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A:M Forum Rules
GENERAL FORUM GUIDELINES
The A:M Forum is for technical support and the sharing of tips and ideas between users/prospective users of Hash software. It is moderated constantly by technical support representatives.
DO'S!
-Ask questions about the software.
-Assist other users... everyone was new at this once.
-Inform people of your version/platform when asking for help.
-Share resources; tutorials, models, textures, tips and techniques (link to useful websites).
-Post links to your work, or where your art is being used online (on websites, in games, toons', etc.)
-Search the A:M Forum and FAQ. The question you are about to ask may have already been answered.
-Organize and inform others about user groups, IRC chats, image and animation contests, job opportunities, etc.
-Discuss what you are working on and let everyone know about magazine reviews and articles that relate to your projects.
DON'TS!
-Do Not be rude or disrespectful or mean to other forum members in any way. Personal attacks will be removed.
-Do Not post bug/crash reports to the list (send bug/crash reports to http://www.hash.com/reports.
-Do Not complain about forum content. Complaints or suggestions can be sent directly to hash@hash.com
-Do Not reprimand other forum members for violating forum rules, that's the moderators job, which (unless you are a moderator) you are not.
-No complaining or whining on the forum or distribution of misinformation.
-No flames of any kind.
-No Off Topic posts. (Posts in the Off Topics section should be related to A:M in some form or fashion or benefit the A:M community as a whole).
-No soliciting of any kind without prior approval.
-No threads or comparisons related to other 3D Applications.
-No "Wish list" or feature requests, they should be sent to www.hash.com/reports for categorizing and prioritization (User requests define the future development of the software).
-No "me too!" posts
-No discussion of Hash Internal Affairs (finances, advertising, PR.)
-No posting of private email to the forum unless permission of the author is granted. (Private correspondence should remain private)
-No very general questions like: "how do I make a good 3D model" make your questions as complete and concise as possible.
If you have questions as to whether it's appropriate, send it to: support@hash.com, We'll be happy to let you know whether it is, or is not appropriate.
User Led Forum Considerations
Firstly and foremostly, please remember this is Martin Hash's forum and that it is every A:M User's primary resource for information about A:M. In order to remain relevant we need everyone's continuing support and interest.
Secondly, understand there is a distinction between A:M (the program) and the A:M forum. There are some topics and issues that are outside the scope of this forum and most can be deduced by reading through the forum guidelines. These include such things as Hash Inc internal policies, business practices, trade secrets, and specific plans for the future not yet publicly released. Each of these would be fascinating topics of their own but are better reserved for private communications with a representative of Hash Inc.
Related to the second, is purchasing, customer service and other areas outside the purview of the common user who may have no interest in such things; subjects relating to money exchanging hands are beyond the scope of the A:M Forum and often can lead to conflicts of interest between users and/or Hash Inc. (If Hash Inc cuts you a deal on volume purchasing it's really no one else's business). Likewise, individual complaints about a product or service are best remedied by going direct with Hash Inc representatives empowered to make decisions. Please allow them them the time necessary to resolve your specific issue and consider the cost of customized solutions.
This last area is likely the source of much confusion because many see the A:M Forum as the official outlet for Hash Inc... and it is. But the forum is not designed for conducting business and private matters best resolved by going to Hash Inc directly. Similarly, bug reports are best resolved by entering them directly into the A:M Reporting system.
Many problems can be easily addressed at the user level just by asking fellow users in the forum. If someone at Hash Inc suggests the forum as a source, it is very likely a problem can be easily resolved. For tougher issues there is even more reason to take the issue directly to the source... you don't want the issue discussed... you want it resolved quickly.
Finally, remember that we want to pass this forum on to future moderators and generations of A:M Users in the absolute best condition possible. A:M is just that good a program and is worthy of our consideration.
Thanks for making the A:M Forum a great community.
4,155 topics in this forum
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- 0 replies
- 300 views
I try to put two actions one after the other. This is just a two different simple walk cycles. why is that when it jumps to the second action the shoulders turn backwards?
Last reply by seduar, -
- 3 replies
- 426 views
Special animation tool "Paste Mirrored": I copied keyframes then paste mirrored at all the appropriate frames, then, at the end, I pasted the first keyframe. Problem is, there are no frames past 00:00:15, but the end frame should be 00:01:10. I got his little eyes bouncing around, his ears wiggling and his tail moving in such a way that'll drive all the little girl rabbits nuts, but I think I'm being shortchanged on my frames; I should have more. But then, that's what she said.
Last reply by phatso, -
- 1 reply
- 307 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, -
- 19 replies
- 1.3k views
Hi folks, looking for some opinions on rigging... I'm reaching the point where I'm needing to rig my character. It's a little daunting. Okay, it's a LOT daunting. :-) I don't really know what all my options are, but from what I've been able to see there's: the 2001 rig, the Squetch rig or create a custom one. I'm on a Mac and running Tiger, so The Setup Machine isn't an option for me. I've been messing with the 2001 rig (after doing the boneless thom tute) and it goes okay until I start getting to parts that deviate too much from the default rig or go past the tutorial (like finger bones). Not understanding how all of the various hidden bones work, I'm…
Last reply by largento, -
- 4 replies
- 354 views
Hi! I'm looking to create a field of grass with the "Flocking" technique in A:M. I have created a very simple "blade of grass" with two bones that will allow it to sway. I've followed the instructions on how to create a flock (using the "crowd" plug-in). My "population" setting is at "20," which is the default, but when I drop my blade of grass on the flcoking manipulator I create, only two (2) blades of grass show up. I'd like to populate my scene with more than 20 blades, so how can I populate the flock? It doesn't seem to make sense that the program isn't filling the scene with the default 20, and only populating with two. Any help would be much app…
Last reply by clonewar12345, -
- 3 replies
- 486 views
i have a question about the simcloth material effect, what, exactly, does it do? what is its purpose? how do i do it? i'd like to know thx
Last reply by clonewar12345, -
Im most likley going to be getting A:M at the end of next week!
Last reply by clonewar12345, -
- 0 replies
- 297 views
I was looking around for different sites for Motion capture data in the BVH format. This is a good site: http://www.bvhfiles.com/ If anyone else can find a good site than post it in this thread. Cheers!
Last reply by clonewar12345, -
- 5 replies
- 373 views
I've been gone from AM for a while, but I intend to come back with a vengeance! Trouble is that I'm not ready to upgrade at this time. I see a lot of useful files out there, but they don't seem to want to cooperate with me. I have version 8.5f and it doesn't want to load any later mdl versions. I seem to remember that in the past I could simply open the model file as a text file and switch the version number to 8.5 and it would work (granted all the "new" features would produce errors and be automatically deleted). However, this doesn't seem to be working for me anymore. Any suggestions? ((edit: Vengeance and a spellchecker!))
Last reply by Bruce Del Porte, -
- 6 replies
- 704 views
When I try to add an AVI file either as a new layer or rotoscope, I get this error: Exception # 019 in the "AVI" image to plugin. This happens with most of the AVIs I happen to have available on my computer or create with my other software ( Sony Vegas Movie Studio). A few I tried from another source also wouldn't work because they are 32-bit. I don't think the ones getting the error above are 32 bit, so what's the problem? I've also tried adding MOV files, also created in Movie Studio, and get the error: Invalid image file Unsopported file type, or image plugin missing. I know I'm probably missing some simple step, but don't know where t…
Last reply by frosteternal, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 374 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, -
- 5 replies
- 746 views
I´m working in a project for my school, and I am doing a short animation with an anime style, I was doing some testin with Toon render but i cant find the anime option to get the right effect, where can I find it? Im workin on version 10.5 any other tips about anime style are very welcomed ^.^ thankyou~
Last reply by Logrus, -
- 8 replies
- 505 views
Hi everyone, I'm new here and to animation master. (and I'm using the most recent version in case anyone needs to know) I'm making an animated text logo and modeling the text after a design created by another person in adobe illustrator. So here's the deal: the font used in the logo is Minion Pro. I have this font on my computer and thought I would save some time by just using the font wizard to model the letters. The only problem is the font doesn't appear as an option under the wizard. I have nearly every other font, but not minion and I also noticed it doesn't show myriad even though I have it too. Can anyone help me out with this? Thanks!
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 6 replies
- 630 views
Whoa! So, I'm in the midst of doing the piston tutorial. Everything is going along swimmingly. The tutorial works. I can make a piston go up and down while the crankshaft turns. Exactly as advertised. Well, except for those inbetween keyframes where you have to make more keyframes to get the "shaft" bone to line up correctly with the crankshaft pin... Then it's "close enough," but it really isn't. Somewhere (early on) in the tute is mentioned the fact that we're going to "brute force" this animation without relationships, etc. Great, I can handle that, as long as it works. But, it really doesn't. Well, not accurately enough. It will look fine as it's m…
Last reply by R Reynolds, -
- 0 replies
- 226 views
im having some trouble with my smartskin whenever i rig the bones to move with smartskin one bone rotates properly, but the otherone rotates in reverse u see i was having some trouble with the knees of my character whenever i bent the knees, they would flatten. didn't seem to matter how i rigged the legs, or how i fought with the cp weights but i recently came across something, creating another bone specifically for helping to control the form/position of the knees it seemed to work, but when i tried to use smartskin on the knee bones, the first knee smartskinned always bends properly the second knee bends backwards any ideas? maybe i c…
Last reply by eptigo, -
- 3 replies
- 444 views
Okay so in A:M I am building a Gundam (giant Robot with a big gun) and I want to know what a good way to make shiny, sort of glossy metal and I don't know how. Please help!!!!
Last reply by the_black_mage, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 562 views
Hi all, While I try to solve my preoccupations with respect to the modeled one in A: M, turns out strange not to find an option to import OBJ files in a program so big like this. Can anybody tell me how can I do it? Thank you very much!
Last reply by animar3d, -
- 1 follower
- 25 replies
- 1.8k views
I'm still not clear on exporting OpenEXR from A:M for use with other vfx programs. Any explanations would be helpful. (As in how to do it properly, hehehe).I'm currently playing around with Fusion5.1 learning edition (free). If I can get my head wrapped around this, A:M could be integrated into a production pipeline quite easily. sorry for the nube question.
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 6 replies
- 368 views
Hello, there is a way to activate or deactivate certain materials to render it or not in the same way you can activate or deactivate any object visibility clicking in his Proyect Workspace's eye or something similar? I have some time consuming materials that I'd like deactivate until the last final render but I can't find the way, althought I think it must be there (I hope) ...THANK YOU!
Last reply by Ganthofer, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 884 views
Hello, I teach high school multimedia and my class and I are working through the tutorials in "The Art of Animation Master". I have not used 3D software for the past 5 years, however I did teach 3D Studio Max for 6 years. So far, we have finished exercises 1-5 and now we are starting on The Door is Stuck. The videos are very helpful and we are doing OK with the tutorials, but it seems we are getting into some very detailed concepts without a working knowledge of the basics. I think we need to go back over some basics before we continue. My question is this - What other training materials do you recommend that will cover the basics? I feel like these tutor…
Last reply by ssappington, -
- 4 replies
- 700 views
My post got deleted because I suggested new fun simple tutorials?
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 2 replies
- 369 views
Good morning, After extruding an eyebrow to give it depth and increased girth, how do you apply the same surface to the newly added control points and splines? It renders out as plain white. Thank you. Larry
Last reply by Paul Forwood, -
- 2 replies
- 375 views
Quick question: I just purchased the 2007 upgrade and downloaded the update (v. 13.0r). When I load up my program, it shows the OZ screen, but when I view the "about A:M" to verify that the correct update has been applied, it says "A:M 2006 13.0r". Is this correct or should it say "A:M 2007" ? Thanks.
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 2 replies
- 467 views
The libraries are on the program CD (OZ), not on the HDD I can't drag and drop a primitive from the library panel to the modeling window. I can't drag and drop a primitive from the Library panel to the PWS model that is open, or to any other (new) slot in the PWS. I CAN import a primitive to a new model window. But drag and drop would be easier. What am I doing wrong? Thanks,
Last reply by oakchas, -
- 3 replies
- 393 views
I am working on a scene and would like to use fog... Could someone point me in the right direction?
Last reply by goodguy20k, -
- 6 replies
- 578 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, -
- 1 follower
- 17 replies
- 1.2k views
Ok, Rodney's topic brought up something I've been scratching my head about for a while now. I'm rendering out displacement maps for footprints. The displacement maps render fine, but now come the next step. I need to combine the frames so the footprints "add up". I'll try to say this simple and clearly. So, you have the first frame: ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- No footprints. Second frame: ---------------- ---x------------ ---------------- First foot print. Third frame: ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- Nothing. Forth frame (and so on): ---------------- ------x…
Last reply by Ganthofer, -
- 3 replies
- 391 views
I have a little problem with the way i make things in A:M particularly around the face and head. I have trouble getting splines to meet so there don't appear to be "creases" . Like when working progressively from around the eyes to the rest of the face creases will apear an i have a hard time not getting them. it must be i have a bad work flow. Does anyone have any hints or tricks they use to get everything to come together right.
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 3 replies
- 336 views
Well dear forum, Thanks for all the positive input. Things were moving along smoothly until today when a new issue cropped up. Clicking on the arrow plus tool to begin drawing the eyebrows in the model window, I've come across some problem with the inability to create positioning of control points. When I click on a blink space to create the first point and so forth, the point, I guess the control point appears but now where I'm clicking so I have no control over it. Finally, when the "S" curve is finalized and I've clicked on the 'escape' tab to finalize the line, I can't selective individual control points even when hold down the shift key. I hope I'm clear in…
Last reply by itsjustme, -
- 2 replies
- 331 views
I have worked with AM about a year and a half now... Anyaways I'm having problems trying to make a gun fire. I've been trying to use a small sprite emitter, but for the life of me I can't get it to work right. I've been working with the flames.tga that comes with AM. What I am struggling with is that I need the sprite system to be below the camera in one frame and appear in front of the gun instantly to make it appear to shoot. However every time I do this a long fire trail follows it. Is there any way to force the images to stay attached to the emitter while the emmiter is moving? Please Help! I've had this problem for so long!
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 1 reply
- 289 views
I am hoping someone here can lend me a hand. I am using v.12 and trying to animate streak emitter properties. According to the info I have, you need to create an Action, and then just drag the Emitter Properties into the action. Well, that doesnt work. As soon as you drag the Emitter properties onto the action window, my cursor turns into that circle with a slash through it. Can someone please help me out and let me know how this is done??? THANKS
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 16 replies
- 1.2k views
First of all I just want to say hello, second I would like to apologise for the length of this post, I am a new AM user and have had the software for a month now, I find it to be a great piece of 3D software, however I have encountered a few problems along the way and would like to ask for some advice on a few issues. Thank you in advance for any help given. I am using HASH AM 2007 OZ CD V13r on a Compaq Presario SR1937uk, Pentium D 3.2ghz, 2gb ram, GeForce 7600 GT, Windows XP Home ed SP2 1.Matterials as bump maps: When I use materials as a bump map, the bump map only renders if I use Multi-Pass, if I render without Multi-pass the bump simply is…
Last reply by the_black_mage, -
- 1 follower
- 9 replies
- 603 views
Hello, I'm a new but old member of AM. Used it about 7-8 years ago and slowly drifted towards the polygonal programs on the Mac. I've decided after seeing the newest program and repurchase that my characters, the SunPower Kidz®, would be best served with Hash. It's an all in one inclusive program that is obviously very user friendly and would allow to achieve an ultimate goals in creating interactive DVD's for children based upon my characters and their tale. When I open a new project, and create a simple spline, then lathe, it is titled 'untitled' but when I try to 'grab' it with my arrow cursor, only 3/4's of the figure is chosen, that is red splines turn t…
Last reply by sunpowerkidz, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 561 views
Hi all, I am thinking about buying AM. Love what I see so far. I have been using POSER and from the looks of things AM is much faster and better at everything. Hand down! I am most interested in taking client's faces and sticking them in Caricature 3D commericals. Here is an example. http://www.horsepowerads.com/ In Poser there is a feature that allows you to take a front photo and side photo and the program will map them into a new face for your model. Is there a feature like that in AM? Thanks for the help! GREAT forum too! -TV
Last reply by caltim, -
- 4 replies
- 596 views
What does Key Bone, Key Branch and Key Model do? I know one of the buttons is used in the doors stuck exercise. But what does each button actually do? Hmmmm....
Last reply by howboring, -
- 7 replies
- 634 views
Search was futile. I know, I'm thinking in CAD instead of A:M (for shame)... But is there a way to put a "real" hole in a sphere or a (perpendicular to the length of the) cylinder? Probably not an easy thing. Of course, beveling such a hole in a CAD program would be no joy either. As an example, the wrist pin hole in a piston. I realise that A:M lets me simply stick the pin through the cylinder at right angles. But no beveling of the hole is possible except with a bump or displacement map. And that really doesn't leave me with a hole, just a rod through a sphere or a cylinder. Must learn to think A:M again. (Looks like, not is, nor does it…
Last reply by oakchas, -
- 1 follower
- 9 replies
- 534 views
Heres a newbie question. I'm looking for a simple way to combine sequences of targa images into a single image in A:M. I realize I can create something manually but that is problematic especially when the variables change (say I need to combine 50 sequential images the next time, 20 the next... whatever). I thought maybe a subframe technique might work but I'm not sure exactly how to do that with images. Each image needs to be full strength... not blurred. The image sequence have characters/objects isolated by alpha channels. Each image in the sequence is unique. This must be really easy because I can't think of how to do it. Did I overlook some o…
Last reply by the_black_mage, -
- 3 replies
- 443 views
Hey there, I'm having a bit of trouble getting a sound "boing.wav" (from A:M Yeti CD Sound Library in cartoon folder) to play while scrubbing &/or pressing the play button. I have dragged and dropped into sound folder then dragged and dropped into a characters' choreography action folder in the choreography folder; mute is off, volume is 100% the sound starts a few seconds into the animation project but no sound......so......what could be wrong? An interesting thing though, in the tools>options>sounds, this setting does not see the sound and says 'No sound object loaded', Iwould have thought the "boing.wav" from the library would change that and allow…
Last reply by chris11jed, -
- 5 replies
- 479 views
I took time out from the exercises to read the help files start to finish, and now that I'm marginally less confused than before I restarted the exercises. What, I wonder, is this huge circular geometric thing that overlays the Choreography window called a Rim? I moved it here, then there, then did some fairly dramatic moves with it and it seems not to affect a thing. I suspect it's a lighting thing but just how and where the two are connected escapes me. Could some kind soul spend a few words and enlighten me?
Last reply by maskoon, -
- 7 replies
- 696 views
The extras DVD: Tutorials Folder Piston Folder Piston.zip I have extracted the Piston.zip file to it's own folder on my hard drive. I have opened Piston Tutorial/Piston Tutorial.html I get the active x popup on my browser page, I click to allow (use this control) I get the "play bar" for the tute... nothing more. I need to make a working piston. I'm sad. I can't see how to do it. I want a make piston button. Uh... Help? Charlie
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 5 replies
- 447 views
Hi Splinesmen! I think this must be a rather simple question. Im using AM 13r on Windows XP. I just want an object to follow a path#1 (I know of Ease and Enforcement) - so this works great. At the end of path #1 my object has to do some "strange" movement, where a path is not apropiate. So I append a normal choreo action. Now my object "lands" somewere - and now following a different, second path (lets say path#2) would be the easiest for me. But I've no success in doing the last step. A added the second path. I set a path constraint on object with path#2 as target. But now matter how I edit Ease & Enforcement: MY object does NOT move along…
Last reply by derwok, -
- 1 follower
- 3 replies
- 599 views
Greetings My interests and aspirations range from photorealistic to animation which is aimed to look like period animation . I produce independant film features . I love the spirit of the Hash Team .!! I met Martin and many of his associated at Siggraph . They are very commited to helping individual artist animators to tell a story ! I just recieved and loaded AM 2007 .i am at the start of a new period in my amination training and I would like to be rgarded as a complete NEWBIE!!! .It appears that much of the resource referred to is online and unlocked by use of the extras disk is that correct ? You have a refrence in the Am Manual to" t…
Last reply by Leo73, -
http://amfilms.hash.com/ wont load for me, says page cannot be displayed, is this only on my end?
Last reply by Mr. C, -
- 2 replies
- 359 views
I have a scene that I am trying to render. I have the background property of the camera set to the desired color. When I render the view through the view port using Render Mode (Q), the background color renders in. When I do a Render to File, the background fails to render and all I get is a black background color. Any idea what is going on? Thanks.
Last reply by bneacetp, -
- 2 followers
- 3 replies
- 474 views
When I am in shaded mode my decals look good. Howeaver when i render the lose their clarity. They go from looking sharp and defined to having a smooth look. I realize this might be good for some images but i am annoyed by it. Is there any way to set the sharpness for the render
Last reply by clonewar12345, -
- 1 follower
- 10 replies
- 897 views
Hi folks - I'm on version 13 - Love the Darktree textures, but I'll be darned if I can get them to show up in my library. I'm able to create additional libraries and modify existing texture libraries. Any ideas? Thanks, Zola
Last reply by zandoriastudios, -
That AM should have a 7-14 day trial version. just a thought.
Last reply by Mr. C, -
I'm gonna have a meeting with the bigwigs of my school monday. Very excitied. I think i've got AM sold, alot of the kids are very excitied also (they saw Noah's BC animation) The one concern they have is how to keep kids from modeling inapropriat stuff. I guess the teachers will just have to pay attention. anyways, i'm syked. I can't wait, cause AM looks so awsome. Hell, I think they may go for 15 copies instead of 10. And the great part is so i can lead the course in the summer they gonna give me the boxed copy! Huzza!
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 15 replies
- 1.1k views
Just saying thank you to rodney for all the helpful advice he has given me on the boards and through PM. And thank you to any others who have answerd my noobish qustions and putting up wit me horribl' gramma und my das 'orrible speeling
Last reply by the_black_mage, -
- 2 replies
- 341 views
I've just run into a problem when I saved a model file, opened it in a project and animated it. I need to show the project file to somebody and if I just send the .prj file then the model will be lost. As much as I could just also send them the model file, is there a way I can convert the hard disk file for it into a regular model/rigged and animated? I can copy/paste the modeled object into a new model window and that will only take care of the modeling. It wouldn't be rigged or animated. Hope this makes any sense.
Last reply by Distress,