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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.
4,149 topics in this forum
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- 3 replies
- 377 views
I'd like to use the sweeper plug-in, and I can't seem to find it. From what I've read, it should be in version 13. I'm using 13s. When I right click - Plug-Ins - Wizards - all I have is "Terrain, Grid, Font, AI and Extruder". So, if anyone can help me find the plug-in, that would be super. EDIT: I've discovered that sweeper.hxt is in my hxt folder - so I HAVE it - I just can't get it to show up from within A:M.
Last reply by PeterS, -
- 22 replies
- 1.5k views
The production company I'm currently Interning for uses a combination of Maya and 3DS Max for all their 3D work. We work closely with sports teams and produce 3D logos for in Arena playback. To do this, we import Illustrator files as editable splines and texture and extrude the logo's faces. As i use A:M at home, I'd like to know if anyone has tried this function?
Last reply by SCDonnelly, -
- 13 replies
- 466 views
Hi - is it possible to add a video clip (.avi) to a chor scene - have it playing on a plasma screen tv somehow? Thanks- Eric
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 1 reply
- 290 views
I just upgraded my Animation Master program. I hope It's easier to use this program. I have been practicing on my jety v13, I did all the exerscies that came in the book; But I would like to learn faster. Does anybody know about taking a course on line? The video tutorials are ok. But I need something more explainatory.
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 285 views
Hi All, New-user here with a first-time post. I'm having a problem with rendering in AM. It used to work fine, but then I lost some of the presets (I only have multipass, sterophonic, and real time left). Then it started locking up the whole program with a blank window when I hit render. Now, it renders in under a second and without the same quality despite being set on "final". Is there a way to reset the render presets, or do I need to reinstall the whole program. Or, any other ideas? Thanks, Pete
Last reply by Pete-NY, -
- 1 reply
- 231 views
I completed the CanCan exercise and in the render to file option I changed the range to be 3 seconds (300). After the CanCan was rendered they danced only for 2 seconds with the last second they just stood -- it didn't animate the last second. Am I doing something wrong? BTW I'm using version 9.5b. Could use your help!!!
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 3 replies
- 334 views
double edit: *Nose hello, im trying to attach the giraffe nose to the head in exercise 11. am i extending all the splines from the head to attach to the 5 nose splines? I have 5 splines making up the nose. do the top and bottom splines attach to the very top and bottom of the nose splines and then i should have 6 inner splines with each pair attaching to the corresponding nose spline? If im not making sense let me know and i will try again I searched this and didnt see what i was looking for. edit: is there a trick to attaching the splines without spinning around and moving until you finally get them to connect? thanks in ad…
Last reply by necromancer120, -
- 0 replies
- 233 views
Can someone please describe the radiosity settings and how they are used? Maybe even some examples?? Thanks.
Last reply by thetanman, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 898 views
I've learned that i need to upgrade to an ATI RADEON graphics card, rather than an NVIDIA graphics card. which RADEON card do you recomend? and do RADEON cards work ok in a computer having an intel VIIV DUAL CORE PROCESSER E6400?
Last reply by DarkLimit, -
- 19 replies
- 1.3k views
Ok.. I'm still confused on the "keyframe". I'm looking through my manual and not finding what or how to do what I want. I'm creating an action with a Penguin. He lifts his right foot, moves it to his right, THEN he is supposed to move his LEFT foot and move it to his right. However, his LEFT foot is moving at the same time his right foot is. Where do I find how or on screen, where is it, on how to lock this left foot until I want it to move? Thanks Steven
Last reply by Steven547, -
- 1 reply
- 302 views
I'm trying to put Kee Kat into a chair but his feet stay or at least his legs extend with his feet pointing toward the original location. How do I stop that? I tried deleting the foot target but that didn't work.
Last reply by Dhar, -
- 3 replies
- 329 views
A couple of prelim questions for a project I'm going to be fooling around with involving a tv showing images. I understand how to apply a video/image sequence as a decal, so that's not my question. I'm looking for a very refractive screen, more refractive than realistic, so the "projection" distorts as the screen rotates. Do I want to: --make a screen with transparent/refractive materials and place it in front of a flat patch with the video decal? --make a screen and apply the decal to the "back" of the screen? Also, how is refraction calculated? Would I want just a one-sided (2-dimensional), one-patch screen (well, it'd be a couple of patches to accommod…
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 333 views
Hi - I am a newbie to materials and how they work - I am looking through the tech ref and it is talking about Material Diplacement - they show 100% - 200% and it looks like actual bumps instead of just a flat surface. When I used Roughness and Roughness scale it doesn't give the bumpy look - just distorts the colors to make it look bumpy, but still has the flat look. I am not getting something here, can anyone clue me in. Here is a great example of a "real" look to everything I am looking to learn to do courtesy of Matt W Bradbury http://www.hash.com/users/amfeatu...pertiesRoom.jpg Thanks - Eric
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 5 replies
- 384 views
I'm in the process of building a set and it occurred to me to wonder if I should assemble all the pieces of the set into one model file that can be dropped whole into a cho, or should I keep the pieces of it in separate model files and then assemble all of those inside a cho file? The elements will all remain static (nothing will need to move around.) Will it make a difference?
Last reply by largento, -
- 1 follower
- 12 replies
- 839 views
Hello, I was in Fry's the other night and just happened to find a copy of the A:M software while looking at video editing applications (I do quite a bit of audio engineering and mixing and just got into video). Anyway, animation and modeling strikes me as fun. I have no goal for using the software other than something fun to do during spare time and if I were to get good enough, perhaps have some fun composing music for short animated videos. Anyway, to the question: I have no animation or modeling background, so how realistic is it that I would be able to learn how to use this software? More specifically, I guess I'm looking to figure out whether the time i…
Last reply by Bob Savage, -
Can anyone suggest some ideas to get a realistic looking carpet? Thanks - Eric
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 7 replies
- 503 views
Hi again, I need help making simple shapes e.g a box. At the moment i have to use the pre made ones. Someone please help me. I make a simple box shape by extruding but only a few sides are shaded the rest are see though. How can i go about this?
Last reply by elliotclem1, -
- 2 replies
- 334 views
Hi, i have a problem when i apply tranparency to a model with a decal, the problem is with the light, when i do a progresive render the light passes right through my model, but when i do a final render the light just stays there.....can someone help?
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 6 replies
- 674 views
I have a choreography where the Knight character is hanging from a wall, and he needs to swing his body up over the top. I've studied videos of "urban" climbers, who climb walls, buiding etc, and what they do is swing their legs so that they can hook one leg over the top of the wall. To do that the pivot point is centered at about the neck and shoulders. No matter what I've tried, I can't get the knight to swing properly. I have the hands constrained to the wall so that they don't move during the swing. I've tried swinging the model bone in an arc, and moving the feet and hips in an arc, both to no avail. Most of the time, the hands get really screwed up, and…
Last reply by Geophizz, -
- 1 reply
- 410 views
Just wondering, do any retail stores sell Animation Master? Is it exclusive to the Hash website and I saw a few posts about buying at expos and trade shows. Don't get me wrong I want Hash to get credited for the sale, just want to go right to store and buy when I can, if possible. Thanks.
Last reply by ssappington, -
- 6 replies
- 544 views
I was just wondering if I were to create my own models using the program for commercial use such as a video game or 3d movie, would I have to pay royalties of any kind to Hash Inc? If so what are the terms of use of the program? I tried using the search feature for "Commercial Use" and "Royalties" in the forums however it did not come up with a definitive answer to my question. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 4 replies
- 519 views
Hi all! I have made some spaceships that I have made shields for. And I need an effect when something hits the shield. Any ideas on how it should look? I have thought on a "rings on water" effect. But more ideas would be great! Thanks!
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 1 follower
- 1 reply
- 296 views
ive been having some trouble adding control points to a line lately sometimes it works just fine, but sometimes i just cant select it, or add to it why is this?
Last reply by zandoriastudios, -
- 1 follower
- 0 replies
- 323 views
No matter which blending mode I choose, I don't see anything happen between actions. I just get a hard cut from one to the other. I tried overlapping the actions and then I had no actions at all. I had to delete all actions and start over. To me blending means to transition from action to the other, that probably not correct. None the less, I don't see any transition from one action to the other even when "Transistion to next action" is selected. Any insights?
Last reply by Mind's Clay, -
- 1 follower
- 6 replies
- 616 views
Greetings; I hope someone here can give me some advice. I am considering purchasing animation master. I am a professional clown and magician, so it would be fun for me to learn a new skill that will help me express my creative side, but I am primarilly considering buying it for my teenage kids. My son is deep into comics, not much of an artist but has lots of ideas he has trouble getting on to paper because he can't draw. My daughter just learned how to use a graphics program and loves creating new pages and posters. Both kids are comfortable with computers and drag and drop graphic software and with acid, the software I use to create music. Is animation master som…
Last reply by KenH, -
- 4 replies
- 326 views
AGGhh! Outbid with five seconds to go on AM on ebay. Looks like it will be a little longer before I get AM. OH well I will just have to save alot of milk money for awhile. lol! I will have AM one day, I just hate waiting.
Last reply by Stronghorn, -
copy error
by phatso- 1 reply
- 312 views
All of a sudden, paste keyframe mirrored doesn't work. I can paste keyframes the regular way, but when I try to do it mirrored, nothing happens. (No, it's not greyed out.) I'm using V12 (my upgrade hasn't arrived yet.) What am I doing wrong? While I'm at it - when I'm working on an action, the "play" button is greyed out. I have to click on "shortcut to...", then on a render button, then esc to get out of render. That makes the play button available. I've tried reloading the program, taking the CD out and putting it back, and everything else I can think of. Please do take pity on po' little me.
Last reply by phatso, -
- 0 replies
- 296 views
Greetings; I hope someone here can give me some advice. I am considering purchasing animation master. I am a professional clown and magician, so it would be fun for me to learn a new skill that will help me express my creative side, but I am primarilly considering buying it for my teenage kids. My son is deep into comics, not much of an artist but has lots of ideas he has trouble getting on to paper because he can't draw. My daughter just learned how to use a graphics program and loves creating new pages and posters. Both kids are comfortable with computers and drag and drop graphic software and with acid, the software I use to create music. Is animation master som…
Last reply by jedlie, -
- 1 follower
- 13 replies
- 809 views
Hi - I have no idea what I am doing, but the fire tutorial and a couple hours of playing around got me to the point of having the jet engine fire for my fan character I'm working on. It didn't come out half bad, but and suggestions to make it better would be more than welcome. http://www.flashanimationwebsitedesign.com...urningFan3.html My question is- I have a choreograph scene that I put my character in and also the object "smoke" which has the "fireMaterial" dropped on it. That is what I rendered 5 seconds of at the above link. I used the "smoke.mdl" and images for the sprites that goes along with the fire tutorial. The idea is to have the characte…
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 9 replies
- 507 views
im not new to animation master. just bones. im not very good at applying bones or manipulating them once there in. any tips?
Last reply by no_wang_involved, -
- 9 replies
- 859 views
I was wondering if anyone one would be interested in me making a tutorial. I don't claim to know all the ins and outs of AM but I have learned a lot working full time for the past 2 1/2 years. I mainly am a modeler, so I could do some tutorials showing how I built some things. I was thinking about some exercises for beginners, then move to more specific items like cars or buildings. So anyone interested? They would be free for all. Hopefully I could post them on the forums.
Last reply by Stronghorn, -
- 0 replies
- 288 views
hey, what did i did wrong with this one? rabbit seems like hes on a hurry! walk.mov
Last reply by adrian_ruvalcaba, -
- 6 replies
- 476 views
I have been toying around with a number of programs, recently I purchased a program called iclone studio. Do any of you know if AM is along the same line of program, well assuming you might know what iclone studio is. Anyway, it seems that it might have been wiser if I had found the program, AM first. Right now, it is not within my budget to purchase AM. But I intend to someday. I will keep exploring the forums and learning what I can. Thanks for aany advice in advance. Have a good day.
Last reply by KenH, -
- 6 replies
- 384 views
Hello guys... I have a basic question, so I thought it would be best to post it here. I want to combine live-action with a CG-character. The CG-Character is a simple one like Thom from the cd... (a bit more complex so, but doesnt matter...) The character is connected to a bunch of keys (key fob). A real person will throw the bunch of keys into the air and fetch it again, etc. There will be some detail-shots of the keys and the key fob. Now my question, What would you do: - Would you try to use a real key fob and key it away? After that, use the video as a rotoscope and add the 3d-character above? (I have a key fob which I painted violett/pink […
Last reply by itsjustme, -
- 1 reply
- 202 views
When you create an "object" (character) and you create a chor and drop the character in it gives you a "shortcut to object" under the chor section. When I click on the "+" to expand the sub options of the character in the chor section all I am getting is "model bone" and "user properties". I am looking for everything else (the groups of splines that make up the character". Is there a setting that I need to set to allow me to see these - or is it just something I am not getting? Thanks - Eric
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 4 replies
- 467 views
Are there any good tutorials that will help me learn to animate??? (Besides the ones in TAO:AM) What confuses me the most is the keyframes!! I do not understand them at all. For instance, how would you make something move really slow, then, make that object suddenly move fast. Everytime I ask this question, a person always mentions that it depends on the timing. Is this true? How do you even set the timing?
Last reply by phatso, -
- 2 replies
- 279 views
Ok....I'm heading out of town wed, and will be bringing my laptop to work on this program on the plane. My question is, if I create an action for a character (say the penguin mdl), can I then MOVE that action file I created to my desktop and apply the action to the same model, and it will work? In other words, create it on my laptop, then transfer it to my desktop when I get back. Steven
Last reply by Steven547, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 497 views
hi, i want to light up, a square patch, i know how to make a light bone, and i know how to make a klieg light, but i need the whole suare patch to light up without anything els around it lit up, i can light up the patch with the klieg light but it looks like a spot light is on it. i also know i can make the whole patch glow, but i dont want it to glow, i just want the square patch to be lit, can any one help? thx paul
Last reply by zandoriastudios, -
- 11 replies
- 804 views
Hello. I'm having trouble with the basic movement of my character. What I'm looking to do (and this is just me practicing), is have a character kick with his one leg, bring it down, then kick with the other. (This applies to arms as well.). However, after I create the movement with his one leg and begin the other, the 2nd leg begins to move at the very BEGINNING of the entire animated sequence (during playback) instead of AFTER the 1st leg movement. Any help? Suggestions? Thanks. Steven
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 313 views
Hello - The character I am creating for a client is a fan (burning fan) that is going to fly around with a jet pack on it's base. and I am having trouble w/ the Smooth Skinning. I want him to be able to bend left, right, back, forward, side to side, etc and have the shaft of the fan look the exact same throughout the movement. As you can see from the 15 second test animation of all the movement I did at the link below the smooth skinning attempt I did was pretty bad. http://www.flashanimationwebsitedesign.com...burningFan.html When you click on a bone and choose new SmartSkin it bends the bone at a 90 degree angle are you supposed to then fix the mesh at that…
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 7 replies
- 567 views
I am trying to use sprites to render a fire effect. I have some fire animations for the sprites. Is there a way to make them partly transparent with an alpha channel? I have an alpha channel for them but i cant figure how to load that into the sprite system. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 3 replies
- 257 views
I rendered out a shaded wireframe AVI of my chroegraphy - a landspeeder driving round a crater. Everything looked OK so I set it to work on a final, multipass version as a series of TGAs (for the alpha - the crater is "live action") and went to bed. Just before the halfway mark, for three frames, there is a big jitter in the placement of the vehicle and its transparency. I think that it's something to do with the rotation around Y passing the 360 degree mark, and over the four passes it's coming out as a different position. I don't know why it should flash about the frame so wildly, though. There are no keyframes at that point. I've attached a render of four sec…
Last reply by Gorf, -
- 3 replies
- 246 views
OK...i've finally moved to California, so now I have time to concentrate on this program. I want to upload my first animations "Knight Pitch" file. But this forum says i'm not allowed to upload "this type of file". It's an "AVI". What do I have to do to upload this? Steven update: think this works.....It's a black background I think because of the "low" rendering. KnightPitchMOV.mov
Last reply by Dhar, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 432 views
What is the best way to start or Plan an animation short? Would I get the backgrounds, props and etc. set up first? Or do the animation first and add the other stuff later? Also is it better to do a shot by shot animation and render it all together later? Which Programs (I.E. Photoshop Vegas, Illustrator) are best for this type of animating? I know Lots of questions, and probably 10 times as many answers, but I need a little suggestive help to find the best way for me to get an organized approach to starting and completing an animation. Any tuts out there would be helpful too. Thanx
Last reply by Wolf, -
- 2 replies
- 323 views
Hi - I created a character and dropped him into a choreography scene - it added a large bone that is making it hard to work with because it is so large. Here is a pic Is there a way to hide this bone and why did it add the bone in the first place when I put him in the scene? Thanks - Eric
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 3 replies
- 253 views
Hi - I set up several poses for a character to practice pose sliders. I have a bend left, right, forward and back- which I all have set to "0" on the pose sliders. I started a new action and it puts the character in the screen, but has him bent forward, which is one of the pose sliders, but is shouldn't be doing that. Anyone know what I did wrong? Thanks - Eric
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 618 views
Thank you for looking. I'm just about ready to purchase for first time. Can I import an image, weather it be a digital camera image, paint program image, etc.... and use this to either "trace" or use as a guideline for making my image in AM? Again and thank you. Just a suggestion, a "Pre Sales" forum may be useful. Tom
Last reply by dwdmguy, -
- 1 reply
- 167 views
Hi - I am playing around w/ one of the characters "Eddie" to see how the skeletal structure is set up and I am not seeing the bones for his eyes, I am guessing they are turned off - where is the setting to see all the bones of a character? Thanks - Eric
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 3 replies
- 266 views
Hi again - When you have 2 sentences for example the KeeKat tutorial: "I have a secret. Can you keep a secret" Between the two sentences there is a pause, but my characters mouth is slowing starting to open during the pause. How do I keep his mouth completely shut until the second sentence starts "Can you keep a secret"?
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 2 replies
- 230 views
Hi - I created a character and created all the 9 mouth alphabet positions for the character as pose sliders and named them appropriately. I created a new action and dropped in "secret" audio clip from KeeKat Tutorial. I made a new dope sheet for it and it automatically filled in everything. The problem is his mouth isn't moving, but everything is set up and working fine - when I scroll over the audio all the pose sliders are moving back and forth as they should - just no mouth movement. I tested it w/ KeeKat and it worked fine, so the issue is something I did with this model. Any ideas what I might be doing wrong? Thanks - Eric
Last reply by flashawd,