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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.
4,140 topics in this forum
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- 1 follower
- 3 replies
- 908 views
I seem to remember a setting so that I could see my decals in Shaded mode, but I can't for the life of me find it again. Isn't there a way to get your decals to show up in shaded mode instead of having to render them all the time? thanks, tommy
Last reply by TommyDAQ2, -
- 2 followers
- 7 replies
- 1.1k views
I'm having a problem. When I render in the modeling menu w/ the letter Q, everything is rendering dark. Isn't there typically a default source light? Why is it rendering black?
Last reply by Clipping Path Specialists, -
- 6 replies
- 949 views
After reading about poses in techref.pdf, I'm trying to set up a pose slider: Plop a cube into the choreography pane. Right-click the cube's bone, select New | Pose | Percentage. In the relationship pane, rotate the bone and scrub the slider to make sure it works. Back in the choreography pane, set keys on the pose channel. As a result, the pose slider value changes over time, but the cube isn't animated. What am I doing wrong?
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 7 replies
- 970 views
Is there any way to bevel after the fact? I'm racing to finish my contest entry, and one of the parts is looking really awful with knife-like edges, but I'm not sure how best exactly to bevel it. I could try adding more CPs and then smoothing the points, and seeing if that helps. It looks really rough right now, though.
Last reply by Roger, -
- 7 replies
- 1.1k views
Is there a way to somehow group, mark or label bones that have a particular meaning (such as indicating bones that are exportable)? For example, object layers or user-defined properties would do fine. I'm only seeing colour labels (which can be put to better use) and the visibility toggle (which is not suitable for the purpose). Of course, a naming convention can always be made up, but something less intrusive and hackish would be better. Apparently some things can have shortcuts in choreography—is this supported for individual bones?
Last reply by nemyax, -
- 1 follower
- 13 replies
- 1.2k views
Is there a way to control the Bezier handles (or bias handles if you like) in the timeline's f-curve mode? Here's a picture of what I mean—see the point on frame 19: I wasn't able to find anything on the topic in TAOAM.pdf. And if A:M doesn't let you do that, how do you ease in and out?
Last reply by nemyax, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 1k views
How do I set the Launch Associated Application? For example I want to open images in photoshop? where do I set this?
Last reply by jason1025, -
- 2 followers
- 7 replies
- 1.4k views
I just received a copy of Animation Master from a friend and am just starting to learn the ropes. Although I am not new to animation (I come from "Infini-D 4 days). Any tips and tricks you might can give me to get familiar with the interface and flow I would greatly appreciate it.
Last reply by Clipping Path Specialists, -
- 8 replies
- 2k views
So I managed to settle on a project for the sci-fi contest, and if I finish it early I may do another entry. It seemed like a relatively straight-forward bit of modeling, but something isn't working quite right. It could be that I haven't sat down in front of AM for so long that I'm missing something obvious. Here is my problem: I've got one rectangular surface with another rectangle inside, and I'm trying to push the inner rectangle inwards to create a depression or indent in this robot (I would post an image but it will be immediately obvious what my project is, I think). I thought I knew what the problem was, I didn't have any splines connecting the 2 a…
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 25 replies
- 3.9k views
Is there a reason AM would be doing this? I think that might be why I'm having display problems.
Last reply by Tore, -
- 2 replies
- 867 views
A while back I discovered a bug with the way my GPU handles displaying animation playback/scrubbing in AM. There is a bit of a lag and/or dropped frames which can make it difficult to tell what is going on. I'm not sure if this is a problem with the Intel HD graphics, the Nvidia GPU, or the Nvidia Optimus feature which is supposed to switch between the 2 (I'm assuming it may be due to Optimus, but haven't been able to confirm by testing all cases yet). Currently I've got only the Nvidia discrete GPU enabled and am looking for my project file to scrub through the timeline to see if it is still an issue. Does anyone else with a similar setup on their laptop e…
Last reply by Roger, -
- 6 replies
- 1.5k views
Hi I am following the Modeling Tutorial and making the vase. It came out nicely. But when after I "stitched" the holes in the bottom of the vase in wire view, they were still holes in shaded view. It's just joining 4 CP's correct?
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 929 views
Hi, I wonder if there is any issues running A:M in windows 8 and if we change computers, how to reset license for new installation. Anyone use laptop and what is the machine spec recommended? Thanks.
Last reply by Philip Fong, -
- 3 followers
- 43 replies
- 3.8k views
Is there a Vid tutorial on Screen Space AO? I cant get a result when I turn it on. Can someone with experience in getting results make a quick tutorial?
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 17 replies
- 1.8k views
I am having strange encounter, my prj is made in version 13, the prj won't render in ver 18b so I create a new prj and import the models but it still crash when I render to file in avi or png, screen render is fine. Things made in the new version render without problem, what have I missed in these few years?
Last reply by Clipping Path Specialists, -
- 1 follower
- 6 replies
- 1.2k views
So if I buy the subscription License for $79.99; What happens when it expires? Does the software become useless or I just don't get the latest updates/patches? Thanks
Last reply by Blickfang, -
- 3 replies
- 1.3k views
Hi all, I've been using screen space ambient occlusion and it keeps crashing on me. I have an Nvidia gt540m graphics card on my toshiba core i7 laptop. I try to use just the cpu to render the screen space ambient occlusion but it still fails. Any ideas or setting I might be able to use? Does anyone else have this issue?I have a deadline coming up, so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Mark
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 11 replies
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I've got another one for you guys... I search these forums but just can't come up with the right answers... I need to put about 20 to 40 Thoms on my stage, each at about 20% scale. I tried using the "duplicator" plugin wizard, but doesn't seem to work. It scales relative to the last copy each time. Also need to add the same action to them all. Can I add the action to them before I bring them in??? Please help. Running late!!! Thanks!
Last reply by TommyDAQ2, -
- 13 replies
- 2.3k views
Hello Everyone, I have a question about how A:M can be like Auto CAD. (if there is a section about this then please let me know or direct me) (sorry) Years ago I used Auto CAD / Inventor and it was the easiest program to use to make any object. I liked how that in the program I can make a basic object and edit it in a breeze by clicking on parts and setting a measurement and it would auto correct and align itself. An example would be a simple Lego piece. I can make a block and add 1 cylinder at a corner. Then I can simply click on the block and type in the measurements to make a rectangle, and then click on the cylinder and input how many to copy/ paste and …
Last reply by pixelplucker, -
- 6 replies
- 1.3k 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, -
- 4 replies
- 1k views
I requested a trial license on Monday, and never heard back about it. I also emailed support@hash.com a few days ago, with no response. I was wondering if there was a problem? Thanks Daniel
Last reply by squirrelhavoc, -
- 1 follower
- 15 replies
- 2.1k views
Hello everyone, its been YEARS since I've been on this forum and used A:M. Quick Question(s)... When I make a model, What kind of file can I export it as? How many types of model files can I export? This 3D printer takes STL files. Can I export A:M Model Files as STL too? Thank You everyone! I hope to be using my A:M program soon!!
Last reply by TRN, -
- 4 replies
- 1k views
Rob, Just watched the rigging basics video and have to admit you make it look so easy. Was there a reason you chose to use a fan bone instead of a smart skin for the knee joint? Also, if you were rigging Thom's torso, how many bones would you use for the spine? Would you use 2, 3 or more? I'm curious because it seems kind of arbitrary and I noticed that TSM seems to add a lot of spine bones, and I've seen other people using a lot of bones for the spine.
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 18 replies
- 2.1k views
I wonder how many people use the Mac version of A:M? A:M is turning out to be the best animation package I have ever used, but the interface is in desperate need of an update. First, I can't get the Mac version to work in a window; it just goes full-screen and hides the dock. This is a no-no in Mac Interface design. Second, I would prefer a darker GUI, and more eye pleasing icons. Third there is a big bug in the Mac Version. After the first time you use the Open/Save dialog, it becomes unusable. It just won't let you choose another folder or do anything else with the mouse. Clearly this is a great program, and probably very few people use the Mac version, s…
Last reply by Jeetman, -
- 7 replies
- 1.4k views
I was impressed to find some basic primitives like spheres and cubes. What I was surprised to find out was the cube objects had rounded corners. That isn't something your average modeler expects when initially creating a cube. I was wondering what the philosophy surrounding this is, so I could better understand the mind of a A:Mer. Thanks, Steve
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 3 replies
- 1.4k views
As I am reading through the manuals, I keep hearing about plugins. Eventually I would love to make some of my own. 1. how do you get started in plugin development? 2. any tutorials? 3. is there a scripting language inside this wonderful program? Thanks, Stede
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 60 replies
- 6.5k views
Hello, I have a quick question. Can you hook up an external renderer to A:M? Thanks, Steve
Last reply by Elm, -
- 14 replies
- 1.8k views
Hello everyone! My name is Steve and today I purchased my copy of A:M 18. I know nothing about 3D and animation, and can't wait to learn. My first impressions of A:M are not going so well though. After starting the program, I get a nice welcome screen, with a list of tutorials. After getting through the first two, which I enjoyed, I get "videos not ready yet". This is a bummer and not very professional. Are there alternative tutorials? I don't want to jump around from specific tutorial to tutorial, I just want to learn in a structured way, or at least learn the basics of modeling in A:M. Thanks, Steve.
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 2 followers
- 9 replies
- 3.1k views
I am rigging the fingers of a hand and I know of 3 different ways to make the CPs move in a controlled fashion: Smart skin Fan bones CP weights I have found tutorials for each of them but I have not found the overall explanation how to think when choosing between them. In my case of the fingers, I started weighing the CPs and planned to do some smartskinning in the next step to tweak it more precisely.... But in the middle of the work I asked myself; Is this a good approach? I am worried that if I combine smartskin and CP weighing it will be confusing, for me, if I afterwards need to correct some unwanted behaviors of the fingers. What is the best pract…
Last reply by zandoriastudios, -
- 1 follower
- 1 reply
- 1k views
Howdy from Tucson, As I'm creating lip poses to be used in lip sync animation, I find it difficult to hide certain control points. Perhaps, as I'm a newbie, is there an "Eye" icon feature to hide/unhide groups as you are editing? Right now, I have a "tongue" and "teeth" groups I'd like to hide while manipulating the lip without accidently hitting a tooth. Any suggestions? Thanks! ...doobie angorabell.wordpress.com
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 1 follower
- 7 replies
- 1.2k views
Greetings, A returning A:M "user" from long ago. Air quotes because I played with the software, but not to the extent of many famous A:M alumns (B. Prince, Raf Anzovin, Victor N., many others). I'm looking forward to exploring the latest and greatest. I'm a long time 3D artist working in research, creating environments and models for interactive simulation. I recently came to the conclusion that I need to step up and take my work to the next level. My first CG workshop (Become a Better Artist with Rob Chang) was an eye-opener for this atelier-trained artist, and a step on the path to self-improvement. I have some big goals personally and profes…
Last reply by markw, -
- 8 replies
- 1.9k views
Been a while so I just wanted to say hi to everybody and wish all Good Things for the upcoming holidays! This is Robert, my latest BigHead endeavor.
Last reply by Vertexspline, -
- 2 replies
- 998 views
Snap Group to surface is "view dependent" which I take to mean that it will move the CPs in what ever direction you are viewing from, right? However, i can only get it to move in one direction. I filed this as an A:M report which is why it's in German but maybe someone here has an answer before Steffen gets to it... SnapGroupToSurfaceQuestion.mov SimpleSnapTest02.prj
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 4 replies
- 1.1k views
In this PRJ, Model 1 has two groups, "target" and "original" SimpleSnapTest02.prj I want to Snap the CPs in "original" so they are on the surface of "target" and I want to do it in a Pose. They don't have to be in some exact spot but i do want to get them on the surface of "target" What is the proper way to use Snap TO Surface for that? I haven't had much success with it.
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 13 replies
- 1.3k views
from model [baldy_ready_update.mdl] and [my model] I can't create folder and sub-folder in Relationships folder of my model, please tell me how to group them in folder and sub-folder? thank you very much Bobby
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 8 replies
- 1.3k views
I was saving a newly rigged model in A:M v15j+ on my Mac running OS 10.4.11 when the power to my computer was disrupted during the save. Now, when I try to open the model in A:M it's properties (bones, groups, etc.) are listed in the workspace window, but the model itself, and it's name, do not appear (see attach picture). The model is still listed in the folder in which I saved it, showing a file size of 553k, but it won't "appear" in A:M. I do have a "pre-rigged", "pre-copy-flip-attached" model saved under a different name, but I'd like to know if there is a way to access the rigged model again before beginning the rigging work all over again. Thanks.
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 1 follower
- 23 replies
- 3.1k views
I am having problems getting the Surface constraint working. I think I have done it by the book, but the bone that is supposed to move in line with the aiming bone does not move at all. I have set the aiming bone to aim at a target but when moving the target, the aiming bone follows allright but the bone is not following. (If I test by changing the enforcement on the Surface constraint it moves. But when moving the target it does not). If I make the bone a Child of the aiming bone it moves but it "hops around" sometimes and does not follow the surface smoothly all the time. (But the bone should not have to be a Child to follow the aiming bone, should it?) I…
Last reply by Visping, -
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by AZ3- 1 reply
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I'd like to see only the forums I have posted in as an option. I'll bet there's a simple way to do it, but the older you get, you know.
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 0 replies
- 1.8k views
RAN ACROSS THIS LISTING ON EBAY ALTHOUGH THE LEARNING MATERIAL IS A LITTLE DATED A LOT OF GREAT STUFF FOR SOMEONE STARTING AM . SOME OF THE ANZOVIN TUTORIALS HELPED ME GREATLY THE BOOKS A PRETTY COMPLETE STARTER KIT . THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE OF USE TO SOMEONE IN THE GREAT AM COMMUNITY !!! HERE IS THE LINK [url="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=161137167254
Last reply by mulls, -
- 14 replies
- 1.6k views
Ok, onto my next question... I searched the forums but didn't find what I was looking for. I probably just didn't have the right terms.... But now, I want to have Woody walk through a live action scene. He's going to come out from behind something. Scenario: I have a still of the interior of a bar. I want Woody to enter the scene at the back of the shot, entering from the far end of the bar. Therefore ,when he first enters, the bar is blocking the lower part of his body from being scene. Please remind me as to how to set an object in my scene so that it receives a projection map (I think - the camera rotoscope), but yet still has geometry that will block o…
Last reply by frosteternal, -
- 5 replies
- 1.3k views
Boy, I really wish you could just right click on a pose in the PWS or in the Pose Sliders or in the Relationships Window and select "Duplicate Pose". So many poses have such similar starting points. It sure would be nice to be able to duplicate them easily. Here's a newbe question though. How do I clear out values - restore them to the default position on a pose? I inadvertently set up my pose at 0% instead of 100% and I'd like to get the 0 back to default. Anyone? Anyone??? Bueller??? Anyone???
Last reply by largento, -
- 1 follower
- 17 replies
- 3.6k views
Hi Guys, I've been away from this software too long. I've lost my modeling techniques... I'm looking for a pretty basic, but good head modeling tutorial. Which do you recommend? The model I need to do is a cartoon character - it's basically a "ball" head (no ears, pretty simple features, but fully functional mouth and expressions) - Actually, it's going to be a flaming head (another challenge). I'ts a stick figure that is going to be a character for a wood burning pizza place - like a match stick with a flame for a head. I'd love your recommendations... (BTW, I did not design this character, I just have to build, rig and animate it!)
Last reply by TommyDAQ2, -
- 8 replies
- 1.3k views
I needed a simple project to get back on track, so I thought I'd have a go at a fish. It is still really rough. This is very much going to be a stylized fish as opposed to a photo-real fish.
Last reply by pixelplucker, -
- 10 replies
- 1.2k 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, -
- 4 replies
- 1.1k views
I haven't used animation:master in a while, a long while, in fact I can't find my CDs so I soon plan to repurchase (or subscribe or whatever the deal is now), what might have me interested in playing again is this: For about a year now I've been playing more and more with my NVidia 3d vision display. I now own 3 pairs of 3D glasses, so I can use it to watch or show what is on the screen to others. I know for a fact (from memory) that Hash A:M supported 3d *rendering*, that is when I used it a few years ago it supported I think it was the red/cyan 3d rendering so if you used the glasses that came with it, it would display the 3d image though a little discolored. …
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 6 replies
- 1.1k views
Hello folks; greetings from Brisbane Australia, I've used Animmaster since V10 (currently V15). The model densities I am now generating exceed the limitations of 32bit OS. The checkdiskCD makes for a portable application that can be tried on various OpSystems. (I use XPSP3 rather Wind7 due to better behaviour from AnimMaster. I can't find a lot of information about the new downloadable application format (or much else that may be related). I would be highly appreciative, (perhaps remember you in my will), if someone could point me to where these answers lay... I need a 64bit version. How do I know I am downloading the 64bit version? I run AnimMaster on an …
Last reply by painterpete, -
- 1 follower
- 33 replies
- 2.3k views
(How do you place the) camera at the same view as perspective view?
Last reply by Vertexspline, -
- 8 replies
- 1.2k views
new audio for using forces force tut using_forces.mov force_tut_better_audio.zip
Last reply by Vertexspline, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 744 views
Do we have any type of measuring tape feature in am aside from Guides and grids. In other programs you can draw a line between 2 points to measure, thats kind of what im looking for.
Last reply by jason1025, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 775 views
Can anyone help out with combining this I have been trying for a few hours to no avail. Basically I cant fill the empty gap. I have too many splines on the bottom and not enough on top. When I use hooks it just causes more problems. Front_hinge01.mdl
Last reply by jason1025,