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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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- 4 replies
- 1.2k views
In Hash pressing Shift + middle Mouse button will give you the "Turn tool" for rotating in the scene/ model/ action/ view, etc. HOW can you customize this to be Alt + Left Mouse button? I haven't learned that golden knowledge during my last 11 years of Hash use. Anyone know how? I Know how to change short cut keys via the "Customize/ Keyboard" window.....but I haven't figured out how to make the "Mouse buttons" work in combination there in order the re-customize the view interface ......(Turn, Move, zoom)
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 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, -
Okay, I can make the piston cycle nicely once, and if the animation is looped, it does not hesitate at the top as I did not chor the last frame of the action. However, the engine needs to turn more that once. I have tried futzing with all the numbers. Cycle length, chor and crop... nothing seems to make the action cycle over a longer chor... right now, i'd settle for 3 seconds. with the action repeating about 2.5 times. then I would know I can go on. Here's a screen shot... what am I missing?
Last reply by oakchas, -
- 8 replies
- 2k views
I look to see if there was a cylindrical mapping tutorial and could not find one. I ahve problem mapping a seamless image onto a cylinder. first of all, i want to know why it always default to a repeat of 3 in the x !!! it is seamless so i want the beginning to match my end around the cylinder. Then, about the normals. Should they be pointing out of the cylinder or in? Sometimes, my map shows up as a mirror image... Any tutorial out there? Thanks. Pierre
Last reply by mouseman, -
D3D vs OGL
by MikeV- 10 replies
- 1k views
Is it just me, or does the OpenGL mode in A:M seem to perform substantially better than the DX8 mode? It also looks a lot clearer. I can crank the patch detail level all the way up to the 4th/full detail level in OGL and it's perfectly smooth, and the splines are nice and clear. The only artifact I get from it is that if I draw a selection box or drag a guideline it causes a "blank spot" 'til I release the mouse button. If I go into DX8 mode, it's smooth up to level 2, but as soon as I get to level 3 detail, and more so level 4, it chops up pretty bad. Also the grid lines become jagged and "broken up" looking. The one positive is that I don't get the "blank spo…
Last reply by MikeV, -
- 8 replies
- 866 views
I have tried doing the baggage patch water tutorial millions of times. But it I can't seem to translate most of the old version steps to v13. If anyone can help that would be great.
Last reply by animation man hi, -
- 1 follower
- 0 replies
- 313 views
I'm making a palm tree....one of the tutorials on my DVD, anyway, I got the cookie cut to work, but there is a faint outline of the square tar. file. Also, after making the tar with the alpha channel in photoshop, the color is gone. I know I must be missing something here.
Last reply by bighop, -
I'm working on a scene right now and am trying to get a dark fog sort of thing at the bottom of the scene, however when I use the mist volumentric I seem to only be able to make fog thats bright... There is no light hitting the fog, but it renders as a bright splotch. I put the brightness down in the mist settings and then the fog just disappears. Maybe I'm missing something, but I can't get a dark fog.... it either is bright or isn't there at all. Any help would be great, thanks, --Ross
Last reply by rossk, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 928 views
hi. people keep going on about this darktree thing and i was wondering, what is it
Last reply by Caroline, -
- 1 follower
- 19 replies
- 1.5k views
Hi all, Just got a problem, I wanted to create and simulate water. I have made the material but the water is just a material. How do i animate it? does it do this automaticly. I have selected animate but i dont realy now what i am doing Please help
Last reply by elliotclem1, -
- 1 reply
- 804 views
We can always learn a lot from those that have tried and tested Animation:Master over the years. 'Tis the stuff of legend. In 2002, Darrin Mossor put a few tutorials and resources together. They are still great resources today. http://www.mossor.org/Desktop/ Here you'll find the following tutorials: - Displacement Map Footsteps - Writing with Sprites - Playing with Layers - Duplicator Wizard - Action Reuse/Centipede Along a Path - Displacement Mapping on a Garbage Can While there have been some changes to A:M's interface and functionality since these tutorials were written they are still a good read. As a minimum they still serve as …
Last reply by Tony, -
Data Files
by Kirby- 0 replies
- 401 views
I have install v14 on a couple of Dell Latitude D630 laptops as replacements for lab computers. The software is working, but I do not see any of the libraries, projects and other files under the tabs on the left of the work area. Where do I need to copy the data files so they will be available? Thank you in advance.
Last reply by Kirby, -
Data Folder
by bubba- 4 replies
- 697 views
Does this folder "need" to be here? I cannot see anyway that A:M looks inside automatically. So, can it be moved somewhere else?
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 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, -
- 0 replies
- 602 views
Hello again, I have extracted some models and textures out of one of my favorite video games. They were in .tri format. I converted them to .3ds, .lwa or .obj. The textures to them when theyre converted dont stick as they are supposed to (my fault on programming). So they end up as .dds (direct draw image) All the UV map coordinates are in that dds file and should just lay right on but some how they dont in 3ds max. Now for .obj When i attach textures to the model then convert it to .obj, it leaves a .mtl file with it. It contains all the texture information and material stuff and jazz like that. Now for my question, is .dds or .obj supported in A:M. If …
Last reply by SirSpectre, -
- 3 replies
- 439 views
Hi Everyone, I am selling the computer on which A:M is installed (PowerMac G5), and I want to deactivate the application before wiping the drive and reinstalling the OS. How does one do that? Thanks! Arka C.
Last reply by lordarka, -
- 5 replies
- 659 views
So I have run into my 1st, of many, animation question: I started the 'It's a pitch' tutorial and did the 1st pose at time 00:00:00. Then I had to save the project and get something else done in the house. When I reopened the project, I got the 2nd pose finished only to realize I had not moved the timeline up to 00:00:10. So I did a 'save as' and moved the keyframes of the new pose over to 00:00:10. So now I want to copy the keyframes from my 1st project of the beginning pose. But when I paste those keyframes into the new project at 00:00:00, it seems to combine the 2 poses instead of replace the 'bad pose'. I then deleted all the keyframes from 00:00:00 an…
Last reply by thumperness, -
- 1 follower
- 3 replies
- 465 views
Hi, all! I'm creating a Star Trek Enterprise Bridge approximation that I can render in Stereo stills to substitute for green screen backgrounds I've got the basic bridge structure done OK, but I have to put in the computer screen images with decals. To make the decals look like they are illuminated computer screens, I need to set their ambience to 100% (or higher?0). But when I apply the decal, the Workspace on the left does not reveal any adjustments for ambience under the decal, the image, or the stamp. Any suggestions? Is there another way I can accomplish the illuminated screen look with a decal? Thanks in advance for any expertise you can offer!
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 5 replies
- 734 views
Ok, I have been trying to figure out for the last 2 days how to make the background colors of a decal or rotascope transparent. I have done the exercise with the fighter jet, and maybe I missed it but I didn’t seem to tell me how to make a decal, and I cant seem to get my decals to not have that big white background. Iv searched the forum and cant find any topics of this, but maby me iz just stupid LOL Iv got PhotoShop 6 and have tried ever format combination I can think of, and still cant get it. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Last reply by Pengy, -
- 1 follower
- 10 replies
- 842 views
Well I have another decal question. I made a model of a math book I use at my school. Another model I made will carry it. The model has patterns from the surface color breaking through. I need the surface color to match the decal. Any suggestions?
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 7 replies
- 1.3k views
For the last day or so I have been trying to render a simple scene with a decal. But I cannot get the decal to render correctly. origenal render
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 11 replies
- 1.1k views
I have modeled a box and applied decals for a realistic look. When I brought it into a default chor it looked fine until I moved off frame 0, whereupon all the decals disappeared and the shading reverted to the plain, non-decaled look. So all frames after frame 0 fail to show my decals. Presumably there is a setting that needs to be changed. Could someone clue me in? Thanks.
Last reply by ronburk, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 860 views
I wanted to interact some 3D animation with an image, to make an interesting DVD menu. I'm a new user, and found that decals seemed to be my best option. So, while using "snap to grid" I modelled a perfect box, and applied my decal on it. It looked perfect. Until I rendered it. Then there was distortion. The distortion is mainly visible in the upper left quadrant, and may be present only there. And it is _very_ visible. Once in a hundred tries I did not see the distortion, but I didn't do anything different at that lucky shot. I'm even beginning to doubt that it even happened... Is it a bug, or is it me? I'm using A:M v8.5 with Windows XP pro on a pretty po…
Last reply by Aleta, -
- 1 follower
- 19 replies
- 1.3k views
For a Star Trek parody, I am using AM to construct a CGI Enterprise Bridge set. I have successfully constructed the physical bridge, but am now trying to apply decals for the wall and console images. I was successful for the first two images I tried (planets picture, and Enterprise Diagram), then ran into distortion within the decal when I tried to apply the third one (Indicator Light and Plaque) to the Elevator Alcove Right Wall. Everything worked, right through the positioning process, but when I clicked on "apply," everything inside the decal distorted by expanding horizontally on the left and progressively contracting horizontally to the right, and stayed that way! …
Last reply by mtpeak2, -
- 2 followers
- 18 replies
- 1.5k views
I'm stumped. I have a very simple animation. I am using the Hash supplied cube model. Each major face has a decal with an image. (Think of a )photocube. I get my decals applied, but the image associated with the image object keeps getting reset to 'None'. I run through the six faces, and re assign the images, then pretty shortly thereafter, I'm seeing a gray cube again and all of the images have been reset. It seems that as soon as I save, the image reverts back to None. As you can imagine, this is very frustrating and any clues would be very welcome.
Last reply by AndyDavis, -
- 2 replies
- 502 views
I made a simple decal in photoshop with an alpha channel to be used as a cookie cut in AM. Once pasted and applied as cookie cut, the decals does it's job, but the patches that lie withing the edges of the decal do not render. I'm sure there is a very simple explanation and fix, but I'm not an expert on decals, sooooo...anyone?
Last reply by Eric2575, -
- 9 replies
- 880 views
Is there a limit to the number of decals I can apply to a model? I'm doing a model of a music keyboard, and its pretty decal intensive. I've reached a point where I can still apply more decals, but they will not show up in the render.
Last reply by oakchas, -
- 2 replies
- 561 views
i wanted to try using decals on my character but i guess im not too good at making character decals they call it skins or something right? how do you set up the skins on the decal before its applied to the model? how do you compensate for this stretching effect that im getting when the build reachs the edge of the skin thingy? help?
Last reply by AJS007, -
- 3 replies
- 797 views
Hey all,-- Never seen this, but a decal won't show up on the modeling window but does in render--anybody know why this might be? Thanks, Rich
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 14 replies
- 908 views
I have made a decal for my wood floors. But some of the groups I have add it to come in hazy. I am using a jpg file. Also add any other tips I may need to know about the decals
Last reply by DJBREIT, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 822 views
I've tried making decals the same size and larger than the object I'm trying to decal and then fitting the decal down to size to try and make my decals not look so pixelly, but it doesn't work and I'll like to make some close up shots of what I'm trying to decal, but the quality doesn't seem to be very good. Is this a problem with the format or is it just a down side of the program? http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs24/i/2007/361...ct_by_neomi.jpg[/img] (The actually image I used for the decal is a little big, but I've tried it other ways too.) (On a side subject, is there someway I could possibly...."paint" my model with an airbrush or something in AM…
Last reply by Luuk Steitner, -
- 6 replies
- 519 views
Simple question I'm sure but one that seems to be eluding me...: I am extremely impressed with this software but am having an issue with decal setting onto a model. If I position the decal it sets and looks great. If i save the model for later use, the decals are gone when I re-open the model and I can't figure out why. The file name of the decal still shows in the decals folder, but the image no longer appears on the model. To use the decal in the choreography, I have to first open the model, then open a new choreography, then re-apply the decals individually and then choreograph the production. Not impossible for some simple projects, but mind numbing for the dec…
Last reply by Glider, -
- 1 follower
- 3 replies
- 542 views
Hi I am trying to apply a decal to my model, but every time I bring it in, it appears it appears very pixellated (large pixels). The original photoshop psd file is 7670kb and is very clear and sharp. I have tried saving it as as jpg, bmp and tga files of different sizes and reducing/enlarging them, and varyious resolutions but it always seems to come in to AM the same. I have searched the AM forums for an answer to no avail. I'm sure someone out there knows what I am doing wrong or will know the resolution! Thanks in anticipation Hoggy
Last reply by NancyGormezano, -
- 4 replies
- 661 views
Long ago I used to think that decalling was a simple process but then this started happening. I can stamp this image a dozen times and sometimes it ignores different patches randomly.Anyone else ever run across this or is AM picking on me again? Have tried making the patches larger-no effect. Tried applying decal in an Action with all the CPs flattened completely-no effect. Tried a TGA-no effect. Higher rez image-no effect. I've run out of ideas to try. Any help appreciated. LandTest.prj
Last reply by svetlik, -
- 2 followers
- 7 replies
- 522 views
I have a client that I am making a character for and she wants the eyes to be able to change from white to black when angry. The problem is I have a decal applied to the eye that has a white background when I make an action to make the eyes black you can see the white background of the decal. Is it possible to apply a decal w/ a transparent background? Or does anyone have any ideas how I can make this work? Thanks - Eric
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 1 follower
- 7 replies
- 743 views
another one of these very, very fundamental questions. here's my decal with leaf-type shapes. leaf pattern saved from PS as TGA 32 both as color map and as bump. but what's the white frame doing here? TGA's appear with white frame even in the hierarchy, object > group name > decal > image. i'm thinking this wrong but where? (i first saved TGA's as 24, seeing the white went back, resaved over the old - could this be a problem? rebooted a:m twice.)
Last reply by dblhelix, -
- 3 replies
- 455 views
Let`s say you have applied a decal to some patches and lateron you have changed the patches and added some cps. Do you have to apply the decals a new always in any case or is there a possibility to include the cps into the existing stamp afterwards so that the whole decal is showing up again?
Last reply by Fuchur, -
Okay, I made the statement that I am modeling a keyboard type device. I have decals for each key.. there are 45 some keys. I have a seperate graphic for each key. Currrently, my method is as follows: Here are 3 keys: [attachmentid=14144] I select one of them. and hide the rest. With the one key zoomed in, I load a decal, something like this: [attachmentid=14145] The checkerboard area is transparent. the letter graphic is centered on the key and applied. Assuming the next letter is "B," I would select the next key and apply the graphic as before. And so on, thru the complete keyboard layout... this is a lot of decals, on a lot of …
Last reply by JohnArtbox, -
- 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, -
- 2 followers
- 5 replies
- 461 views
Ok, I am having a hard time with this one. I'm trying to make a cut out of a person and decal them on a plane. 1. I cut the image out in photoshop.(not sure what is the best for saving) 2. I want to put the person on a cutout that is the exact shape of the decal. (I'm using it as a prop) 3. Do I have to model the shape, which is taking forever, or can I put the decal on a plane, and get rid of the white background?
Last reply by phatso, -
- 1 reply
- 398 views
Hi: I applied a decal (planar) and it looks well. But when I open the project , I saw the decal looks bad. A very poor quality. When I render it looks well but i need to see it better at AM when I´m working Help, please Véctor P.S: Ooops! I missed to say the image is white and black but as RGB image
Last reply by KenH, -
- 1 follower
- 7 replies
- 589 views
Hi - this is my first stab at putting decals on a character for color variations. I keep getting this small oranage square on the frog's neck. I have reapplied the orange to the hand about 4 times - even hiding all mesh but the hands when I am decaling it - and I am still getting the orange square - any ideas what I am doing wrong? Also, any suggestions or comments on the decaling itself that might make it look better would be appreciated. Thanks - Eric
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 528 views
I scanned in parts of a book.I'm making a book prop(s). The scans are saved as jpegs, I choose them as my new decal, the bounding box appears, but no image. The image is in the DECAL section. I don't know why. I've done the same process before, and it worked. I scanned the book cover under 200 dpi, is that too big? Ahhhhh!
Last reply by Paul Forwood, -
decals
by Stronghorn- 1 follower
- 1 reply
- 325 views
when applying a decal to a object like a vase, how do you get it cover uniformly? Thanks for your help.
Last reply by zandoriastudios, -
Need some help with decals. All of the decals tutorials use photoshop pro but I have paintshop pro. I would like to use the eyes from Miki model on my model. Here is a shot of my anime face model(center). The left model was a modified face from Miki model. I remade the face so it is easier to rig. But since the eyes are spherical and not cylinders and I am missing a step or two in applying the decal I have been having problem applying the decal
Last reply by DJBREIT, -
Help ! I applied a decal to the ground from a Jpeg file in the choreography window. The image was quite clear during the first portion of the animation work and then changed to a highly and largely pixelated version, making it unreadable. It rendered fine, but I need the clarity to coordinate the animation. I tried deleting the decal and reapplying, closing the program and restarting the computer, none of which helped. Can anyone tell me how to clear up the decal ? Thanks
Last reply by Maka, -
- 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, -
- 27 replies
- 2.6k views
Hi, Hopefully someone can help me with this one. I've created a " Mountain " model that has a large number of decals to create it's surface appearance. Everything looks great in the modeling and choreography windows, but when it renders, there are areas that the decals are not visible and I'm getting a solid color. I've tried reapplying and adding new, but those areas still will not show the decals. I'm rendering at 1440 x 1080 and using one pass. I've tried multi passing, but get the same results. HELP ! Thank you.
Last reply by NancyGormezano, -
- 2 replies
- 536 views
Well, I'm modeling 1:1 ratio. I've modeled a sheet of typing paper (8.5X11") (wow, exciting isn't it?) I have text to go on the paper as though typed. the decal is cut off on the sides (only half of a line shows up) and the text doesn't reach to the middle of the page across when in the graphics program. So A:M's decaler is making the decal larger than it is and not getting all of it. My settings in the graphics program are to build the sheet 8.5 X11" at 200 DPI resolution... is the resolution too high? is that what's doing it? I realize that for PC video 72-90dpi is prolly sufficient. but I was kinda hoping for higher res for poster printing later.. …
Last reply by oakchas, -
- 3 replies
- 524 views
i was just wondering this because i saw a picture in one of the AM manuals where they had done this with a smiley face and some particle hairs laid out on a flat plain. I know in the particle hair settings there's a drop down menu to apply an image to each individual strand (am i describing this right?), but that's not what i want to do because while that looks nice, i'm trying to apply one image to the entire mass of hair as a whole and not one image on each strand. i feel applying the image one time on the entire mass would look nicer. is this confusing i'm sorry i don't know how to explain this any better than this but if needed i will clarify upon request. …
Last reply by HomeSlice,
