame by frame actualy rotating them , is there an easyer way to do this?
Last reply by robcat2075, -
every time i try to upload one of the excersizes, it tells me i'm not authorized to use the file type or something like that...
Last reply by Muff, -
- 9 replies
- 1k views
Hi all I am having problems with a few selected models in rendering on 14v, prior to rendering I get lines shooting out of the models in real time. Please see attach, from Leopard Queen project and the other is a helicopter model, Can someone please check to see if they are having the same problem, it seems to work fine on 13vt.
Last reply by chopper, -
- 1 follower
- 13 replies
- 1k views
i just did a short animation that I need to send to a publisher so i can get a job.... the file is only a minute long and consists of one character and a table. the sound file didn't seem to render with the file. the size of the file is 46.1 mb Is that normal or did i do something wrong? and if it is normal, how am i going to e-mail it when noone will let me send a file that large?
Last reply by TRN, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 1k views
I am following a tutorial how to model an eye. When it comes to the Lathe-tool I run into trouble as it does not behave as i expect. It does not lathe with the end-CPs in center. It seems to lathe round the spline-center instead.... I have tried to alter properties, SHIFT-clicking on different CPs before lathing etc. I can see three reasons: 1: I am a bit stupid not understanding the obvious... 2: The Lathe-tool is not intuitive enough 3: There is a bug in Animation Master 17.0d I am hoping for the first and that someone can tell me what I am doing wrong. This is my spline before lathe: This is after doing lathing. Why wi…
Last reply by Visping, -
- 8 replies
- 1k views
Hi all, I'm hoping some of you guru's might help my students out. We are using 3D Game Studio to develop a 3D game and AM for character development. When using AmxTex to export, AM crashes with some models; and some models it works fine with. Even when we remove the rigging and strip down a model we still encounter crashes. I've attached a simple model (designed after Jeff Lew's Killer Bean) that won't export. Any ideas on what we should try? Mike Bean.mdl
Last reply by wedgeeguy, -
NEW TWO HASH
by chuy- 12 replies
- 1k views
BEST IN MY CLASS ANIMATION MASTER. IF U NEED HELP TELL ME IM A TEACHER
Last reply by Eric2575, -
- 1 follower
- 11 replies
- 1k views
I am considering purchasing this program to use for a middle school class on animation. Would the users of this program respond as to the ease of use for true beginners in the art of animation. I too will be learning with my students. Should we start smaller. I worry that the task may be daunting for teen animators.
Last reply by Gerry, -
- 13 replies
- 1k views
I'm not a new user but am unsure where to ask the question so ...? I am doing a little character test for a figure and have it sitting on a stool but I keep getting positional drift on the hip null. I tried using Hold for the interpolation method to no avail. I tried using zero slope, again no joy. I deleted all the key frames for the hips except the one on frame 0, still no luck, It keeps drifting I have deleted the keyframes for the foot targets too so neither they or the hips should move after frame 0. ~Still the hips keep drifting position. Is there something I am missing here ? regards simon Mac OSX 10-68, V15J,
Last reply by Simon Edmondson, -
- 9 replies
- 1k views
Is it possible to limit the rotation of bones at the set up stage so that they do not exceed the natural limits of the human form and, if so, does anyone have a list of the angle limits ? On the setup I have at the moment it is possible to move some bones in the wrong dimension and I have to go back and reset them afterwards. For example: In the fingers, the base of the finger can move in all three dimension ( XYZ). The mid section and the finger tip can only rotate in the z dimension - forwards and backwards. The hope is to setup a rig I can use in future projects. Thank you in advance. regards simon
Last reply by Simon Edmondson, -
- 1 follower
- 13 replies
- 1k views
How do you make liquid i knoe their is an easy way in v15 but how do you do it in v14
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 11 replies
- 1k views
ok soooo yesterday our sound file and our dope sheet was working... and SUPRISE!! today the sound file wouldnt play the dope sheet was working and the lip sync also but there was no sound comming from the character we have uploaded the file numerous times re added it to the character many times as well the sound file will work in the library but as soon as we put it on our character it will not work... im begining to dislike this greatly.... please help!!!!!!!
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 8 replies
- 1k views
OK you can tell from my profile and A:M version I've been around for a while - but I've had my second loong hiatus from A:M so I think I count as a newbie while I'm getting back into it. Just need to know what I'm doing wrong here - this is what I'm seeing in the camera view in the choreography but this is what happens with the render
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 7 replies
- 1k views
I used Sprtite System created leaves for a tree, it's easy and look very good. I can use this technique in still images. But in animation it .... How can I freeze the sprite system? Thank you very much.
Last reply by John Bigboote, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 1k views
Hi, everybody. new forum user here. I am having trouble bringing an avi into my chor. as a camera rotoscope. some avi will work such as video that I have created with AM but video from my camera won't show up or render... any suggestions?
Last reply by Walter Baker, -
- 11 replies
- 1k views
Hey guys I've got a new problem. AM is able to put in real life film into a cgi movie right? Well, it turns out that AM isn't doing that, either it renders as a white box or it doesn't render at all. I kinda need help. Rooky Animator
Last reply by PaulX, -
- 9 replies
- 1k views
I was thinking of making a holiday themed animation as a small project and figured I'd open the challenge up to other people learning A:M Here's the simple idea: A Gingerbread village. Here's the rules: Nobody who's got more than 2 years A:M experience. (We'll let them critique it after!) Needs to be done by Dec 24th Everything on theme Capable of being assembled into a project at the end (Same scale) I'll post a gingerbread tree in photo and model. Feel free to modify/ re-scale if you like, but mostly I'm posting it as a starting point. Some ideas: A house (or houses) Snow, Candy cane fences,…
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 12 replies
- 1k views
So I am working on cleaning up the penguin - I am redoing the patch coloring after doing my CFA. Is there an easy way to choose additional adjacent patches to have the color I want, or should I just create a new group and reapply the material? The only reason I am not doing that is I have a ton of groups as it is and probably should start deleting them. I'm not even sure what some of them are. I don't know how I ended up with so many groups, it looks like they are copies of the existing groups I have (numbered 2-7).
Last reply by Roger, -
- 12 replies
- 1k views
Hi folks. Been having trouble when rendering hair in cartoon mode. The toon lines appear to thick even if I set the surface/attribute/thickness to 0. I also made sure that "overide lines" was turned off when rendering. It there a way to make toon lines not even appear at all on hair? Any ideas?
Last reply by steve392, -
- 2 replies
- 1k views
A while back I discovered a bug with the way my GPU handles displaying animation playback/scrubbing in AM. There is a bit of a lag and/or dropped frames which can make it difficult to tell what is going on. I'm not sure if this is a problem with the Intel HD graphics, the Nvidia GPU, or the Nvidia Optimus feature which is supposed to switch between the 2 (I'm assuming it may be due to Optimus, but haven't been able to confirm by testing all cases yet). Currently I've got only the Nvidia discrete GPU enabled and am looking for my project file to scrub through the timeline to see if it is still an issue. Does anyone else with a similar setup on their laptop e…
Last reply by Roger, -
- 1 follower
- 13 replies
- 1k views
OK... i'm seriously considering buying this product based on reviews, demos. But, the hefty $300 price tag is a killer. However, I did find a 2005 version of A:M for cheap. It says its version 11.1b ?? Is it possible to buy that and then upgrade to version 2006 for $100. Saving $150? Or is it better just to buy the 2006 outright? Thanks for any help. Steven
Last reply by Chad_Hunt, -
- 5 replies
- 1k views
Hi, I try to render but when i do it says : Avistreamsetformaterror, most lile caused by a codec compresssor that does not support 24 bit data. I know I have a lot of codes installed, but do i have to install codec into A:M? Or does anyone know what this can be? I could render the scen as tga images but not as avis. Another question is if there is some additional download I should do? I cant find the same assets as i se in the tutorial movies.
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 10 replies
- 1k views
I remember having trouble with this in the past, but I was hoping that it had been solved simply. When I render an image file from Hash as a PNG, JPG, or other, the Alpha channel doesn't export automatically. As a result, when I import the image back into A:M to be used in a "Layer", it has black instead of transparency. If you have an Alpha channel set in the render, it should show up in the image as transparent. But in an A:M render this is not the case. Am I missing something. 1. Render an object as a PNG with "Alpha" buffer set on. 2. Import that image back into A:M and create a layer with it in a Choreography. 3. Does the transparent area sho…
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 14 replies
- 1k views
ok i have a sceen where a bullet like projectile hits 2 armor tiles right where they connect , what should happen is that the tiles deform to just allow the bullet through then slowly restore to normal , only problem i have is that it seams to take way to many bones on the part that the bullet plows through and it dosent look very good , is there a way to set 1 model segment to automaticaly deform when another "hits" it or do i just have a lot more work ahead of me
Last reply by Gerry, -
- 8 replies
- 1k views
If I have video footage that involves motion, let's say a pan, and I want to apply this video as the background to my main A:M camera (for the sake of putting things in the right place), is there a way to automate this camera's movement to match the original camera's, so that the scene stays stationary while the camera has a pan?
Last reply by Gorf, -
adding sound to your animation?
by Guest SandGroper- 1 follower
- 9 replies
- 1k views
hi how does one add music/sound to a avi , mov file i can add the default sounds that come with am , but not my own? any ideas?
Last reply by heyvern, -
- 5 replies
- 1k views
I'm using version 12.0 Socereze version. I have to render a few animation files for my class in .mov format. The short I'm doing first is 10 seconds long and is simple enough to render in 12 minutes as an .avi. When I render with default settings, it takes the same 12 minutes. But when I go to watch it, an error pops up that says " This is not a movie file. When I render with Sorenson Video 3, no error pops up but my computer completely locks up. Another, not so serious, problem; when I rendered the above mentioned animation as an avi, the sound was this loud static type sound and not the music it ws supposed to be. And another animation I've done as a…
Last reply by Chrury Sanson, -
- 1 follower
- 10 replies
- 1k views
Hi folks - I'm on version 13 - Love the Darktree textures, but I'll be darned if I can get them to show up in my library. I'm able to create additional libraries and modify existing texture libraries. Any ideas? Thanks, Zola
Last reply by zandoriastudios, -
- 9 replies
- 1k views
can the last version of AM run normally with windows vista!!????? REGARDS!!! DANIEL.
Last reply by Zzzippo, -
- 14 replies
- 1k views
I have two moves I need the camera to make. The first is a mere rotation pan done with key framing. But on the second I want the camera to follow a curved path starting at point A and ending at point B, using (I'm assuming) an aim at constraint. Is this done in the chor or in an action? Or is there some obvious "other" thing I'm missing? Thanks, Myron
Last reply by HomeSlice, -
- 6 replies
- 1k views
I am trying to get a piece of film to fly in from off camera. I have a path setup in the choreography and have constrained the model to the path. Only the model refuses to bend with the path, instead the whole model moves about the path as one. The short end of it is look at the home page for animation master, the strip of film in the upper left corner of the page is similar to what I want the piece of film (model) to do, but instead of modeling the entire strip, I want one small piece of the film to bend and fold as it runs along the path. suggestions?
Last reply by InsanitySurplus, -
- 1 follower
- 9 replies
- 1k views
In an earlier topic called "Need Keyframe Help" I followed the suggestions that were made without success, here's what I did. Opened time line, at frame 00:00:00 I nudged Keekats Right forearm, keyframe was create at 00:00:00, at frame 00:01:00 I nudged Keekats Right forearm, keyframe was create at 00:01:00, moved time slider to frame 00:02:00, moved right arm to position I wanted, when I moved arm, time line changed, two more graph lines appeared and stated to come together at 00:02:00 as I moved Keekats arm, keyframe 00:01:00 disappeared. I hope this was clear, and I would appreciate some help with this so I can move on. Thanx, Bob Koonce
Last reply by bobkoonce, -
- 1 follower
- 13 replies
- 1k views
What has to be activated for Spherical Limits is show up in the Properties?
Last reply by Kelley, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 1k views
My software is leaving many after images and I do not know how to fix it, I have changed no settings only updates for computer. Can someone please help and advise a course of action, I have already uninstalled and reinstalled the software still no change I'm getting multi layered after images.
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 7 replies
- 1k views
Wondered what folks thought as best enhancement for my AM experience. Currently have a Geoforce 4 Ti 4600 Video card with 128 ram and have a p4 2.53 processor with 512 ram. Having only been working with AM for ver 12.n for about two months so I was curious what would be best choice to get a better video card with maybe 256 mb of video ram or increase my system ram to 1gb. Sometimes for me choreography is a little jumpy when I have a number of items on screen especially with textures and sometimes my model manipulating seem a little quirky . So wondered of these two choices what might be best. Overall I am having great time learning AM. And I know a faster cpu is always …
Last reply by Motility, -
- 1 follower
- 9 replies
- 1k views
Any tips on importing a video rotoscope into the action window? Only the first frame appears and I can't seem to find any explanations on how to set the properties - length, crop, range - in the technical manual.
Last reply by PaulX, -
- 2 followers
- 9 replies
- 1k views
Hello long time.. Now because my brick wall was too heavy for each brick... now i try done images and my skill it's not good. i have try read forums and now my eyes bleeding blod and i dont get anythin in brain more information.... (except my screen work well in solarium).. Is here good tutorial? there links but some not work. First what is right way make wall window hole? becouse how i make then image dont go right. (dont look well) i am start thinkin i go and by miljon gigabyte menory computer and make old way... sniif... simple thing take lot of work. ( i think)... and sorry. God not give me more wisdom...
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 11 replies
- 1k views
Hi all sorry to be a pain for prob a very easy answer but i'm not that good yet. Can someone tell me how to use video footage from say window movie maker on Vista and use it as a back drop for my sort aniamtion. I want to add an animation in the film ie. like the film Rogger Rabbit. I have no idea how to make a scenary or back drop let alone use video footage. Many Thanks for any and all help. Cheers Jeff
Last reply by Jeff B, -
- 13 replies
- 1k views
hi there i now am the proud owner of AM v16 i did lesson number 2 the chorus line but it wont let me save the animation, i keep getting ( aviFileCreateStreamError ) then i get ( unableToSaveFile ) anyone know why????????? thanks Mike
Last reply by HomeSlice, -
- 12 replies
- 1k views
I might be jumping the gun on this question and will find the answer soon-- I'm working through the tutorials in the David Rogers book (BEST BOOK EVER, based on the first 1/3, at least--the tutorials are very instructive and logically arranged) and I just modeled my first realistically-muscled appendage (a leg). To keep spline density low, the tut focuses on using spline bias manipulators to define the musculature. On the tut, however, the only cps whose bias is manipulated belong to the spline rings going around the leg. Is it standard/advisable, when modeling, to adjust bias on splines running lengthwise, as well? Is there a reason to stick with bias manipul…
Last reply by C-grid, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 1k views
it's just a thought.I'm making a movie of my own, and I have run out of relatives to do the voices, I was wondering if any one else has the same problem, I wonder if any of the hash animators would like to use there voices for others movies project , kinda like a bank exchange, the animator could send there script through email and the recording could be sent on a attached email, just a thought. Katt
Last reply by Karl,
