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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.
4,155 topics in this forum
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I finally got back into A:M. I originally got the program back in 2001. I was never very successful with it because I am not an artist or animator. It just seemed so overwhelming. Then in 2005 I got a civilian job with the Army as a broadcast producer. I am always trying to improve my skills, but it usually ends up being self taught. In 2006, I pulled out my AM program and started teaching myself how to use it. I was able to create a nice little logo for a news program I was doing. That accomplishment always stuck with me. But, job priorities and work load didn't allow me to spend the time I needed to develop any more skills. Time went by and my skills grew. I …
Last reply by Muff, -
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I haven't been splining since 2006 but recently fired "my" latest copy of AM V15 up and am starting to model again. Never got too deep in the animation part of AM but I had forgotten how much I enjoy modeling and although still learning in the chorwindow I enjoy setting up the image's. Still have some health issue's but I hope to improve my modeling skill's and maybe spend a bit more time catching up here.
Last reply by robcat2075, -
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Hi Folks Its been years since I've been on the forums in a contributive way. I have a question. I made a cloth, dropped on a model with a deflector in a chor. Its great. Now I want to create a model from the cloth that was simulated in the chor, from a specific frame in time. Said differently. The original cloth was a flat grid. After the cloth simulation, the flat grid is now deformed by the deflector model, and that deformation changes through time with each frame. I want to take the cloth from frame 4 and export that model as a new model so I get a new model with the new deformations from frame 4. Im, sure there is a way to do this. I tried co…
Last reply by robcat2075, -
i'm newbie. nice to meet you guys. :clap:
Last reply by Xtaz, -
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Newbie here. I'm glad to have found this great online animation and modelling community. I'm hoping to learn more from the other members here. Cheers!
Last reply by SilvienDrefto, -
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Hi, is there a good tutorial on rigging tank treds? One that isn't material driven. I initially thought about assigning each tred to a circular path constraint, but when i tried to offset each tred to a desired position the motion path went crazy. Is there a better way?
Last reply by robcat2075, -
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See Attached image. Missing a dll file. Suggestions? iMac Windows 7
Last reply by thumperness, -
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Does the lifetime membership for $300 include all new versions for life? Or is it only the $80 a year that keeps you up to date with the latest and greatest?
Last reply by thumperness, -
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As I open and work with certain model files, I notice a 'buildup of rotoscopes'... which are easily deleted and pose no real nuiscance... I'm wondering if anyone else gets this oddity in A:M... pertains to no real version- has been happening to me for years.
Last reply by largento, -
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I don't know if this belongs here or not. Here's my problem. I had a Win7 machine that I downloaded and installed v19 on. I bought a one year subscription. It died, the machine did. I bought a new computer. It's pretty bad-@ss. I used my old invoice and link and downloaded and installed the program but my activation code says that it's already in use (by me). I've contacted about transferring my license like two weeks ago and never heard back from them. What can I do? I'm not exactly looking forward to spending another $80.00 to put the program on this new computer when my current subscription is only a month old. Any suggestions?
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 5 replies
- 1.9k views
Coming back to something I really enjoyed a long time ago. My last foray into AM was with 2005 version. I've created a short animation using Windows Movie Maker. It consists of 13 images with some simple transitions, basically a slideshow. I am using Pazera PS MPEG to AVI converter to get the AVI. I have tried every CODEC available with the converter, but when I attempt import the AVI I just get a dialog box saying "IMPORT NULLOBJECT". What am I doing wrong? Should I be using a particular CODEC? Thanks for any help, glad to be back!
Last reply by Rodney, -
let's begin 1 2
by stefff285- 1 follower
- 72 replies
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helllo allo so then i begin my first tutorial and i have a problem after having made my workflow as said on a video in fact the 3d view doesn't appear at all as on this shootscreen perhaps a very nooooob error from me ? regards and thanx by advance stéphane
Last reply by stefff285, -
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hello all such a long time i didn't came here. so then to be clear i sold all my blender 3d books but still want to make cgi. so as i own two licences of a:m 18, i am actually trying to make it being transfered to my new linux system under wine, as i tried before and it succed ^^ and soon i hope i will have the pleasure to ask you several questions about animation but first modelisation. i wish you the best and tell me good luck for licences kindly regards
Last reply by stefff285, -
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Hey..... For smart skin purposes.....can you animate/key the bias handles curvature? If not, a low spline model with longer handles seem to present a difficult issue with how the curves work as the creases get squeezed.
Last reply by robcat2075, -
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I wasn't sure where to place this topic. It's probably already been discussed somewhere. Does A:M function on the Windows 10 platform? I'm upgrading out of necessity and will no longer be on past versions of windows. I doubt I'll downgrade to Windows 7 or 8 on a new system. I will however use A:M on my older systems if it won't run on Windows 10.
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 10 replies
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Hi, Looking again for the Forum Expertise It seems simple - so it probably is - just not for me. Frustratingly so. I'm trying to make up a mosaic and then colour it dynamically through poses. Everything is fine EXCEPT I'm not able to set up the groups. Here area couple of examples of the types of groups that I've been trying to set up without any success. I can't seem to be able to set them up when there is a common CP between what I want in the group and what I want outside the group. 1. A group with only Orange Tiles 2. A Group with only Black Tiles 3. A Group with only Green Tiles Oliver
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 1 follower
- 13 replies
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Hi, Having played around with pose sliders and building sub-assemblies I decided to start working on Bone Constraints. Looked easy enough - first mistake. Looked far too easy. Here is the model that I am using It has 1 bone, and all the CPs are allocated to that bone. Previously, I used a pose slider to allow the model rotate around the bone (i.e. along Z), so now want to do it with a bone constraint. Selected the bone and set up the constraints So far so good. I set up an action to test it out and when I selected it, there was just one ring to manipulate the model as I had hoped. However, I then tried dropping the model into a choreogr…
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 2 followers
- 10 replies
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Hi, It's quite possible that I'm going down the wrong road but .... Coming from an engineering background I'm used to looking at objects in a modular manner, where the final model is made up of building blocks and that is what I'm trying to do in A:M. I have a model (M1) with 1 bone (B1) and 1 pose slider (PS1). Then I made a second model (M2) and I dragged and dropped M1 into it twice. At this stage, all the groups from M1 are in M2 twice, also there are 2 bones but there is only 1 pose slider (relationship). This means that I can only manipulate one copy of M1 within M2 (the most recently copied version of M1). I tried doing something similar using a …
Last reply by LenseOnLife, -
- 1 follower
- 15 replies
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Hi, Just wondering. Is it possible to group 'groups' into another group as a hierarchy? Or is the group structure flat? I've made up a very simple patch as an example. Sp-Top are the 2 CPs along the top of the patch Sp-Bottom are the 2 CPs along the bottom Sp-Left are the 4 CPs on the left hand side Sp-Right are the 4 CPs on the right hand side. Holding Ctrl I can select each group and then make a new group included everything within each of the individual groups which is Sp-All. I'm wondering if it is possible to have a group that includes sub-groups but as a hierarchy - i.e. with a '+' so that it can be 'opened' / 'closed' in …
Last reply by LenseOnLife, -
- 1 follower
- 10 replies
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Hi, 1. I made a simple 'box model', added lib poses and stored it out. 2. Created a small audio clip, added dope sheet and the 'lips' seemed OK, so stored that out as an action. Presuming that is the right way to store a re-usable voice audio? 3. New project, imported 'box model', imported action. New choreography and added the box to the chor. 4. Moved to 5 seconds on the timeline and then dragged the voice action to the box in the choreography. It actually has installed itself at the beginning of the choreography. Question: Is it possible to add the audio action to start at 5 seconds rather than at frame 0? Thanks, Oliver
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
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Hi, Am wondering if it is possible to have a 'personal library of materials'. I see in the tools->OPtions->folders it is possible to add extra path for A:M to search for additional LBR files. I have a number of materials files and am wondering how can I put them into a LBR file so that A:M will recognise them. Have searched the internet for a utility without any success. Any ideas - or am I simply barking up the wrong tree and there is an easier way that I've missed? Thanks, Oliver
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 5 replies
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Hi, I must be missing something VERY basic. How do I create a rendered version of a frame of scene/choreography? I have a choreography, I don't want to render the entire choreography just a single rendered frame from within the choreography Make sense? Oliver
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 2 replies
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A while back I had to create a box and add subdivisions to it. It took some time. So I created some subdivided boxes with a bevel on the edge. This is certainly not the best way to create a beveled box I'm sure....But may save some "spline time" It's a lot easier to erase splines than adding them in. Also, the "Split patch" wizard comes in handy. Bevel box sub divisions.mdl
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 6 replies
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Hey Guys, I'm in this version 18. And on PC. There has been a consistent crash that has happened when I copy a group of splines/ cps and paste them in the same model. It doesn't happen every time, but I would say it does happen about once or twice a day. Has this been fixed in later V18 version. Thanks
Last reply by NancyGormezano, -
- 2 replies
- 1.3k views
I'm running latest version of A:M in MacOS 10.9.5 on a 2014 Macbook Pro. Importing targa files seems to be my best option for using rotoscopes and decals in the modeling window (jpg won't import). The images do not display correctly in the modeling window. Only part of the image is viewable. This makes it very difficult to place decals correctly on a surface, though once I do apply them after considerable effort, the decals render correctly. Modeling using the images as rotoscopes is impossible. My graphics were set to OpenGL3 initially, but I changed them to OpenGL. This gave me about 50% better viewing, but it still is not a viable option. Does anyone ha…
Last reply by cribbidaj, -
- 18 replies
- 2.7k views
I want to create an array of windows or objects in a circular form, is the duplicator wizard the way to do it and if so where can I find an explination for its use. I have just renewed V18 after a having with V13 since release.
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 1 follower
- 1 reply
- 1.3k views
I thought I read somewhere that this was possible, but now I can't find it. I want to swap the selection... unselect the current selection, but select the current unselected CPs. An alternative would be a way to add the current selected CPs to the hidden CPs (as opposed to adding the unselected CPs with Shift-H). I can select the "other" CPs and do a Shift-H, but it's a lot more work, and I'll be doing this a lot as I attach decals to surfaces of a somewhat crude NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race car. (It'll be whizzing around a race track, so it doesn't need to be perfect.) Here, I've hidden most everything other than the right side of the truck, and I've cli…
Last reply by nemyax, -
- 1 follower
- 10 replies
- 2k views
Hi, I've been working my way slowly through Barry's great Video Tutorials and then trying them out in practice and have come across something that I don't understand. It is to do with constraints where the enforecement is less than 50% Rotate-00 shows the 'home position'. All 4 bones are pointing straight up. The 'control bone' is on the left and the other three bones are all constrained to orient the same as the control bone as follows: Going from left to right, the first bone is enforced with 100%, the next bone is enforced 50% and the last bone on the right is enforced by 40% Now, rotate the control bone by 45 and all bones seem to be behaving. …
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 12 replies
- 3.4k views
Evening All from windswept, dark and wet West Cork (Ireland), Maybe it is the weather, but the computer beckoned today and I hauled myself into learning AM again. Nothing difficult but I am again banging the sore head against a harder wall than before. Been trying to cut a hole in a model and had varying levels of success - so much so I decided to get back to basics and see if I could fathom what I was doing wrong. Did a very simple outline, used an 8-sector lathe and formed a simple 3-d model. Cut a hole in either side and then started filling in 5 point patches. To me (uninitiated) both holes were created exactly the same way. The First Hole: All 5 p…
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 6 replies
- 1.7k views
Hello everyone, i need help with AM V18 Licensing. I got a Master.lic file from Hash, added it to my AM folder as directed and got this Message Wrong Host for License (-4) Thoughts??
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 21 replies
- 2.7k views
hi all as you know in other topics, i actually haven't the time to play with this wonderfull software to be clear i go make animation with, i bought it for because i think it is the software power but to be clear also, the render seems to be old, gives me the watch of plastic or else. no way to change to blender which is too complicated for me but perhaps do you use in animated shorts some external renderer wich don't consume to much time to render some frames ? anyway i go soon learn it and i am happy to be of yours, because of the good persons i met here and the software abilities regards
Last reply by stefff285, -
- 12 replies
- 1.9k views
Hi, I'm back - and starting at the very beginning. Decided to start with cylinder type models, but the results are not consistent. The problem is with the top surface using planar decals. Looking at the attached photo you can see 2 poor quality decals and I can't work out what I'm doing wrong and 2 that are OK For each, I started with the right hand outline, did the flip/copy/attach and then used the lathe. The breadboard (bottom left) probably had the most complex shape and yet turned out really nice. The only other one which turned out OK is the middle one which was a basic cylinder - nothing complex at all. No doubt I'm making a really basic mis…
Last reply by LenseOnLife, -
- 6 replies
- 2k views
Hi, The geriatric is returning to AM after a break of about 5 years. During the interval I've created a big library of models using SketchUp (free version) and there is really only Collada DAE or STL export options available in SketchUp for me. The DAE also has an option to include texture data in the export. So the question that just about everyone must ask - is there any way of converting DAE to any of the AM import formats (without breaking the bank)? OR Is it possible to re-texturise / paint the STL imported model? Any help will probably allow me keep a bit more of the ever thinning thatch on top of the brain cells, Cheers, Oliver
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 1 follower
- 1 reply
- 880 views
Is the Community pane working in v18n? I have changed my name and p/w, tried to login/join, but it keeps saying bad password.
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 2 replies
- 1k views
Hey Guys, I'm Back I was wondering if anyone can tell me the total I would pay for a subscription? I know they are using paypal now and was not sure if it added anything to the $79.99. David
Last reply by thumperness, -
- 1 reply
- 1k views
One of the easiest ways to combine Choreographies is to create a third (empty) Chor and import the others into it. As a cautionary note, saving that Chor will result in one that is truly merged and combined so make sure you save your originals. For realtime organization and planning of Projects consider creating Choreographies with themes. For instance you might have one Chor named 'Characters' that has all of the actors needed in a particular storyline. Similarly, a Chor named 'Props' can be populated with all manner of props. As you need these resources simply drag and drop from the Character Chor into the active Chor you have set up for with a camera for that s…
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 7 replies
- 1.3k views
hi all i go make my cartoon right now but i don't understand the use of render server and render slave - how to export a project to theses programs ? - if i understood, i export so to render server which makes run render slave ? under wine on linux i canno't directly run render slave thanx a lot for all, you are gentle people and i like it regards stéphane
Last reply by stefff285, -
- 1 follower
- 26 replies
- 4.8k views
hi all due to the fact i own do animated movies in 2d actually and too that i am under linux (ubuntu 14.04 xfce) i am in trouble about buying you your software and i have severals questions to ask - only splines ? - does it export in lwo format ? it would be great for demomaking process i take part of - is it possible to export to other renderers ? - is is so better than the 2006 version i try actually (bought in 2006) and why ? blender i great too, that's why the annual version would be cool for me but i prefer asking you why this one, why animation master ? thanx by advance stéphane
Last reply by stefff285, -
- 12 replies
- 1.9k views
Need a little help guys... I've got a character for a local commercial - 7 second intro, that he's supposed to "fist bump" the owner at the end of his intro. I've set up the lip-synch anim for the VO, and now I want to do the body action and fist bump. I would typically work in the action window for his movements, but since he's got to interact with a live action character, I figured I'd have to work int he Choreography window w/ a Camera Rotoscope playing the live action video. I've set up a cho, imported the video clip as a Camera Rotoscope, I set the start point at 0:00 and the end point at 7:17 on the rotoscope. But when I advance frames, the video roto ju…
Last reply by TheToadStool, -
- 3 replies
- 1k views
Just purchased your yearly subscription. Windows 64 bit type in my shiny new activation code and get this... Bad return data from webserver (no status) (-134) no such file of directory (erno:2) I deactivated my anti virus and it still does it. Help please
Last reply by Jason Simonds, -
- 4 replies
- 1.4k views
Hello - I'm not a new user but I have a new user question. When modeling, the user is able to select a cp either by clicking on that particular cp or by using the "G" key and grouping a couple of cps. After these cps are highlighted (they turn green) the user can hit the "T" key and rotate the model ... ...and those selected green cps should now be the center axis for the "turn" action to rotate around. That is what I remember... but now when I click on a cp and use the "T" command the model rotates haphazardly and the software does not use the selected cps as the center axis for "turning".. Can anyone explain where this is going wrong? Many thanks, To…
Last reply by Tom, -
- 3 replies
- 1.1k views
It used to be that if you would customize which panels were open, and their location, then quit the app. It would remember where they were when you relaunch the app. However, with v18, that doesn't seem to be the case. Each time I either quit the app, or it crashes (which is still quite frequent - very disappointing), the panels are always restored to their default location. Is there a way to get the software to remember which windows I want open and where? Thanks, Tommy
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 1 follower
- 7 replies
- 2.3k views
Hi guys, I'm just getting back into A:M after a few years off. I'd like to review a list of updates, advancements and additions that have happened to this very organic software over the past few years. Is such a list available? If so, where can I find it? thanks, Tommy
Last reply by TommyDAQ2, -
- 1 reply
- 1.7k views
Okay you know this stuff already right? Because I'm a big fan of Right Clicking I sometimes forget about the ease of double clicking in the Project Workspace and use alternative ways that often add a few extra steps. The primary exception to the rule in double clicking in the Project Workspace is the top container (Project). As you are already in a project double clicking won't create a new project. In fact it won't do anything. When clicking on Image, A:M will prompt you to open an image. The same goes for double clicking on Sound. A:M will prompt us to load a audio file. Double clicking on a Material will create a new (default) material, ready and waiti…
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 26 replies
- 3.8k views
I cant get simulate spring systems to not be greyed out. please help. WHat is the trick?
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 1 follower
- 3 replies
- 3.3k views
So I'm finally starting to wrap my head around modeling with patches, and now I'm digging into various texturing techniques... https://youtu.be/dVVwayFoPMQ Question: when you apply an image per patch (i.e., by selecting a patch, right-clicking on it, then choosing 'Add Image') can the UV's be adjusted for each patch to better position/size the image? Thanks! Bryan
Last reply by bcgreen24, -
- 2 replies
- 1.1k views
Is there any way to keep 'Copy-Flip-Attach' from crashing A:M? It crashes every time I try it... Thanks! Bryan Never mind-- in case it helps anyone in the future: I had the pivot point around which the flip was going to be done too close to the center line of the model I was flipping... Thanks! Bryan
Last reply by pixelplucker, -
- 3 replies
- 1.3k views
Question: how do I assign multiple materials to a single model? For example, a 'skin' material for a human character's body, and an 'eye' material for the eyes? Thanks! Bryan
Last reply by bcgreen24, -
- 1 follower
- 6 replies
- 2.4k views
First of all, let me say that A:M is pretty amazing-- the very first thing I've tried to model (after being away from 3D art for over 5 years and never having used A:M before) is actually coming out way better than I expected. On the other hand-- it also has some major issues. So-- as the attached images show, I have some weird stuff going on with my topology, and when the model is rendered, it has nasty creases all over it. I'm looking for some pointers on how to manage topology in A:M, and, more importantly, how to go back and fix things after the fact. Can someone point me to some good tuts on this, or where I should look in the manual for guidane? Thanks! …
Last reply by bcgreen24, -
- 5 replies
- 2.2k views
please at first accept my apologies, i don't want to go to blender but export animation done under animation blender TO blender cycles of course .X seems good but i go to find x import in blender and go to animate under animation master someting for demoscene so then ^^^^ kindly regards stéphane
Last reply by stefff285,
