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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.
4,166 topics in this forum
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- 5 replies
- 695 views
Hello. I am very new to Animation Master and have just installed version 12.0n on my Windows 2000 PC. I have a P4 2.4GHz PC with an ATI 9000 Pro Video Card, 512 MByte RAM, several large hard drives (as I do some video work on the side). When I try to load some of the models, I get a "Parameter Is Incorrect" message. The same thing happens when I right click on the short cuts in the Libraries window. I can load SCHLITZY, but when I try to load Sir Nigel or any of the other Realistic Actors models, I get the error. I have tried downloading the latest version of A:M 12 from the Hash FTP site, but when that was installed, I ended up with duplicate entrie…
Last reply by Tralfaz, -
- 1 follower
- 6 replies
- 695 views
I build a model for a book. I then did a save as, so I could use the base model for other books. I got this message:
Last reply by bighop, -
- 5 replies
- 695 views
Simple question, I want to pan over an existing looping video placed in chor as a rotoscope or layer, how do I get AM to loop it? Right now it plays once and gets temperamental if I try to set different lengths or key frame numbers. v15 seems to have more options for this than v13 and 13 seems to crop a frame or two from rotos but either version will do for what I want. Any hints? okay dropping the same video as a second rotoscope gives me another repeat but then there's no smoothness to the position keyframes... I'm probably missing some obvious "loop animation" button, right?
Last reply by Ersatz anime, -
- 0 replies
- 695 views
I know some versions of A:M have nicknames; 2004 "Orangutan", 2005 "Sorcerez",etc. Does anyone have a complete list of the years and names, or fairly complete? **** Edit -- I found the info on the archive pages. -SB
Last reply by sb4, -
- 4 replies
- 694 views
All the advice I've been getting is starting to bear fruit. The fish is attached to its own path, and an Action has been applied, and he swims and move his fins. But...it's this damned fog! I want some, but when he swims to the back of the circular loop, he disappears. I only have one camera, and I found the Fog settings. I punched in numbers repeatedly and nothing changed. Then I enabled IGNORE FOG. [ON] No change. Then I turned fog itself to OFF. No change. So...where's this fog coming from? [Thanks].[attachmentid=13144]
Last reply by Kelley, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 694 views
I am a newbie but I have been doing pretty good with the tutorials. I have been trying them first out of the book and then watching them online to pick up some extra tips, etc. However I can't seem to find an online version of Exercise 11, Giraffe. Does anyone know where I can find one? I am having some trouble following the book and could really use a visual tutorial. Thanks, Robbin
Last reply by robbin, -
- 6 replies
- 694 views
Can someone please tell me some good surface properties to create ice. I have been experimenting on my own, but I can't get it to look right. I was trying to adapt the ice settings in the current issue of 3D World magazine from Daz Studio to A:M, but I got confused because some of the D|S settings are named differently than the A:M settings. I decided it might be best to just ask people who specialize in A:M what settings they use. So I am asking... What settings do you use? Any help would be gratley appreciated. Thanks!
Last reply by T-Dogg, -
- 4 replies
- 694 views
Hi all! I have made some spaceships that I have made shields for. And I need an effect when something hits the shield. Any ideas on how it should look? I have thought on a "rings on water" effect. But more ideas would be great! Thanks!
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 7 replies
- 694 views
ok so i have a big problem. im making a face with using a guide, and im making the nostril. to the side of the nostril there is a area thats opened and isnt patched up. it is 5 points in the area, but i dont understand what the 5-point patch is and where it is. i used th patch group mode because i thought that was it, but i guess not.
Last reply by Rodney, -
hi, all this is my next try of hash modeling. welcome any criticism! thanks! 360_2.mov
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 4 replies
- 694 views
A long time ago, I used A:M for titling and some minor add-ons to video projects. I have a multi-media idea and think I can use the cricut for making a mold. I am talking 5-10mm in size. With the text to object feature, I can do personalized things. It is a challenge. I want cricut instead of a 3d printer because I can use a soluble mold. I do gemstone composites and have an idea. Sorry, no like to an example as FB url or non-https are not allowed.
Last reply by g3ellis, -
- 1 follower
- 7 replies
- 693 views
Hi! I'm taking a visual effects class where MAYA is used for examples. The teacher allows us to use any CG program we'd like and I like A:M MUCH more. For our projects, the instructor suggested that we make layered passes of any render (i.e. Specular Pass, Shadow Pass, Diffuse Pass) so that they can be adjusted separately in a program like After Effects without having to re-render the entire composite (Maya can do this). He says this is how the industry is moving. My question is: Can A:M render in separate passes, as described above? Specular pass, Diffuse pass, Shadow pass, Ambient pass, etc. Any help or links to tutorials would be appreciated. …
Last reply by zandoriastudios, -
- 4 replies
- 693 views
Yeah... that's the fat & skinny of my topic. Do .OBJ work in A:M? If not, are there models I can purchase from TurboSquid? Thanks.
Last reply by John Bigboote, -
- 5 replies
- 693 views
I've downloaded the Mirror bones plug in and placed it in the hxt folder... as outlined in it's instructions and the instructions for the 08 rig, however, everytime i open AM, I get a warning message saying they were incorrectly installed (for all three files) and failed to launch. So, what did i do wrong? I've tried adding a path in the tools option screen, but get the same message. Can someone direct me to a post or tutorial that will tell you how to install plugins? Thank you for your help.
Last reply by dailan1, -
- 9 replies
- 693 views
I am experimenting with encorporating different dressparts( and colors) into the same model by scaling them down in a pose and hiding them inside the body, so that I can switch from normal to superheroe just by moving the poseslider. Has anybody some expierience with this? Might this cause rendering artifacts for instance or other problems?
Last reply by steve392, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 693 views
This could well be my own incompetence but every time I try to model a face, when trying to attach the nose I always get this weird crease around where the nose connects (as shown in the pics) no matter whether I make the nose separately or pull it out from the face it seems to happen, I have tried Hooks and 5-point patches to no avail. If someone could point out where I am going wrong I would really appreciate it.
Last reply by bobhernie, -
- 6 replies
- 693 views
I've been tooling around with the image sequence option for decaling, and simply can't get it to do anything. I've imported as a sequence, and they have little movie clip icons next to them in the timeline - - but I can't seem to get them to actually DO anything when I apply the decal. I've messed with the settings, looked through the manual... nothing. Help!
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 3 replies
- 692 views
While I was having problems getting back into the modelling groove for my Batmobile project, I decided to take a little break and work through some of the tutorials in Animation Master: A Complete Guide by David Rogers. I modelled the flour sack and attempted to animate a walk (hop?) cycle. [attachmentid=18185] What do you Animation Masters think? Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.
Last reply by T-Dogg, -
- 4 replies
- 692 views
If I'm working on an A:M project, and I need to leave the computer for, let's say, an hour or more; when I come back, whatever is on my desktop [wallpaper, icons, etc.] will be in the Modeling Window or the Choreography. If I try to go to a different section [e.g., leave Choreography and go to a Model Window] there is only a blank grey screen. I still have toolbars, but the only way to get back to any of the workspaces is to do a Save and close out...then re-launch A:M. Does this ever happen to anyone else?
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 6 replies
- 692 views
I was just wondering if I were to create my own models using the program for commercial use such as a video game or 3d movie, would I have to pay royalties of any kind to Hash Inc? If so what are the terms of use of the program? I tried using the search feature for "Commercial Use" and "Royalties" in the forums however it did not come up with a definitive answer to my question. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 2 followers
- 5 replies
- 692 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, -
- 4 replies
- 692 views
I am doing some final renderings in A:M v15, and after reading these boards I decided the best way to go was to do them in layers and then composite said layers together. That way I can use post effects to blus my background and foreground objects. Except when I render a model that has particle streaks, A:M is putting their transparencies into the Alpha channel even if there is a visible object behind them. (so if I have streaks in front of a wall, and both the streak emitter and wall are to be rendered, the wall should be sorta visible though the transparent streaks. Instead, it is just transparent all the way through. Shouldn't A:M only be applying transparencie…
Last reply by Ganthofer, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 692 views
I've run into a problem. I've started working on an animation and I want a character to speak. However, I cannot get a dope sheet to appear. I know I've done this before, because I've done the "Can You Say That" exercise, but that was a long time ago. I've looked in the manuel and watched the video on how to make a character speak, but all they say is to click in the action window and hit "New Dope Sheet." But that option simply won't show up. I right click in the action window and scroll over to new. I can get a light, camera, volumetric effect, and a bunch of other stuff, but not a dope sheet. I'm stumped. (I'm using the 2006 version from a disk on a PC, if that makes a…
Last reply by GizmoMkI, -
- 7 replies
- 692 views
Helpp ! Can't select Action Mode in Choreography !! Driving me nuts !! Drop a model in, then select action mode to create pose etc. Then after 10 minutes or so the action button gets locked or something - greyed out - you can only select the choreography button - which is already selected. Poses Still work , eg. eyelids etc - BUT you cannot enter action mode to pose model with bones ? Has anyone had this problem before ? Very Very Strange.
Last reply by a.quaihoi, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 692 views
I have forgotten how to create a new library Can someone please tell me how to do this? I don't need to know how to add objects to an existing library, but how to create a completely new library. Thanks,
Last reply by HomeSlice, -
- 4 replies
- 691 views
Hi, I'm working on adding some bones to one of my models (a scorpion, screenshot is attached). This is my first attempt at doing skeletal animation. As you can probably see from the picture, I was doing fine until I started to work on the legs. When I went to do one of the legs, I added four bones to it, then clicked auto-assign, and my bones were assigned to various unwanted locations (chunks of the two adjacent legs and part of the torso was connected to one set of leg bones). A few questions - 1) Is there a way to un-assign the bones? I've tried moving them around and clicking auto-assign again, but it still leaves them connected. 2) How do I…
Last reply by tysono_71, -
- 4 replies
- 691 views
Hi, i have a problem using the distortion mode, when i distort something and then i go back to modeling mode i can only select control points by clicking one by one, but then i cant un select them, why is that?
Last reply by chuchi_disturbed, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 691 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, -
- 4 replies
- 691 views
How do I solve this problem?
Last reply by Dascurf, -
- 5 replies
- 691 views
Hi. I've just purchased a subscription to AM and I'm trying to work through the Tank tutorial. I have downloaded the Zevel plugin and placed it in the Hash/V15/hxt directory but am unable to load it within AM. I have checked the Tools/Options/Folders and this directory is listed. I have also tried putting Zevel in an AM Plugin directory and adding this to the Tools/Folder list but it still won't load. BTW, I also notice that the only plugins available to me when I click on Wizards/Plugins are Terrain/Font/Grid/AI and Extruder. The other plugins originally installed with AM(eg. Treez) are not available. I would appreciate any ideas on how to solve this p…
Last reply by mal, -
- 5 replies
- 691 views
I lost my tutorial disk and can not figure out how to bring my cartoons into the program. Can anyone tell me how?
Last reply by John Bigboote, -
- 4 replies
- 691 views
Hello I'm rigging my own character (a smurf) I modelled into Silo. I got no problems importing the obj file and adding bones. Now, I'm trying to assign control points to the selected bone. If I'm using the select window in a view, I cannot deselect unwanted points. I did'nt found the keyboard shortcut to unselect the points! I tried ctrl, alt and so on, but did'nt found the right way!!! Can somebody help me? Many thanks Remy
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 3 replies
- 690 views
Hi everyone, I organized my coreography and put in a Character, a camera and a path. What I wanted to do was to make the camera follow the path while pointing to the character. So, I gave the camera a Constrain "Aim at" in compesate mode to the character. First step done. Then, I applied a second constrain to the camera in order to follow the path (a 3 point curve around the character). When I did that, the camera begun following the path but aiming the path too. I clicked off the Store roll option in order not to aim the path and the camera started aiming to the front... but not to the character. I tried to do this in A:M 7 and A:M 12 obtaining the same results…
Last reply by Miguel Esteve, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 690 views
i am making parappa the rapper and lammey (game umm jammer lammy) and i need help creating the mouth please help Im trying to mak my character talk but i dont know where to add the bones and how to speak with my parrappa the rapper and lammy there 2-D so its kind of hard
Last reply by Caroline, -
- 11 replies
- 690 views
OK heres the deal i try and import a .obj fils i made using an extraction program , it gets to the point where it says imported X where X is the polygons and points and such , then the whole thing freezes any thoughts
Last reply by StormedFX, -
- 7 replies
- 690 views
I got it to work once. Then I created a more elaborate path and all I end up with are wacky things that don't seem to follow the path at all. Is there a tutorial somewhere? Does it not work with bias changes on the path? -vern
Last reply by heyvern, -
- 1 follower
- 1 reply
- 690 views
What exactly does the World Space button do? I pressed it but didn't notice anything happen.
Last reply by jason1025, -
- 4 replies
- 689 views
I have been reading a lot on these forums. I see that this new Squetch Rig is being used in the TWO movie. The FACE setup also looks very powerful. My question is: Are these new rigs going to be included with A:M13, or will they have to be gotten elsewhere like TSM? Sorry I ask so many dumb newbie questions. I just figured that if these rigs are good enough for the Animation Masters to use on TWO, then that is what I would like to use as well when I finally get around to doing my own animations. Thanks for your time.
Last reply by T-Dogg, -
- 1 follower
- 10 replies
- 689 views
Hi Everyone, I own an online company with national exposure and I am trying to grow my business. My website is http://www.EZMLSListing.com Typically, I get about 50-100 hits per day. I am wondering if anyone would be intersted in submitting a themed 15 or 30 second TV commercial that I could post on my website and possibly Air in the future. As a newbie, my skills will take time, so I was thinking that I could provide the exposure and include the Artist's contact information and a link to their website in exchange for a TV Commerical that someone submits. There would be NO exchange of Money, it would just be a way of one hand washing the other. I…
Last reply by Jentham2000, -
- 4 replies
- 689 views
is there a tutorial that explains how to make a model, verry realistik looking? thx.
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 2 replies
- 688 views
I have a small issue with video decals. I have three separate quicktine decals that load and play no problem. Two of them sit off screen for a bit (inactive) for a delayed entry. I don't want the decal to "play" until I activate it. Right now, the third video is finished playing before it even gets on screen. Can someone tell me how to set the playback start for a video decal? Thanks!
Last reply by albee01, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 688 views
Help! Just got A:M at Wondercon today and will be running it primarily on a laptop that does not have an internal CD drive, so prefer to not carry it around just for this program. Is there a legit/legal way to bypass the requirement for the CD? I travel a lot and really need to keep things light and small on trips. Maybe putting a copy of the files onto a 1GB USB drive??? I have no problem signing some form or other agreement to state I will not copy or pirate the software, I just need to be able to run it on my laptop "sans" CD. Thanks! The Shooter
Last reply by Dhar, -
- 3 replies
- 688 views
How do I and where do I share the little clips I've made for review ? I am teaching myself, for about 4 months. So I would like to post some small video so I may get some direction. I dont know what I need to know until I need to know it Thanx to all Me and a friend have a small idea about a lame bunch of super heroes. With no real powers they fight forced sobriety everywhere. Pretty funny stuff if I can ever figure this thing out. next steps are modeling. ( I am good at bodies but crimp faces) and lip syncing. All my stuff is on YouTube channel_ Hazard6211
Last reply by Hazard6211, -
can anybody point me to a nice snow material i haven't been able to find one
Last reply by John Bigboote, -
- 3 replies
- 688 views
Ich made a character, that walks with a laptop into the scene. I made it a reusable action with an action object. now I want the character to put down the laptop on a table. But if I kill the constraint that attaches the laptop to the hand, it destroys the rest of the action. how can I prevent that? I also tried to change the laptop to a real objekt in the choreography by making it transparent but it doesn't work in comic render mode. Then I tried the ON/OFF property to switch from one laptop to the other but the laptop disappeared in the previous choreography action and reappeared in the short action where the character moved the hand to the table with the Laptop still…
Last reply by Darkwing, -
- 4 replies
- 687 views
Hi, I've been doing a control points faces but, I realised that, if two faces that needs 5 control points are side to side, it won't work and, in another model (I didnt do), I saw something that might solve my problem but I don't know how to do it. Look at the picture: how we do that? BWT, the thing circeled in yellow has no control point, it is just a spline without red dot thanks tido
Last reply by tido, -
multi view
by Mr. C- 4 replies
- 687 views
Ive noticed on thing about A:M after using it once. It dosent seem to support multiple views at the same time (such as in maya or max) will that be adressed in future realeses?
Last reply by Mr. C, -
- 4 replies
- 687 views
As a guitar instructor, I sometimes forget to remember that the knowledge of some basic things that I take for granted, they have yet to learn. I've had no experience with animation of any kind, but the concepts of posing and lines of motion & force, along with exaggeration and how to make an animated character behave like a real actor are understandable to me. I'm about to approach ToaA:M exercises again. There are a few things I don't quite understand: Scene & Background: sky & ground, how to change & manipulate Lighting: Tutorials? Cameras: Tutorials Editing: The steps for turning the animations I make into "film" form …
Last reply by MJL, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 687 views
So I watched a demo 34 minute tutorial by Jeff Lew on his website, and I was struck by how fluidly he is able to manipulate his models. When animating, I've never had the option of creating poses as quickly as he does, because my refresh rate is so much slower. I've got a 1 year old iMac Core2 Duo, with an ATI RadeonHD2400, and I thought that made my experience good. But now that I've glimpsed the other side, I'm just wondering if I'm missing some drivers or something, because he made this video SIX YEARS AGO, and he's putting my animating experience to shame. Thoughts? I mean, I have a second monitor, but when posing I'm largely moving my wrist a tiny bit and wa…
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 7 replies
- 687 views
I am setting up some smart skin on eye lids. Looking from the side the corners of the eye lid do not line up as this view shows. I don't know if it's possible but here is what I want to do. I want to rotate the eye lid to the full open and full closed positions with the Rotation Manipulator. I know how to move the Pivot to the center of the eye socket. What I can't figure out is how to skew the manipulator so that its planes are rotated the same as the eye lid prior to actually rotating the eye lids CP's. That sounds confusing so here is a picture to help explain. In this view I am looking at the eye lid with both corners lined up. I want th…
Last reply by TNT,
