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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
- 5 replies
- 1k views
Hello, I teach high school multimedia and my class and I are working through the tutorials in "The Art of Animation Master". I have not used 3D software for the past 5 years, however I did teach 3D Studio Max for 6 years. So far, we have finished exercises 1-5 and now we are starting on The Door is Stuck. The videos are very helpful and we are doing OK with the tutorials, but it seems we are getting into some very detailed concepts without a working knowledge of the basics. I think we need to go back over some basics before we continue. My question is this - What other training materials do you recommend that will cover the basics? I feel like these tutor…
Last reply by ssappington, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 821 views
I am very new to the program i got it for Christmas and am just getting around to getting really involved in the program. I am trying to make a terrain for a movie im trying to do but i am really confused i have done some tutorials but i cant ever get anything to extrude the way i want. If it helps in answearing my question i am trying to make a canyon. Please help and thank you. Geoff
Last reply by clonewar12345, -
- 5 replies
- 867 views
I´m working in a project for my school, and I am doing a short animation with an anime style, I was doing some testin with Toon render but i cant find the anime option to get the right effect, where can I find it? Im workin on version 10.5 any other tips about anime style are very welcomed ^.^ thankyou~
Last reply by Logrus, -
- 5 replies
- 469 views
I've been gone from AM for a while, but I intend to come back with a vengeance! Trouble is that I'm not ready to upgrade at this time. I see a lot of useful files out there, but they don't seem to want to cooperate with me. I have version 8.5f and it doesn't want to load any later mdl versions. I seem to remember that in the past I could simply open the model file as a text file and switch the version number to 8.5 and it would work (granted all the "new" features would produce errors and be automatically deleted). However, this doesn't seem to be working for me anymore. Any suggestions? ((edit: Vengeance and a spellchecker!))
Last reply by Bruce Del Porte, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 1.3k views
Hi Folks ... I added some audio to Keekat and everything appears OK in preview (choreography). When rendered, the audio appears to have shifted over time, and finishes befor the character. After the first render I noticed the problem. My initial thoughts were based on frame count (FPS) as I've seen similar converting NTSC to PAL videos. Also, I remembered that I'd originally created the project at 24 FPS (in v11.1) and then loaded it into 2007 defaulted at 30 FPS. So I checked everything and I reset 2007 to 24 FPS in Options and in the render setup of the .mov But ... the file sizes were the same and I still have the audio finishing early. …
Last reply by frosteternal, -
- 5 replies
- 617 views
I am trying to make an animated electrocardiogram with a darkish green background with the 'blip' animating a normal sinus rhythm. I want the blip to glow and leave a trail that fades as the blip travels along the "path" just like you see in the movies. I have tried sprites constrained to a path placed in a tube shaped like a normal sinus rhythm, but even with collision detection on I cannot keep them in the tube. I was thinking of applying a material that would travel along the length of the tube, but am at a loss as to what or how. I remember John had something of this effect when he rendered a box as lines with something tracing the box lines and glowing. Could …
Last reply by grandma, -
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- 696 views
I appologize if this question is in the wrong place, but I couldnt find the info through several searches. I currently use version 12, and am seriously considering upgrading to 13. I was just curious what the new features are in 13 and if you guys thought it was worth the money to upgrade??
Last reply by KenH, -
- 5 replies
- 610 views
Hello - I want to copy/flip/attach part of an object to make all the sides exact, but I need to delete a portion of it before I do - when I select the cp and click on "delete" on the keyboard it deletes the cp's, but attached what is left to other cp's - is there a way to select and delete the faces so it just removes it all cleanly? - hopefully I explainded what I am trying to do - Thank you.
Last reply by rusty, -
- 5 replies
- 783 views
I wanted to know if you could hand draw an animation then use animation master to play them like a flip book.
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 423 views
Hi - I am a newbie to materials and how they work - I am looking through the tech ref and it is talking about Material Diplacement - they show 100% - 200% and it looks like actual bumps instead of just a flat surface. When I used Roughness and Roughness scale it doesn't give the bumpy look - just distorts the colors to make it look bumpy, but still has the flat look. I am not getting something here, can anyone clue me in. Here is a great example of a "real" look to everything I am looking to learn to do courtesy of Matt W Bradbury http://www.hash.com/users/amfeatu...pertiesRoom.jpg Thanks - Eric
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 5 replies
- 515 views
I'm in the process of building a set and it occurred to me to wonder if I should assemble all the pieces of the set into one model file that can be dropped whole into a cho, or should I keep the pieces of it in separate model files and then assemble all of those inside a cho file? The elements will all remain static (nothing will need to move around.) Will it make a difference?
Last reply by largento, -
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- 676 views
I am trying to add some simple models to a photo using the photo as a layer. How do I adjust the image so that lighting will not affect it?
Last reply by NancyGormezano, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 672 views
I'm getting good at modeling. Well, decent, anyway. Now I'm trying to set up rigs. I'm very young and naive in the way of animating my models. (These are my babies, and I'm trying to teach them to walk!). But I'm trying to get a grasp on it so I can become like many of the wizards who reside here. So, I'm learning to rig and I'm getting the concept. I think I can rig a character pretty well from all of the learning resources I've found here. But the part that is confusing me is the constraints. I "get" the concept and how to do it, but I have to set up an action in order to get that option. Is there a way to set up a constraint such that every time I import that cha…
Last reply by zandoriastudios, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 627 views
I'm having a hard time figuring out how to put bones on, i read the booklet thing but i still don't understand it. When i click the bones tab thing it comes up and theres a bone there, but when i got to test it out it doesn't work. And i wont let me add another bone. So if you could help me that'd be great
Last reply by phatso, -
- 2 followers
- 5 replies
- 652 views
Hi, I'm very new to A:M and for the past week or so have been doing the tutorials. In the end I would like to add animation to an existing movie file, currently wmv. I understand I have to convert to a supported AVI format before I can proceed. If I add a supported AVI file as an image, how do I get that movie to be the plane of existance for my characters and their movement? I figured I might as well practice with something close to the final product I am looking for. Thanks. Greg
Last reply by greg, -
Okay, this is prolly stupid, but... How does one save a .mov file? I have no trouble saving AVI files, but of course they're huge. (Just finished Ex. 6, it's 18meg) But when I try to do a compressed .mov file it only saves the last image rendered - not an animation. So what exactly are the steps? You may be as condescending as you choose, and I'll deal with it, as long as I get the answer. BTW I've tried it both with V13 and V14.
Last reply by phatso, -
- 5 replies
- 409 views
So I find myself having fun with particles. I really like the explosion that comes with A:M, and I need it for a project. My only problem is that I need it to be eg 10 times bigger. How do I do that? I've tried to scale the material itself but it didn't help. Any tips?
Last reply by agep, -
- 5 replies
- 591 views
Hi There, I'm just having trouble viewing any of the tutorials that use the Ensharpen CODEC. Quicktime quits when I try opening the tutorials. I downloaded the latest Ensharpen 1.1 Universal installer from their site and updated to 10.4.10 - but still no luck. Any help would be much appreciated. Cheers Ben MacBook MAC OS 10.4.10 Quicktime Pro 7.1.6
Last reply by largento, -
- 5 replies
- 416 views
im trying to render a video of the starship enterprise . it rotates from a black hole towards the camra, when the key frame or counter gets to 12 it freezez. it suppose to goto 14 frames, i did set the counter to stop at 14 frames. some times it stops at 11 or 11:20 or higher some times lower but it wont hit 14. i have a 2 gig.60 prossesor pc. i "had" only 512 ram, so i bought a gig ram, and it still didnt wowk please dont tell me i need a nother gig of ram :s any ideas? thx
Last reply by heyvern, -
- 5 replies
- 452 views
Hi - I am playing around w/ CP Weighting and for some reason it isn't working. Is there anything beside clicking on "show advanced properties" in the options that I need to activate in order for CP Weights to work? I just made a 6 sectioned tube w/ 3 bones in it. "Has Falloff" is on and set at 75% and 30% for the bones - you can see from the image below. Anyone who knows what I am doing wrong, please let me know. - thanks - Eric
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 427 views
Hi, I guess I'm more confused than I thought. Is there any place to really learn how to work with actions in a choreography? I'm trying to do some simple stuff, I think. Like get a character to walk about 1/2 way across the screen, maybe wave and turn toward the back. Then have the character walk further across the screen. I got the whole keyframe thing down now and the first part works OK. But when I want to continue the walk I try adding a new path and constraining the character to the new path and then try to add the walk from the actions again. except the walk doesn't add with any duration. Do I need to start another action in the chor? Is there any plac…
Last reply by greg, -
- 5 replies
- 444 views
Hi - this has happened to me before... I created all the characters mouth movements for the Dope Sheet and also and "eyes close" pose slider, that after I created them origianlly I tested all of them in an action and they worked fine. Now none of them are working - has anyone had this problem or know what I am doing wrong? Thanks - Eric
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 655 views
I'm just kinda going hmmm? Why not? When you open a model from the libraries (or, if you don't have your libraries set up; from the data folder)... Why, when you alter the model in wireframe mode, are you not also altering (scaling/translating) the skeleton? Since you are not actually changing the basic geometry, except to make it taller, skinnier, and thicker here and there; I don't understand why the skeleton doesn't scale as well. I think I'm missing some important aha moment here... because it seems logical to me that both would scale/translate at the same time. hmmm? why not?
Last reply by zandoriastudios, -
- 5 replies
- 680 views
Hi everyone been awhile since iv been able to do animation but anyway i was wondering if someone could direct me to where it shows hows to put a picture and an animation together thanks in advance!
Last reply by bts0, -
- 2 followers
- 5 replies
- 463 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, -
- 5 replies
- 364 views
Hello - is it possible to have the forearm bone rotate backward using the 2001 rig? - or can it only go forwards? Kind of an odd question, but I am working on a Teddy Bear project, and I need him to be able to reach around his back and open a zipper? Thanks - Eric
Last reply by flashawd, -
Hi - I posted a question a few days ago about what to do when you have 6 cps at the end of and object (like a hand in that case), instead of just scaling the cp down to a very small size. I got some great responses on what to do with 6 cps, but can anyone suggest any techniques for 8 cps like the bear foot below? The scaling down of the cps would work fine, but in this case I have "hair" on the foot and it bunches up oddly when then cps are scaled in so close. Thanks again - Eric
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 723 views
I have been working my way through the projects in the manual. I keep returning to excersie 6 "The door's stuck" to try and resolve a major problem I have been experiencing. I will create a path for Shaggy from offscreen left to just infront of the door. I assign the action of walking to the model of Shaggy. The animated character "Shaggy" walks neatly onto screen and pauses in mid-stride before the door. So far OK. I then advance the frames by 5 and position Shaggy standing with both feet firmly planted in a standing at rest posture. In addition I move the right hand to the door knob. At this point I will run the animation to see how the motion flows and, to my consterna…
Last reply by oakchas, -
- 5 replies
- 375 views
I would REALLY like to know how to animate a simple Color change on my Model!
Last reply by Dhar, -
- 2 followers
- 5 replies
- 713 views
Hi everyone, I'm trying to learn how to use hair in v13 under the 2006 CD by following the Wookie's tut in 'the art of animation master' I've been very surprised on discovering how easy to use it is but I've found a little problem. I've been trying to vary the thickness of the hair in order to make its diameter to increase along the hair but I haven't been able to do it. I follow the steps of the book and I show the timeline in order to see the channels' timeline. Then, I'm supposed to see a 0-100% timeline but I only can see the typical 00:00:00 timeline with minutes:seconds:frames and not a % timeline. Why does it happen? What am I doing wrong? Maybe am I …
Last reply by loserem, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 544 views
I think I screwed up my copy of AM. I copied the "Extra CD" file, and set up the options to make a library path to the library of the CD. I went through set up the library to the program file that installed on my hard drive. Now I don't have the plug-ins option on many of the menus. For example, I don't have the plug-ins and wizards anymore. Do I have to reinstall the program? And if so, Should I delete the program folder before I do? I should have left well enough alone!
Last reply by bighop, -
- 2 followers
- 5 replies
- 586 views
I can't find the serial number for my software. I opened the software the other day when I got it in the mail before I discovered I couldn't use it until I got this computer. I looked through the manual and the CD's and looked on the box, but I didn't see it anywhere. I tried calling for support, but apparently I couldn't get a person on the phone. Do I need to email them to ask for my serial number, or is it with the software somewhere?
Last reply by KallistaAEnvarou, -
- 5 replies
- 588 views
how do you delete an image that you have posted on A:M stills? if you can't do that yet, you guys think you could put that option in? thanks
Last reply by Dhar, -
- 5 replies
- 697 views
I was trying to figure out all the stuff from the "Can You Say That" tutorial, but then my sound started to act up. I've checked the actual sound on the computer (good) and my speakers (good too). The thing is, KeeKat was talking, but then I lost audio. I got confused with the dope sheets and ended up making two, so I'm thinking that might be part of the reason. Can anybody help me troubleshoot?
Last reply by KallistaAEnvarou, -
- 5 replies
- 335 views
Hi - I recently bought a new computer and had to re-install AM v13 on it, along w/ everything else. I needed to model and add something to a character, which I did. I went into bone mode to associate the new item w/ a bone and all the bones do show, but when I click on any of the bones, all the CPs that normally light up that color associated with that bone remain black. Is there an icon or something that I am not clicking on? There is an image below showing when I clicked on the middle back bone, and the CPs don't light up. Thank you for any help - Eric
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 5 replies
- 438 views
every time i try and use creat your own toural my it shuts down i am so stuck i have no idea how to use this thing i payed all this money and i can't use it please help me someone.
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 5 replies
- 762 views
Hello all: I am animating a character with a stem and a wheel at the end of it...no legs. I am making 'walk' cycles for him and am having to do all but the arms in every keyframe. In other words, it won't let me make any significant moves of the stem body, and the hips (other than up and down, of course) if I want to mirrorcopy to another keyframe. What happens is: My character becomes a lump on the floor with a head and a wheel. My character has been specially modeled and so has its own rig. So, is there any way at all to use mirror copy with a character like this?
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 5 replies
- 668 views
My name is Hayden Mitchell and I live in Spokane Washington. I currently am a Senior University High. I am required to do a Senior project and after seeing someone learn the program two years ago, I became very interested. I am hoping to be able to make a few short videos by May 08' Any help I can get would be greatly appreciated
Last reply by the_black_mage, -
- 5 replies
- 702 views
hello all i used the dup wiz to make a length of rope,this worked fine. but i've hit a wall i need to make a circular length for a knot and i can't seem to figure it out.any help would be appreciated.
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 5 replies
- 425 views
how do i make it so a particle is rotated the way i want it to be??? like if the particle is vertical, and i want it to be horizontal, you know... something like that. thx
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 5 replies
- 425 views
so my problem now is I'm applying a smartskin in a model window, but when I open up a new action or choreography, my smartskins don't seem to be working. any ideas? thanks!
Last reply by breakthelocke, -
- 5 replies
- 666 views
First off, thanks to Robcat for giving me the link to answer my last question. As usual in the learning process, it answered the Q, but brought many more. My most pressing, currently, is that above: Any links for this one? I am REAAAAAly close to getting this one...I may even have it but it's just too late to try it again tonight, and I wouldn't mind finding out that there is a tutorial that addresses this one, as well. Thanks, in advance. Mr. Bill
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 406 views
how do you make it so that anywhere you look at an image, it always faces you?
Last reply by Dhar, -
- 5 replies
- 733 views
I am having an issue when I attempt to either import or open an AVI 15 second clip that I created with Windows Movie Maker: Error with AVI file. The file does not contain a video stream. Any basic rules or suggestions to start off with? Thanks, z
Last reply by itsjustme, -
- 2 followers
- 5 replies
- 483 views
Hi Everyone, Firstly, I would like to say although I am a newbie, this appears to be a GREAT forum!!! Everyone seems to be very helpful, considerate, and well wishing. I am really happy I decided to buy A:M! I'm trying to create a very simple model of a bed. At times, I would like to draw a straight line that is perpendicular to another line which results in a 90 degree Angle. I'm sure the method is in the book or has been discussed in the forum, I just can't seem to find a way to do this. Does anyone know how I can do this? Thanks again, Bob
Last reply by Jentham2000, -
- 5 replies
- 623 views
is there a decent tutorial for applying decals onto a model, i dont havStart new topice am paint so ...
Last reply by NancyGormezano, -
- 5 replies
- 701 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, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 742 views
Hi - I am playing around with the dust effect - my character jumps and lands with both feet - the dust is too "round" looking - is there a setting in there that would disperse it a little different like swirl - so it doesn't look like a perfect round ball of dust? Thanks - E
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 5 replies
- 557 views
I've been searching through the old posts (for answers to questions that I'll be posting as soon as I know the answer is not already here), and I keep running into links that have expired. Several of these 1+ year-old-posts have links to johnl3d's website at http://johnl.inform.net . Unfortunately, the site is gone. Have you moved to another home, johnl3d? Or are those valuable documents lost forever? - Wes
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 5 replies
- 682 views
I'm trying to work my way through some texturing and I'm getting stuck on two things. As a basic excercise, I'm trying to make an animated Photo Cube. To start, I am simply using the Hash Cube primitive and I am going to assign some named groups that I can use for both the frame and the picture faces. The Hash Cube is not just 8 CPs, it is 6 major faces with a nice bevel at the corners. The patches that make up the bevel are the 'frame' The first thing that I have encountered is that it is really easy to accidently distort the model when you're spinning it around and trying to select all of the faces. Is there any way to lock the geometry, but still allow th…
Last reply by AndyDavis,