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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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- 12 replies
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I'm trying to extrude along a path but not getting anywhere. I created my path in the shape of an arc (working on a handle for my chest) and I created the cross section ( an ellipse). When I choose Plugins > Wizards > Extruder then choose the arc as the path and the ellipse as the cross section to extrude along, I am not getting the results I would expect. I get something that sort of looks like I wanted, but not quite. One end is pinched, and I was expecting the cross section to stay more or less vertical in the middle and then curve off in the opposite direction on each side, like an arch. Here are two screenshots:
Last reply by Vertexspline, -
- 10 replies
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in theory pretty simple, i have a basic landscape set up with trees and grass textures, and i want a different texture to over right the grass were i want it to do so, think the zerg creep if u ever played starcraft1/2 but with a little more control like if i wanted to send out tendrils or something http://www.gosugamers.net/starcraft/images...Zerg%20Base.jpg if at all possible to have it raise a little of the ground i would be cool but thats a secondary objective in the how do i get it to change textures to begin with
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 1 follower
- 25 replies
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Is there some kind of anti-alias setting or something to reduce the pixelated look of my finished renders in Quicktime? I didn't seem to have any issue with my previous 3D program's renders which meant it must have been a default in the other program. I've messed with the A:M render settings, but haven't found an answer. My outputs are set at 720x486 1 pass (4 pass didn't fix the problem). Any suggestions?
Last reply by NancyGormezano, -
- 6 replies
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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, -
- 2 followers
- 5 replies
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I haven't seen any new videos posted to the film gallery in a long time. Is this not being done anymore?
Last reply by bighop, -
- 1 follower
- 1 reply
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Hey, Do I need to buy two licenses if I want to install AM on both my laptop and my desktop? Thanks, Jax
Last reply by Wildsided, -
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I was trying to hide none animating bones in a model which i was rigging I edited their visibility property But when i tried to save , it is not saving and it is giving me the following error message : "An Invalid argument was encountered" I repeated the process more than one time and it kept on giving me the same message . I appreciate your help
Last reply by Nik, -
- 11 replies
- 1.5k views
Hey I really need to know if anyone knows how to make a realistic saber. iv asked this and i keep getting the same tutorial, and the saber looks nothing like the movies.. i want to know if it is posible to make a light saber almost identical to the movie
Last reply by Dark_Jedi, -
- 9 replies
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how do you make the scence make it dark like night? HELPPP!!! I'LL LOVE YOU FOREVER!!!
Last reply by TheSpleen, -
- 1 follower
- 13 replies
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Hi Folks I have been studying Cloth and Newton Dynamics. I have been very productive results and am amazed at the power behind both of them. I have a puzzle I am trying to solve. For a few short shots in my presentation I have a parachute carrying some cargo to the surface. I was thinking because the cargo is very heavy and large that instead of cables connecting the cargo to the parachute I would use chains. I have been practicing creating chains with Newton and its very easy and works great. You get a huge payoff for little effort. Another reason why I want to use chains is they are visually stimulating more so than newton driven cables. I am not apposed to cabl…
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 16 replies
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Hi, I just finished assignment 7 and wanted to practice with other models. I've downloaded and installed different .wav files and the one and only time I could get the .wav file to "attach" to the model I couldn't get the mouth to move. All other times I've tried to attach the files A:M immediately freezes and I have to reboot my system. If anyone has any ideas I sure could use the help. Thanks, Robin
Last reply by candimeg, -
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Just wondering. A floating horizon line in the Choreography window would be a help in visualizing perspective in outdoor scenes. Is there an option to add one?
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 23 replies
- 1.5k views
I found my disc copy of am I bought back in early 2000s, it has disc and book with code to activate.. The problem is my newest computer i built doesn't have a disc drive any longer.. idk it the disc today would be able to run in a new disc drive.. is there a way to download the program and still use the old activation code in the book.. I know it was supposed to be a bound to one computer only.. Just curious.. Thanks
Last reply by Jason Simonds, -
- 12 replies
- 1.5k views
Hi Everyone! I've attached the project to a certain look I'm trying to get. Also attached a jpeg as to the look I'm trying to get. Looks like reflections from the ground and sky, but I tried that and it just didn't work. Sucks being a newbie. I've tried numerous things and nothing seems to work. If anyone has time and wants to take a crack at it, please do so. You guys can use these files for anything you like. In fact, I insist. The project has the models and chor with movements already in place, just need to figure out the "glossy-reflective" look. Thanks in advance! glossy_reflections.zip
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
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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, -
- 1 follower
- 11 replies
- 1.5k views
The Copy/Flip/Attach command is mirroring my half-model across the XZ plane instead of the YZ plane. How do I fix this? It doesn't happen for all models, but it does for this one. On a related note, is there a real instancing-based mirror mode? The face-icon mirror mode (although useful for gluing points to YZ) doesn't cut it, because it only mirrors transforms.
Last reply by Clipping Path Specialists, -
- 6 replies
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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, -
- 1 follower
- 25 replies
- 1.5k views
Hey folks How would you create a rail of light? Like say a florescent light bulb?
Last reply by jason1025, -
- 1 follower
- 12 replies
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Hey Gang, Has anyone tinkered with shattering glass? I'm guessing Newton would have to be used? Can it be directional shards such as this video clip? Here is a video clip of what I mean. glasss_shatters.mp4
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 15 replies
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I bought AM at Wondercon last year and haven't looked at it since I installed it. Today I decided to learn a little about it. It asks me for registration info every time I start up, then gives me this error message: Unable to load plug-in [/Applications/Animation Master 16.0/Textures/Simbiont2.atx],-err- Then it opens and I can play with everything. I went through the first video tutorial but I couldn't save anything. This makes me think I'm not really registered. I have the disc with the activation code, but I thought I put that in when I installed the program. Thanks for any help you can offer.
Last reply by RobinR, -
- 1 follower
- 9 replies
- 1.5k views
Hey Guys, I have been writing support for a couple days now trying to figure out the process of getting my subscription moved to a different windows machine. My last machine crashed and burned so I do not have ANY file I can copy over. I have no feeling how buried the Hash guys are, but how long should a request like this take to get a response? i also emailed jason @hash.com yesterday per a different post's suggestion. Anything else I can do to get a response, or am I being too "Hurry up, already" at this point?
Last reply by thumperness, -
- 2 replies
- 1.5k views
Top 4 Newest And Coolest Kitchen Gadgets For Your Home! Why You Should Try To Buy And Use These New Gadgets ❈It’s clear that our lives are changing rapidly. Cooking now seems to take so much time. Besides, many people come home exhausted which makes it hard for them to get into the kitchen. To reduce the time they have to work in the kitchen, people have started to invent many new gadgets to help others out. In this way, you can truly enjoy cooking, as it is much easier and safer for you. According to people’s needs, they come up with ideas and bring these ideas to life. However, you might find some of these new gadgets a bit weird at first, but you can sure tha…
Last reply by Shelton, -
- 14 replies
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--What is that questionmark for in the actionobjects or materials for example? Does it say something is missing? Seems nothing is really affected by it.... Can anybody clarify this please --Also: Why can a cropped action not be copied multiple times into the same channel? I wonder, if it really is necesary to copy the action onto the model every time you need it newly again?
Last reply by Gerry, -
- 1 follower
- 13 replies
- 1.4k views
planning stage: what's a smart way to have jewels reflect light? i'll be making crowns, they have different kinds of stones in/on them. the light won't be that of the sun or lamp, cheats are sort of built in. i'll be compositing excessively, no problem to add a layer or three. but how to think/plan/execute?
Last reply by dblhelix, -
- 2 replies
- 1.4k views
Working on a model, part of the models points are now a light blue/gray, and I can't pick/choose them, did I lock them, somehow?
Last reply by ovni1, -
- 14 replies
- 1.4k views
Almost Christmas and already Christmas cards are landing on my doormat and I expect I’ll find some digital Christmas e-card in my email box any time soon. So instead of building my own e-card online with often pairs with unwanted e-mails I thought why note create my own digital Christmas card created with AM. Quick easy and simple... or at least I initially thought it would be easy... I’m expecting it’s not a whole lot of work, but for someone who is still learning never done any kind of animating before it’s really time consuming and a challenge. The idea is, White background/ground, Render 1 or 2 Christmas balls, hanging from a branch, shadow cast o…
Last reply by wildcard, -
- 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, -
- 1 follower
- 24 replies
- 1.4k views
Hey, i really dony quite understand the concept of rotoscoping, does anyone, by any chance, have a tutorial that could help me all about rotoscoping and how to do/use it.
Last reply by AMkyle, -
- 13 replies
- 1.4k views
Hi, A real quick question. Is there a way to hide the distortion boxes from the modeling screen after you finish using them ? Thanks for the help.
Last reply by NancyGormezano, -
- 31 replies
- 1.4k views
Hi, I had the 2003 CD version and some plugins but unfortunately I didn't use it much. Now I started again with animation, so I bought the subscription to have more features (or less bugs). Currently I'm using (trying to learn) 15.0G because there was a bug with real time rendering in shaded mode with the 15.0H version, so I'm sorry if the following problems have been corrected: 1. If I try to customize the toolbars just by adding more toolbars to the window (Tools/Customize/Toolbars), when I press "OK" all changes disappear (my screen resolution is 1920x1200 if that helps). 2. While there is enough space on the existing toolbar line for more toolbars (~4…
Last reply by dllb, -
- 1 follower
- 21 replies
- 1.4k views
Hi All I'm working on a model and I can't get the splines to act right. The spline fallows the curve right between the CPs but in some places between 2 CPs the curve flips, like in this image: and you end up with divots where I don't want them, as in this image: I only have 2 = 3 point patches and 2 straight splines. All other patches are 4 point. Here is an image of the splines: I've tried to refind normals, I selected one of these weird splines and tried to flip the normal and I tried using the smooth tool, all with no effect. This model looks OK with the toon shader turned on: but I'm trying to use him as a standard 3d …
Last reply by earthquake, -
- 15 replies
- 1.4k views
Hello and here is my scenario: I have developed MANY detailed models in A.M., V15 - that I want to have plastic Injection Molds made from. The Models are to Exact Scale because threaded Inserts will be needed and holes will need to be lined up and they need to interact with other components in the "Industry Standard" size. I am trying to convert one of the many files with little success. My Problems: 1. AM's MDL files are not supported except in Wings 3d (Old version). 2. When I export the model into a *.OBJ or *.DXF File - I lose my curved surfaces. I must have curved surfaces (I thought DXF supported that? No? How do Autocad users get their smooth model…
Last reply by Wildsided, -
- 6 replies
- 1.4k views
hi, all. I purchased quicktime pro and exported targa sequences... can bring them into my images in project but can't bring them into camera unless I bring them all one at a time...hmmm...
Last reply by tomross2002, -
- 10 replies
- 1.4k views
Hello. I am a previous short time user who got derailed by life 5 years ago and am just finding my way back. I have the CD of v13 and have reloaded it on my computer. It is working fine but I have a couple of Q's: 1) Where can I find info regarding resolution; is AM capable of TV/DVD broadcast quality? 2) Where can I learn about the new features in v17, and what about additional plugins that would work in v13? 3) What, in your estimation, is some good yet not terribly expensive video editing software I can buy to assist in this process? I have looked around a little and have yet to find any real answers to these questions. Whenever I ha…
Last reply by itsjustme, -
- 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, -
- 15 replies
- 1.4k views
Hello, I need to change the pivot point in a choreography fir a model. It is easy to change the pivot point in a model with the manipulator, in the choreography it moves the whole model. I tried using the manipulator properties I just do no t have a scale to know where I am in the window. I want to spin my model to I need the pivot point in the center of the model while in the choreography. By the way you guys that constantly help others are fantastic. I really do appreciate your help and hope one day to be good enough to pass on the favor.
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 29 replies
- 1.4k views
Just as I solved my video card problem with fresh drivers, and entered into [hopefully] A:M heaven...I start getting white spline lines showing through the decals. 'Happened last night with lines on a roof. Now again with the wheels of this armored car. [it's not happening with the other objects because they are older bits brought over from the tank model.][attachmentid=13517]
Last reply by KenH, -
- 8 replies
- 1.4k views
I look to see if there was a cylindrical mapping tutorial and could not find one. I ahve problem mapping a seamless image onto a cylinder. first of all, i want to know why it always default to a repeat of 3 in the x !!! it is seamless so i want the beginning to match my end around the cylinder. Then, about the normals. Should they be pointing out of the cylinder or in? Sometimes, my map shows up as a mirror image... Any tutorial out there? Thanks. Pierre
Last reply by mouseman, -
- 24 replies
- 1.4k views
I love A:M, but it seems to have a mind of its own...'squirrely' would not be too strong a term. Sometimes I get an image inside the yellow decal bounding box, sometimes not. [i switched Open GL for Direct3D] The first few applications of decal [2 or 3] work, but after that...nothing. Since that switch, the yellow boxes do not appear when items are to be sized. rotated or moved. Except in brief flashes. Then they disappear. On the day before yesterday, I got the fish to swim along its path. Last night [new fish] it would not. Lately, when I try to view animations in the Hash Films section of the website, all I get is a black box, though there is the Quicktime toolbar and …
Last reply by Dhar, -
- 2 followers
- 7 replies
- 1.4k views
On the side of each post you can see people's avatar, name, # of post, etc. One of the things that can be there is: Programmer Yes/No If someone puts Yes as being a programmer, what does that mean as far as this board is concerned? I am a programmer at work, but I don't do anything for A:M like write plug-ins or anything like that.
Last reply by fae_alba, -
- 10 replies
- 1.4k views
For me, working with bones and there tool set of constraints is confusing and frustrating. I know what I want and how I want it, but getting that actually setup in AM is still beyond my skills and understanding of logic. I've got a bird shaped mechanical foot from a Mad Cat I'm trying to model. Played around with Euler/Spherical limitations and Limit Manipulators, turning off the axis I don't want it to move along. Setting up restrictions of -15 to 15 degree along the X-axis rotation for the toes. When manually manipulating/adjusting bones, I'm restricted to follow those limitations. But when I use the Aim at Target, pointing at a Null, it seems…
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 11 replies
- 1.4k views
I have a character model with a 24-frame walk cycle that I rendered as a .tga image sequence that I want to use as a decal on another model. How do I get the walk-cycle image sequence to repeat as a decal on the other model within a choreography?
Last reply by Gerry, -
- 1 follower
- 17 replies
- 1.4k views
I am trying to use the Surface constraint to make pupils move on an irregular eye. I have got everything working exept for one detail: I can´t make the pupils align in the direction of the surface normals. As I understand it, the Property Translate only is the one controlling this. I have set it to ON but it still does´t behave as I want. I have tried to change all of the properties I could find, both for the constraints and for the bones I use. I also made sure that the normals were pointing outwards. I have run out of ideas... what am I missing here? This is the current alignment of the bone that controls the pupil mesh. Note that it is pointing in the…
Last reply by Gerry, -
- 1 follower
- 23 replies
- 1.4k views
I'm having trouble applying my decal for a UV Map . I've flattened the group in an action window and i am now trying to APPLY my image as a DECAL (like the tut says) but the apply button is blanked out, and it says i can't drag it into the screen. Help would e greatly appreciated. Oh wait nevermind, I had entered the decail in the wrong object! Problem solved. Oh man nevermind to that too. How do I get into the UV Editor(Decal View) so that the image shows flattened patch? I mean I can apply the decal then stop positioning, but then how do I see it in the Decal View?
Last reply by teh1ghool, -
- 1 follower
- 22 replies
- 1.4k views
ive had animation master since....the christmas before last and i dont think im good at all....i took most of the tutes from the manual and i cant make anything of quality. ive seen some posts from new guys who are already ahead of me. is there some secret super-tute that teaches you everything that i dont know about?? i want to get better at this. any suggestions?
Last reply by zandoriastudios, -
- 19 replies
- 1.4k views
Looking for some insight into speeding up my productivity and am going after the machine, and the person using it... Been on a mouse so far but considering a graphic tablet. Anyone offer some advice/ suggestions/ direction? Next Question: I'd appreciate some input on speeding up the machine. I recently read a forum entry leading me to believe that more RAM will speed up rendering. I figured it was simply a function of processor speed but am wondering now that I stumbled across the post.... Thoughts, experiences? Glider
Last reply by danf, -
- 9 replies
- 1.4k views
I’m looking for guidance, some step by step guide or tutorial, movie some other form of instructions on how to model a head/face. Currently I’m struggling with the creation of a head for my model. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve started over from scratch again. The body of my female model has been created through the use of a front, side and rear view picture of the basic shape. Through the use of the lathe tool, extruding tool, scaling and lots of tweaking. Took sometime getting the body modeled right and I've started from scratch plenty of times that really aided and improved my ability to model. However, I have tried repeating the same way I created …
Last reply by NancyGormezano, -
- 2 followers
- 19 replies
- 1.4k views
Hello, I think this is what David refers to as "gamma popping" in his book. Sometimes when I am animating a character in the Chor, the arms in particular will look a little "planar" and concave along one spline (flattened-looking). If I switch to muscle mode and select what I think is the offending CP with its spline direction, it will suddenly go back to the way it should look. I understand what gamma does, but because this character is not a mechanical model, I haven't adjusted the gamma at all. All randomly sampled CPs have a (default?) gamma of 0%. It's as if occasionally a spline forgets whether it is to bend in or out. As I said, as soon as I touch a CP+splin…
Last reply by sbk, -
- 3 replies
- 1.4k views
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, -
- 14 replies
- 1.4k views
This discussion is designed to serve two purposes. First, to highlight some excellent resources, and second to point everyone to related 'breathing spaces'. Breathing Space is the term I use for when you have been working at a project for a long time without taking a good break. Ideally, that breathing space should be as far as possible from the task that you are trying to take a break away from. However, it isn't so far away that you stop working on the project. If you wander too far away... that's a vacation! For more than a few people that means the end of the show. Move just far enough away to get a refreshed perspective on the task at hand. Take a…
Last reply by Rodney,