New Users
Get started and learn the ropes!
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
-
Multi-Pass
by bighop- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 528 views
I was just wondering how much of the multi-pass everyone uses. I've read that 16 is the best, but then they have up to 256. Does anyone go that high? And if so, what would be the situation. I was wondering if anyone had a chart......for simple renders use 1 to 4, higher quality use.... and so on.
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 1 follower
- 7 replies
- 695 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, -
- 1 follower
- 19 replies
- 2.4k views
why would I want to do 1, or 2 or 4 or 7 passes?
Last reply by Vertexspline, -
- 11 replies
- 960 views
Hey Everyone, I have my render settings with Multipass at 25 passes and I also have Motion Blur ON at 20%... Should I avoid having motion blur on at all since I'm using Multipass??? William
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 2 replies
- 476 views
If I'm feeling feisty and want to work on my next shot while rendering this one, can I open A:M a second time? Anyone know how I'd do this on a mac?
Last reply by danf, -
- 3 replies
- 533 views
Help, anyone, how can I, for example have 3 cameras in a choreography and switch between them on certain frames? Also, how can I make a camera follow a character?
Last reply by sesboks, -
- 16 replies
- 1.3k views
Hi, I was wondering whether, as a rule, A:M pros usually build each character from scratch, or whether some use an existing base character to generate others? Thanks
Last reply by DarkLimit, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 776 views
How do I go about putting the various choreographies in my project together when I render? So it plays the first Chor then the second once that one is done and so on and so forth.
Last reply by Kaijin, -
- 1 follower
- 6 replies
- 674 views
I am having trouble with multiple control points. I'm using 2005. I create a sphere by making a 2 point line, latheing it (lathing?) then I delete the bottom cps. I then highlight all the cps and rotate by typing in 90 degrees. The result is a perfect sphere with the exception that multiple cps are created at each point. When I pull one cp away, there is 1 or 2 more where I pulled the first one away. Can anyone help with this? Thanks
Last reply by bravo2080, -
- 2 replies
- 396 views
I was just showing how I can start-up 3 versions of A:M on my PC...be rendering in 2 while working in the 3rd... when the question arose 'Can you do that on a Mac'? ---We have tried it, but A:M will only start once... I know there HAS to be a workaround, right?
Last reply by John Bigboote, -
- 2 replies
- 661 views
Is there any way to create multiple vanishing points to distort perspective?
Last reply by Karl, -
- 2 replies
- 377 views
I first bought AM in 1999. Upgaded in 2002 (v9 ?). Ran on various PCs. Took a break for a few years but ready to start again. Bought subscription for v15 and installed on a Vaio VGC-RA830G. running great and getting reaquainted. Now for a few questions: 1. I have a Mac notebook. I tried to install v9 using my CD but it won't install. Since I originally installed it on a PC is that license only good on PC's? 2. Assuming I need to buy another subscription, how will the performance be. It is a MacBook (not pro) 2.2 ghz Intel Core 2 duo processor. 2GB memory with 4 MB L2 cache. Is this adequate or is performance going to be agonizing? Thanx, looking for…
Last reply by planecrazy, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 1.8k views
considering a final addition to project; maybe making one Eugene a mummy. for the most part the skin would just sit there, but have a couple of large holes and not cover hands but end in a hard crusty formation. like a long sleeve. however on the face the skin should have prominent tearing at the mouth, with both hard and flexible behaviour - there'd be a nice, disgusting piece over the molars between a hole in the cheek and his mouth. this piece would stretch when he opens his mouth and have hardened crusts at top&bottom angles. the Eugene will be sporting the gentlemen's classic cloak with no sleeves. i've no idea how to plan, what to plan,…
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 3 replies
- 941 views
I have music I want to put in my animations, but an error message comes up saying it is in the wrong file type. What do I do?
Last reply by nimblepix, -
- 9 replies
- 918 views
You know, I'm finishing up my first animation and all, so I'm a total pro... hahaha. But I've hit hundreds of hurdles, and I've got to say there's some basic stuff that would be well to place in the TAO:AM routine. Call it my A:M wisdom to this point... call it me venting my frustrations. Either way, it's healthy for me, it's healthy for new students, so drink milk: While Lesson 1 does a good job of introducing one to the "talent" pool, and notion of a "pose," I think it fails to properly represent the workflow intrinsic to the design of A:M. When understood, the design of A:M is a beautiful thing that puts everything at your fingertips. When not understood, yo…
Last reply by Gerry, -
- 2 followers
- 4 replies
- 820 views
Hi All, Newbies and experts, I am using subscription v15.0c on a iMac G4 and would love to place my character into my Granddaughters home video. The video is 320x240 and a QuickTime movie. (very small) about 9 seconds long. I have had some advice and found very few tutorial helps on the net yet, none of them seem to get the video to play or even appear as a Rotoscope in the choreography window. I also have searched through the online manual and not found anything to help. Does anyone have a step by step tutorial on how to get me started. Any and ALL help would be deeply appreciated. Your friend in 3D
Last reply by Walter Baker, -
- 3 replies
- 495 views
Hello, While working on a very basic choreography my front, side, back etc... windows are all black and do not display any geomerty. I've tried shift-z to centre the scene but still nothing. The camera and light views are fine. What gives? is it a camera clipping plane issue or what? Thanks in advance Mcutler
Last reply by mcutler, -
- 1 follower
- 12 replies
- 926 views
I just wanted to post a special thank you to all the nice folks that I have met here at Hash and online in the community chat room. A special shout to Martin, Rodney, George and Mark for all your assistence. I am going to be having brain surgery next week and won't be around for some time. Thank you for your kindness. Keith Buck BUDDHABUCK
Last reply by the_black_mage, -
- 1 follower
- 6 replies
- 682 views
Hi, folks. I bought a copy of Animation:Master but it seems like I might be having a display conflict. I've tried it on two computers now and had the same issue on both. The second one was a pretty new MacBook with MacBook 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, Nvidia GForce 9400M (256MB VRAM); the first attempt was a Mac Mini with 2GB RAM. In both cases there were significant display issues, most notably the text on the icons was unreadable--black text with a heavily pixellated black background caused by artifacts. (Screencap is attached.) I realize neither of these computers is really meant for intensive graphics work, but I haven't found any specs as to mi…
Last reply by jimd, -
- 14 replies
- 1.5k views
Hello, I have been working with AM for about 4 months.. First time ever to explore animation, modeling etc.. I have really enjoyed the process and plan to continue learning and working on animation. Here is the video I made, hope you like it. David...
Last reply by nino banano, -
- 8 replies
- 840 views
I created a character wearing a robe. I gave the character bones. I set the lower section of the robe (the hangy-cloth, skirty part) to the default settings for cloth. I then set both legs to be collision objects. As a test, I created a ten second choreography of the character lifting his left leg. When I right-click and go to Simcloth Simulate, the cloth geometry goes all wonky and I get the following message. System found to be unsolvable. Possible causes: forced intersecting geometry, very sudden movement, or other setting... I also created a character wearing a skirt. When I do the same animation, and apply SimCloth, her skirt constantly wiggles around, as t…
Last reply by Dale_The_Bold, -
- 1 follower
- 13 replies
- 1.1k views
Hi All Since the main reason for my getting A M was more as a suport tool for my 2D Illustration and Cartooning then for the animation I jumped right into the modeling tutorials perhaps biting off a bit more than I could chew. Anyway wanting to start right away to create 3d versions of my own characters I started trying to do the faces using my own design instead of a photo Anyway It went easier then I expected I do a bit of real sculpting so the transition from papermache and clay to a view screen wasn't too dificult, other than an inability to smooth out some of the creases and don't get me started on the nostrels. Anyway this is what I've gotten so …
Last reply by thefreshestever, -
- 3 followers
- 27 replies
- 1.8k views
Hi Everyone, I am trying to create my first model of a Winnie the Pooh Character. I imported the Rotoscope and began to draw the required ARC's to match 1/2 of the face. The problem is that when I create the Arc that I want, I also create an Arc I don't want. I'm not sure how to explain this, I think the picture will do the best job. Also, my plan for creating this character is as follows, does it make sense? 1. Import the Rotoscope (Front View) 2. Outline Half of the Face 3. Mirror the Half Face at the Center Line 4. Then do Left View, and import Rotoscope of Side View 5. Outline Side View 6. then I'm not sure what to do next. Thanks…
Last reply by Serega-198323, -
- 5 replies
- 1.1k views
I just got Animation Master at Ces show and this is my first model I just made. Now I have To keep working on him
Last reply by RedEye4Ya, -
- 4 replies
- 708 views
Comments welcome. One question I have is how do u change the ground to somethingg like grass or a parking lot ? I tried to layer, drop and drag to the project workspace, and even rotoscope nothing works..When I render it ,i get the default ground. I can change the color as u can see...Any advice is welcome.... Thanks, Real Newbie here
Last reply by asphalt maker, -
- 11 replies
- 921 views
i´m workin on a hammy-like squirrel-character to learn more about hair. i figured out how to work with decals on hair, in this case i´ve decals for the color, the length and the density of the hair... first i had only one hair system, and it looked totally like a stuffed plush toy... then i added a second one, so that i now have a short one with a high density (375) and a long one with low density (25).. looks way better now, but i´m still not satisfied. i still get this kind of pattern, it looks not really natural... i thought about adding a third system, but i doubt my computer can take any more. the image i added took about 1 and a half hours to render (multipa…
Last reply by c-wheeler, -
My mate Pengo!
by Guest SandGroper- 7 replies
- 750 views
Hey here is a model of my first character my mate pengo! Please dont laugh as pengy gets very upset if you do, he may even bite your nuts off so be nice . cheers groper btw : whats the deal with attaching him ....some upload error?
Last reply by higginsdj, -
- 8 replies
- 1k views
I built this model in AM and i got to version 30 of the model (i like to work in versions incase something goes horribly wrong) anyways, whenever i try to activate the shaded view on the model the program freezes up on me im not really sure what to do
Last reply by eptigo, -
- 3 replies
- 509 views
I spent 3-4 hours attempting to model a face for a character of mine, and made pretty decent headway. I've got about a quarter of the way around, and things are pretty smooth. However, I attempted to put hair on it and quickly discovered that the normals, every single one, face inward, towards the center of the head, rather than outward, where hair would be desired. My question is, do I have to select all 200+ patches individually and flip them, or is there another wat that shall take much less time? I ask because, knowing my luck, it shall happen to me time and time again.
Last reply by heyvern, -
My model is redering in 2D, thats what is look like 2D insted of 3D.Can any body tell me how do I change it to the normal rendering?
Last reply by aman trivedi, -
- 1 reply
- 672 views
OK here's my Project that frustrated me into putting A:M down for awhile. I was coming up with a new idea for the Exercise 6 The doors stuck. I had everything working great but had 2 problems First I will tell you whats supposed to happen: --Keekat butters his corn, he goes to take a bite and the doorbell rings (you'll kinda figure that out ). Then The bell rings again while he's thinking about how this always happens. This is where the problem occurs and my work stopped, I want to go to a side camera angle (simple) then Have Keekat push out from the table and jump out of the chair to go answer the door. Problems 1. I could never get a 2nd Kinematic c…
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 3 replies
- 441 views
Hi, I open the 32 patch or 8 patch sphere in the model window and select shaded wire frame but they both look like they have sharp points all over the place. When I render them they look round is there a way to make them look round in the shaded mode? Thanks Grant
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 1.7k views
Launched Animation Master today, but it didn't load. Subscription must be expired. Does anyone know the steps to renew? What do I do?
Last reply by animas3D, -
- 10 replies
- 1.1k views
Well, although I love Expressions, it seems that always I try to take advantage of them something is going wrong, so I think the best thing I could do is treat to joint all my headaches in an only one theath, and... well, here in the first: In this case I wanted to resolve my pourpose by Relationships but for some reason it seems I can't add a Relationship to a Constrain value... So I'm treating to apply a simple Expresion from one value in a Constrained bone to another one in to another Constrained bone, I mean, one value is managed by another similar value, at first sight it seems nothing could be wrong, isn't? But as you can see here... ConstrainEaseValue_Exp…
Last reply by itsjustme, -
- 14 replies
- 1.3k views
Hello I am not really sure what the yellow dot is done at the bottom near the origin and between the feet. I wonder if it is the model bone, but it doesn't seem to have any scale to it and if I rotate around it it appears to be a singel point. It has the name of a previous project ( think I opened that project and save it with a new name) and if I right-click it and choose delete my entire penguin disappears (which leads me to think it is the model bone but I thought normally those aren't visible?). Also when it is selected all the points on the left-hand side (right if you are looking at the model) are selected. Any ideas as to what the heck this might be?
Last reply by Vertexspline, -
- 1 follower
- 0 replies
- 844 views
Hi, Would anyone have a cape model they would like to share? Not looking for anything fancy, I just want to integrate it with another model. I'll either do a sim-cloth on it when I get it to a chor or else I'll just add a couple of bones for simple movement maybe instead. Thanks in advance!
Last reply by TurboGorilla, -
- 4 replies
- 637 views
is there any way in A:M were i can make red weed like this quickly and not be to difficult to render? http://forums.eveofthewar.com//photos/disp...m=47&pos=11
Last reply by cuboos, -
- 7 replies
- 806 views
I'm working on a quick project, and I could use an electric guitar. I've found a very high quality model for sale, however I don't need that kind of detail. If anyone has a link to a free (or cheap) guitar model, that would be awesome.
Last reply by phatso, -
- 2 followers
- 8 replies
- 1.2k views
It's probably something really stupid that everyone knows how to fix but me, of course, I'd really appreciate any help. I've attached a file to show my issue, see the little black things on the side of my mode? I want them gone, makes rendering fuzz, how do I fix it? Thanks in advance for any help. untitled.bmp
Last reply by phatso, -
- 1 reply
- 411 views
OK heres basically my problem , i need a material that will cover an object to show that an object needs to go here. and as specific as that was ill elaborate. i have a models that has multiple peaces that i will be using in a build your own sword kinda thing , what i would like is before they select a color they can see the blades type ie long and skinny or big and bulky. so i need a material that looks good some what transparent and looks like your building something
Last reply by Master chief, -
- 4 replies
- 726 views
I created a company logo using AM and would like to export it so that I can import my model into Digital Image Pro so that I can work with there gradient tools. Is there a plug-in out there that I can use to export an AM model into a picture format such as .png, .jpg, .bmp? Or for another imaging program such as AI? As of right now I have been using screen print platinum to take a screen shot of my images. If AM can import files from other programs such as AI, should we be able to export the models as an AI file also. Nicole
Last reply by Muff, -
- 6 replies
- 760 views
I am attemping to build a 3-d topographical map with specific terrain and colors at each tier. I attached a simple jpg I made in paint that is the rough 2-d version of what I am trying to do. I think I can get the model built with these tiers (blue being the lowest and high the highest), but I'm not sure how to get the coloring right to match the rough sketch. I haven't used A:M in about 8 years (1999) so I am trying to remember all the different ways to do things. If this is an really silly question and you feel that I should know better because of a tutorial somewhere, just let me know where it is, I haven't been able to find anything like this yet. …
Last reply by BrianJG, -
- 4 replies
- 864 views
Ok folks, heres one. Do any of you know if there is a post or tut on how to transport (dematerialize) model A then re-materialize as a different model? A friend has a logo starts as a silhouette of a person, starts to break apart and dematerializes. We would like to have it re-materialize as text for his company. Any suggestions?
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 463 views
Im currently trying to create a model from some pictures of a character, does any one have a tutorial on how to make a good model fom picture? note that most of the pics arnt a direct 90 degrees onto the face
Last reply by jzawacki, -
- 4 replies
- 477 views
I have a 60 second pretty complex animation and I just realized I need about 4 seconds at the beginning, is there an easy way of doing this, beside pulling everything over - that might get messy? Thank again.
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 2 replies
- 563 views
Hi! Hopefully you've all seen the movies "Alien" and "Aliens". I need just three models. Any help would be fine! I need a normal alien or soldier alien, a queed alien and a colonial marine. Any help would be welcome! Please help! Thanks!
Last reply by xyz123, -
- 1 reply
- 392 views
Hello. I'm trying to locate a very realistic model of an F16 aircraft for Animation Master. I can't find anyone online who has one for this program. Can anyone help? Thanks.
Last reply by Logrus, -
- 34 replies
- 2.5k views
I'm looking for a good model with textures (like creature)
Last reply by NancyGormezano, -
- 1 reply
- 712 views
i have some characters that need bones i want to use them in movie 1st chara is a monster 2th a ninja 3th the man under mask 4th old guy 5th old werewolf i will post pictures of them so that u can see if you can handle it and then i will post the models I hope you guys can help me its very important btw this is what i need pose sliders at eyes hands mouth the model has to be able to move smooth and fight like a martial artist
Last reply by stinkyu111, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 523 views
Hi! I'd like to create an idyllic scene of a country field with a field of tall grass that has contains some grass elements that "undulate" in the wind. This doesn't have to be completely realistic, and it seems that I'd only want to render a few "individual" blades of grass for the foreground. Does anyone have an idea on what kind of technique I could use to create this tall grass? Would this be a "Hair"-type technique? a "Flocking"-technique? Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks, Tim
Last reply by johnl3d,