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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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- 5 replies
- 554 views
Can I apply a procedural texture over top of a model that I have placed decals on? Does the procedural texture have to be in a specific place in the PWS heirarchy for it to show up? I'd like to add a turbulence over top of bitmapped images to simulate staining or grunge. thanks
Last reply by mcutler, -
- 2 replies
- 414 views
normally when i apply a decal to something it shows up in the modelling window but this time around when i apply a decal it doesnt showup in the viewport, but it renders out ok whats the deal???
Last reply by eptigo, -
- 4 replies
- 694 views
I started to build another pseudo-WWI tank. The lower hull uses a stamped steel pattern. Each section is a closed six-sided box. Each side of each box has been individually selected and all other CP's hidden, and the steel pattened decaled on. All twelve sides should look alike. The project has been saved many times. However, upon re-starting A:M and opening the project, or, sometimes after a freeze-up and re-start, some sides will look smeared...as though the decal had been applied to one side without hiding the rest of the box. On this example, the side of the lower box is smeared fore and aft, while the bottom is smeared left to right. The other side. and the front and…
Last reply by Slipin Lizard, -
- 7 replies
- 904 views
I'm modeling a shotgun shell, and I would like to put some decals on the side. I have one decal that I've created that says "Remington" and it has an alpha map. I import it and change the application method to cylindrical, but when I apply it there are about 20 different "Remington"s stamped around the entire model. Spherical and Planar produce different, but undesired results. Any suggestions?
Last reply by KenH, -
- 7 replies
- 825 views
I've been applying decals of Soviet Revolutionary Posters over brick wall. The posters go on fine, then after a while, disappear. The white areas on the wall show where the posters were. The one remaining [near ground level] has since disappeared. The container in the PWS then changes from 'SOV. POSTER_01' to 'SOV. POSTER_011' [or...SOV.POSTER_03' to 'SOV.POSTER_031'] The 'Image' inside the container says 'SOV.POSTER_01'. Is the brick [as first decal applied] over-riding the poster? Something else?[attachmentid=13991]
Last reply by Dhar, -
- 4 replies
- 2.3k views
Trying to apply a decal as cookie cutter to a grid that will be curved slightly. Image has alpha and looks fine in Photoshop, alpha is clear w/black all around. See attached pics. Am I the only one who has constant problems with everything I try to do in AM????? Always loved AM but AM don't love me BACK. I'm sure its something stupidly obvious. Any help appreciated-sorry to be such a painus in the anus.
Last reply by svetlik, -
- 3 replies
- 426 views
when you are applying decals to a plane, how do you control what parts of the decal are transparent? arent you supposed to color part of it black???
Last reply by eptigo, -
- 12 replies
- 923 views
In doing some clayrenderings with the nullshader and the settings of Tralfaz I find , that though decals are switched off, they do render anyway. 15i on PC Is this some known issue? Should this be reported? Any workarounds? Oh well, please not deleting all the decals.... And second I find some black spots/lines mostly, where I used hooks. Is this indicating some problems for rendering scenes lateron? For the clayrendering I could live with retouching in Photoshop, since I only need stills for the time being.
Last reply by jakerupert, -
- 5 replies
- 696 views
It seems like such an easy thing considering i have already made myself a nice rendition of a small airlane. Now I have been tasked with producing some teaching aids for a map reading course and I was simply taking a contour map image of a hill, rotorscoping it, then applying what I rotoscoped as a decal. Well it doesn't seem to like that. I did a test with a photo just for practice and it worked fine. But now that I am trying to actually do what I thought I could, no luck. The decal just disappears. I am using A:M 11.1
Last reply by bulpup, -
- 6 replies
- 1.5k views
Description says it all... Just not sure how to do it. How can I have a decal turned off on one frame, then turned on on the next - or even just turn it off once it's been applied without deleting it? Thanks tommy
Last reply by Rodney, -
I had a question. I'm looking to have a simple TV screen looking thing, and have the screen flash "Yes" and "No" about a second or so apart. I know an animated .Gif can do this, but I want it to continue in the background and loop. Is there a way to do that, or should I use a movie format and put that on there? Ideally, since its MOSTLY just those 2 screens, I'd like to keep the file small and easy for rendering purposes. Thanks guys! John
Last reply by lafnjack, -
- 10 replies
- 733 views
well, I like what I see, and the price you just can't seem to beat. Ive read alot of reviews, some really positive, some not so much. My biggest concern is that people are saying that it is unstable. Has that been fixed in the lastest versions? I'm 15 and I used to do animation in power point just for fun. I tryd maya at a friends but it was really hard to use and WAY out of my price range. Also, is there a return policy if the cd is defunct? thank you.
Last reply by the_black_mage, -
- 4 replies
- 573 views
Hi There, I'm having troubles adjusting path length verses choreography length. I start off with a new project and choreography, set the chor length to 15 seconds. Then create a simple path which is also 15 seconds. Drop an object (character) on it (I chose Turtle Tom from the Extras disk) and he moves along it just fine - does the whole path in 15 seconds (I haven't added the turtle walk yet). Now I extend the choreography length to 30 seconds, thinking the turtle will complete the path in 15 seconds, then stand still for another 15 seconds. The properties for Choreography Action 1 under both the Turtle Tom shortcut and under the Path shortcut show Chor Ran…
Last reply by BMatthews, -
- 4 replies
- 560 views
As explained elsewhere, I'm using V15 on an Imac running Snow Leopard to revisit an old project for a competion. The original project was put together in V10 and, when complete, backed up onto CD's. They were originally done in 26fps because that is what I'm used to. And on a PC running Windows XP I have had a few problems with V15 ( using the one off the CD) occassionaly dropping out and it seems to revert to its factory defaults each time it does it. So, for example, I open it up to load the old project, having previously set the frame rate to 25fps. It imports the files but it imports them at 30fps, I reset the options under tools, save it and the pr…
Last reply by Simon Edmondson, -
- 3 replies
- 524 views
hello all. hope youre well. i was just wondering what exactly is the "deform tool" for, and in what type of scenario is it used in? thanks.
Last reply by John Bigboote, -
- 3 replies
- 574 views
So I made a triangle and I want it to look not as straight and I want it to look deformed. Is there a way to do this without doing it one by one.
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 10 replies
- 943 views
Hello All. Really newbie question here. I've modeled a fish and am supposed to animate it useing deformers. I've done a serach on the TechRef. PDF and can't find anything that'll show me how to use deformers. I've searched this site and have only found people talking about them but not how to use 'em. Any toots out there? If you need more info let me know. Thanks. SMC
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 4 replies
- 604 views
Where does A:M set the default value for Channel Interpolation? In the Channel CP Settings dialog box it lists Default, linear, etc.
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 2 replies
- 547 views
Quick question... Is it possible to delete a control point from a spline so that the curve of the spline is maintained? Something like when you shift click to add a CP to a spline and the CPs before and after the new CP automatically adjust their bias to maintain the curve. For instance, I have the following spline... But when I delete a CP, it distorts the spline, which is what I don't want to happen. Thanks... Al
Last reply by Master chief, -
- 5 replies
- 833 views
I'm having a bit of trouble getting this to work. I want to delete this patch in here, but it won't work! If you look in the little square you'll see the selected patch... VVVVVVVVVVVV
Last reply by teh1ghool, -
- 4 replies
- 961 views
Hi there, currently i am still on the demo on V.17. Since i am going on holiday on the 12.12. i will buy my regular Version when i come back in January, to make the licence last longer ;-) Right now i wanted to install the TSM 2, but its not showing up. My questions are: Is the TSM not working with the demo? And, is the TSM 2 working with the regular version of V17? Thanks for helping, best regards Heiner
Last reply by robcat2075, -
Demo?
by DigitalBard- 7 replies
- 540 views
Is there a demo version available? Even an old one. This looks interesting and I'd like to give a try for a few days before spending a good chunk of money. Thanks!
Last reply by oakchas, -
- 2 replies
- 540 views
Hello, Does anyone have a guide or information on the settings for the Denoise Post Effect? I'd like to alter how my denoise looks on smaller renders. Any help is appreciated. Tim
Last reply by Laconic, -
- 3 replies
- 756 views
Hi, I'm trying to do a rack focus and I keep getting these bubbles around the objects. In the example image I've uploaded, thats suppose to be an X Wing Fighter! You can see the X Wing but these bubbles appear around it. I've set up the render in the options panel to "Use Settings From the Camera." I've tried to turn on and off motion blur, Reflections, and shadows. Anyone else have this difficulty?
Last reply by John Bigboote, -
- 9 replies
- 701 views
Okay, I'm wandering into new territory again and need some help. :-) I'm working on a shot for the Christmas greeting I'm doing and I want to do a focus switch ...to transition from one character to another. So, I've turned on Depth of Field in the camera and set it up. When I do a preview render with no multipass, I get exactly what I would like. Foreground character is in focus, and background character and set are nicely out of focus. But when I do a multipass render, not so good... With more passes (say 9), there's almost no blurring at all. Is there a trick to this?
Last reply by largento, -
- 2 replies
- 463 views
When resting over a button, it looks like a description of the button pops up for a fraction of a second in the status bar area (bottom left of the screen) and is then replaced with "For Help, Press F1". Does anyone know how to make the description stay there so we can see what the button does? Thanks.
Last reply by KenH, -
- 3 replies
- 325 views
Hey all, I'm having a bit of trouble with Bones. When I select CPs to attach to a Bone, is there anyway I can DEselect CPs if I make a mistake? I tried every possible key+mouseclick combo I could think of... And is there any way to attach a group from the model hierarchy to a Bone? I'm running A:M 12.0n I understand there is a later version for the YETI CD, but the FTP site is a mess. Multiple version scattered around and I haven't got a clue which one to download. Thanks for your help.
Last reply by Luuk Steitner, -
- 12 replies
- 651 views
I am sure there is a simple answer to this. I need a shot of a desert sun as if someone were looking straight up at it. so blue sky and sun only. then I am going to animate circling buzzards. Any suggestions on a good sun please?
Last reply by TheSpleen, -
- 2 followers
- 7 replies
- 494 views
I'm new to AM and really have no desire to design or model, I primarilly do this as a hobby, my interest is animation using existing models and characters. I started out using Daz and found its animation tools were limited, switched to Poser and again found it also had its limitations and frustrations. My goal was to create a DVD intro for my home theater hobby. I wish to create short animations that would describe the genre of the movie that would be playing i,e. adventure, horror, sci fi etc. Since I've collected many different theme models and scene's made by Daz, poser and 3dmax, I'm now wondering if these models can be inported into AM for animation. After many …
Last reply by sumthinwong, -
- 1 follower
- 3 replies
- 453 views
ok i have a short segment in which a jet is hit by a missle with some type of cerosive compond in it that eats away the outer armor exposing the insides, direct model manipulation didnt look very good so im asking for ideas on how to do this
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 9 replies
- 901 views
I made it, but feel free to rip it, I think there are plenty of problems. http://homepage.mac.com/somniac/.Pictures/s08what2.mov Here are a few problems I notice, and I wonder what the solution might be: -the depth of field antialiasing is falling along a LINE!!! That's no depth of field to me. -Weird butt-shadows! What's up with that? I should note: -I have a "fill light" since in the video I've already established the sun is to this character's back. What I'd ideally have is a sort of ambient dome-lighting, like what the blue sky actually does. Is there such a method? -Slightly jerky step? I think my character's motion is mostly tim…
Last reply by Gerry, -
dice modeling
by max- 3 replies
- 639 views
helow, Hahsers, i need some help, i modeling a dice (picture attached) how i can crate this shape? thanks to all!
Last reply by max, -
- 1 reply
- 458 views
Hi out there, I'm wondering whether there are AM lip sync dictionaries available in other languages. I am sepecially interested in a German distionary file. Is there any? A bit deeper goes my question on how I could create one myself .... (1) What phonems can be used in this sort of file and (2) how are they mapped to lip poses? Thanks for your support
Last reply by Ganthofer, -
- 3 replies
- 854 views
I am still on exercise 7 and having some more trouble. I have tried to find the index file on the disk. I am using a mac 867/ 1gb memory and tiger 4.3 When I right click and go to the dope sheet. I then add "I've got a secret ect. I click on ok and get the message: Dictionary modified or Index file missing. Recreating Index File. From there it just goes in a circle with: Trouble opening the dictionary index file! I need to know where the index file is on the disk for the mac. I can't find it. (in the tutorial it says that you take the file from the disk and drop it into animation master folder) Thanks
Last reply by Douglas, -
- 1 reply
- 409 views
is there an updated version? i found one from 2001 on the ftp site but wanted to know if anyone had one more recent.
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 577 views
ok with all the help i got from you guys here i final had something going my final model was a giant ring with 8 crystals that shot lasers and it looked really cool , howevery during modification to make one of the laser track a target , then i got a code 35 error folowed by a looping save error and then finaly AM crashed alltogether , now that i open the project back up the models names are still there but there empty files and i dont have previous files versions. is there something i should make sure i do so that this does not happen again
Last reply by Xtaz, -
- 1 reply
- 325 views
So I wanted to use a bone connected to a simple model to cut a hole through the side of a vehicle that has a Darksim Material on it. 1. I went to the "Boolean" bone's properties and turned "Boolean Cutter" to "ON." 2. I did both final renders and progressive renders and the boolean doesn't seem to work. Did I forget a necessary step......or might some misfortune have happened to A:M's boolean function?? Detbear
Last reply by detbear, -
- 6 replies
- 833 views
Running ver. 16 and have been trying to add video to cloth sheet. (cloth not added to model yet) I import my image/animation, now when I go to apply it to the model I am unable to find 'Add Decal' I see 'Add Image'....... Any way when it is applied to the model it looks like below. Why is it placed in each section? Why is it flipped, flopped, right side up and upside down? Maybe I never noticed it before?!?
Last reply by Walter Baker, -
- 2 replies
- 468 views
hi, can some1 tell me the diference between add mode and add lock mode and when i need to use add lock mode and add mode... i find they are the same exept for the 2 points only in lock...
Last reply by chuchi_disturbed, -
- 3 replies
- 429 views
Hi I was just wondering the difference between Frames animation and time based - for instance what is the relationship between the two or how do I do timing, say for instance if I create a animation which is : • animated over 30 frames • with keyframes at every 10 frames How will this be translated to time code ? Meaning if the time code is 30fps then the sequence would yield only 1 second of animation in SMTP So how do we convert or animate with frames keeping in time with actual errr. . . real time ? What do we have to keep in mind for actual time / timing when animating with frames then outputting to SMTP ? Say I wanted the frame an…
Last reply by a.quaihoi, -
- 1 follower
- 6 replies
- 560 views
Hello, I am attempting to import Ai files into animation master via the plugin wizard. However for some reason it will not import the files. With recent Ai file formats it will exit the wizard, but not import anything. With older files, the software shuts down. I can't figure it out. Has anyone else had this problem? I'm using Windows xp pro. service pack 2. Any idea's/thoughts? Thanks. MC Also are there any plugins that allow the import of an .eps?
Last reply by mclemster, -
- 2 replies
- 482 views
I've got a few shorts I'd love to upload, but the hash upload page hasn't been right for me as long as I've tried. For example, here's a copy-and-paste of the upload page: humbnail: Byg to allow A:M Films viewerso save it, copy it, or s your own, and that yogement or copyrig Animation Info - Step 2 "yogement?" "copyrig?" Is this me? My attempts to upload have failed. Any suggestions?
Last reply by noewjook, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 395 views
Hey has anyone had to deal with this.....I changed a color on a model, and one of the groups was changed that I didn't want to be changed. So I selected it, but it won't change color. Is there a way to reset a color on a group? I thought I could just change the setting and it would change the color.
Last reply by bighop, -
- 16 replies
- 1.3k views
I'd create an image sequence of this display in a paint program, going from lowest price to highest price, and apply that sequence as a decal to your sign. In your chor you can control the displayed frame of an image sequence. It would be easy to make it go up-down-up-down as needed for your story. And easy to revise the timing of that as you refine your animation. Is "image sequence" a technical term? I made a bunch of .jpgs of the various prices, but I don't see an obvious "apply image sequence" option under applying decals.... (the glitches I'm getting w/ jpgs is another problem, I'll just mass convert them..) Is this just another way of saying m…
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 4 replies
- 547 views
Hi all, I'm doing a project that involves rotoscoped video with animated characters. I've found that AM will not accept DV AVI's and when I use cinepak or indeo to compress the video, upon rendering in AM the digital video turns out terrible - get lines all across the screen. Any suggestions on how I should bring the digital video into AM and then render? Thanks, Mike
Last reply by itsjustme, -
- 10 replies
- 1.5k views
Hi All, I've been trying to create a dimension rounded bump on the surface of a globe. Using the library materials, I'm getting either spikes or rectangular protrusions, but not a smooth rounded look. It would also be wonderful to have some size variation in the bumps. What is the best way to approach this ? Thanks for any suggestions.
Last reply by itsjustme, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 848 views
Is there a way to change the direction of the source light when using Ambiance Occlusion. I've set up a scene that has no lights in it, I just want to use Ambiance Occlusion for light, however, it seems like the source of light is directly above the object. I need it to come in from the side, but I'm not sure there is a way to do this. My other option is to use lights and turn on Radiosity?
Last reply by zandoriastudios, -
- 2 replies
- 562 views
Is there a plugin that allows for DirectX file imports? I've looked everywhere and searched through all the support pages and links and haven't found anything. thx
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 9 replies
- 746 views
I'm wondering how to make an object disappear over an amount of time? I want my nuclear membrane to disappear.
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 5 replies
- 801 views
Hey All, I have had AM for a week now and I am having some weird things happen. I have been trying to follow one of the video tutorials on walking cycles. I double click the an actor, it opens up, I close that window and double click Actions, set the view to shaded. But, when I try to rotate the model it vanishes leaving only the bones visible. This is happening on a lot of different models. What is causing this? Thanks for your help! T MAC
Last reply by triath5147,
