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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.
4,160 topics in this forum
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- 1 reply
- 471 views
i would like to know if there is a way to use 2 actions with one model in the same choreography?
Last reply by KenH, -
ive heard people refer to "hooks", what is a hook? how do you make one?
Last reply by nimblepix, -
- 4 replies
- 601 views
a place were users can upload models for free or for sale for other A:M users?
Last reply by Mr. C, -
- 4 replies
- 519 views
before I could make somthing like.... http://amfilms.hash.com/search/Entry.php?entry=1089 .... I learn fairly fast but I don't want to spend 2 years learning A:M befor I could pull somthing like that off...
Last reply by Mr. C, -
- 1 reply
- 522 views
Hello! I'd like some advice on how to achieve these two lighting effects: 1) I'd like to create an effect that projects light as if it's being passed through a "bar" filter (or like the bars of a window). Example below, with the "light bars" across the subjects' eyes: 2) I'd like an effect of light showing though clouds or fog, so that you can see the rays. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks! T
Last reply by Bruce Del Porte, -
- 10 replies
- 725 views
well, I like what I see, and the price you just can't seem to beat. Ive read alot of reviews, some really positive, some not so much. My biggest concern is that people are saying that it is unstable. Has that been fixed in the lastest versions? I'm 15 and I used to do animation in power point just for fun. I tryd maya at a friends but it was really hard to use and WAY out of my price range. Also, is there a return policy if the cd is defunct? thank you.
Last reply by the_black_mage, -
- 1 reply
- 530 views
am in the mood to upgrade from my Mac Sawtooth to a new computer for video & animation. my Mac is still great for video, but 512 MB Video Cards are more affordable & easily obtainable (as with most hardware/software) with PC's. MacPro's are tempting, but again, which platform is more pliable with the demands of animation?
Last reply by martin, -
- 8 replies
- 820 views
Is A:M good for game modeling/animation?
Last reply by Paul Forwood, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 1.1k 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, -
- 1 follower
- 9 replies
- 980 views
I don't know how to search for this but is it possible to create an animation in which there is an animated person filmed with a camera? Or maybe the oposite: an animated character in an animated real world. I saw a tutorial on having a model walking on a real road but the road wasn't animated. The background would have to be animated. If it is possible, could some1 point me a tutorial? thanks
Last reply by tido, -
- 1 reply
- 491 views
Hey everyone, I am in V.11. In choreography I want to make a part of a model go transparent from one frame to the next. Is there a way to do this. I have the geometry as a group within the model. I can make it go transparent by turning the percentage of that group up, but it won't key. THE funny thing is that if I select the whole model, it will key the transparency level. But I only want a group of the geometry to go transparent. ANY SUGGESTIONS as to how I can do this? Thanks so much!!
Last reply by Luuk Steitner, -
- 9 replies
- 749 views
I have a face model that I am trying to decal, and I am a little confused about how AM implements this feature. It's not quite like UV mapping in LW or Maya, and it's also quite different from the prior version of AM I was using in the past. I built a head model that I am trying to get a reference for texturing. (1) Can I only flatten a model in a choreography window, and in muscle mode? (2) When I flatten the model, how do I apply a decal to it? I can't seem to do this in the choreography mode. (this after I spent almost an hour figuring out how to get the axial orientation correct. (3) Assuming you tell me how to apply a decal to a flattened model, how do I '…
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 855 views
Hi! I dont know if this is the right forum to post in. I'm curently modeling a model of a character in A:M and it's beginnig to become a large mesh (loads of splines, cps etc...) The more i model the lower fps i get and this slows down the program, so i was hoping that someone can help me. Do i ned more ram? Or a better video card? My laptop has 512mb of ram with a 64mb video/3d card, is it possible to get better speed or fps if i'd upgrade to 1Gig of ram? Or do i have to have a better video card? Elias
Last reply by Muff, -
- 11 replies
- 910 views
Hi Spline-Wrestlers, As I just got my 2007 subscription I was very happy about also finding the "AM Extras DVD ROM" in my package! Thanks to all the people who donated all that stuff and to the people who compiled it into this nice DVD. Maybe a typical "newbe" question... But now I wonder what I am allowed to do with all that fantastic material - especially the models & materials. I could not find any licence file or something like that. I think users would need some clarification here...? - What exactly means "donated" (as stated on the label)? Public domain? - Or is it all for my personal study and learning, only? If so: this should be stated …
Last reply by jon, -
- 5 replies
- 717 views
Can someone tell me how do I Load a BVH file into A. M. I BVh files I Know there is BVH files that are reuseable. And since I just started to use this program I have not be able to import a BVH file to see if it works with a 3D Character. IF Somebuddy can explain a little bit how to do it I woud apreciate it.
Last reply by seduar, -
- 2 replies
- 560 views
I UNDERSTAND THE DIFERENCE IN MAKING KEYFRAMES IN "FRAMES ELAPSED TO 0" AND " SMPTE" MODES... IM JUST WONDERING WHAT SMPTE STANDS FOR? REGARDS!!! DANIEL!
Last reply by Daniel Servolo, -
- 1 reply
- 347 views
So I'm working on a model for the image contest and for no reason, group connecting (the / key) quits working. Then I create a group and the color is added to the whole model, not just the group I've selected. Then I delete all my groups, and try selecting the whole model, which doesn't select half the points. I lasso them in, and try copy and pasting into a new model window, and I only get half of them pasted. Basically, this model is acting all funky, and I can't understand why. I tried opening some other models, and everything works perfectly on them. I've never had stuff like this happen before, what am I doing wrong? Here's the model so far, if someone els…
Last reply by Joe Gamblin, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 722 views
Hi there, I am rendering a scene for an animation, and am having a rectangular artifact appear in the final image. The animation is being rendered out at a multipass of 16 (4 x 4). The artifact does not appear until the 12th pass of the image. I am using A:M 13.0n on Windows XP Pro SP2. I have an ATI Radeon 9000 Pro video card and have all the latest drivers for the card and Windows. Out of 150 images rendered, 14 of them have the artifact in the same location and same height, but vary in width. Sometimes the frames affected are sequential, other times they are not. For instance, the frames affected are 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 then skips to 27, 28 then skip…
Last reply by C-grid, -
- 7 replies
- 696 views
HI!!!, im a new user here at this cool forum. Guess what?, i think I know the basics of AM in such a way that i can create almost any mode, any coreography and any animation...but i feel a little bit stupid for asking this question, related with modeling... HOW CAN I ALING POINTS EXACTLY TO THE Y AXIS??? HOPE U CAN HELP ME!!! REGARDS!!! SERVO!
Last reply by Daniel Servolo, -
- 18 replies
- 1.3k views
i was wondering if there was a way for mist, or steam, to leave a trail of itself in coreography mode, like someone breathing in and out on a freezing night, or smoke/steam coming out of a jet engine, or vehicle. thx
Last reply by Ravager, -
- 1 follower
- 10 replies
- 829 views
Hi, I'm new to animating and I wanted to know what was the best to do: create a bunch of actions we load in a choreography or create some actions and modify them in skeletal mode directly in the choreography to suit a particular movment. The problem I found with the second option is that, when we animate in the choreography, it also modify every following actions that we give to the model. I have another question about actions: How do we smooth the movment fron 1 action to the second one. I mean, my guy is walking and then stops to idle. How do we make the transition between walk and idle without creating a new animation between these two? thanks tido
Last reply by Muff, -
- 4 followers
- 109 replies
- 9.2k views
Each year for the past few years the New Users Forum has ran a raffle. This year there is no \'New Users\' Forum per se and the raffle is changing a little. The goals of the raffle are threefold: 1) Encourage New Users to join in the community 2) Encourage completion of the exercises in the manual (The Art of Animation:Master) 3) Get into Animation:Master! My plan is to run three raffles. You can win more than one but how likely is that? First raffle will be a $50 gift certificate at the Hash Inc online store. (My recommendation... a SIGGRAPH video!) Eligiblity requirements: - Must be a 2007 subscriber (Oz characters on the CD) - Post in…
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 7 replies
- 848 views
My Name is William F. Rogers I just got Animation Master at the 2007 CES show in La Vegas. I hope to learn this program well & tell some good story's with it. This software is much better then what I used in the old days of Animation on 486 computers with DGS software and Tips paint box. I still use my 486 computer with my 32 Bit Targa Board for medical research in my Reptile study's. I have it hooked up to my microscope now.
Last reply by nimblepix, -
- 9 replies
- 620 views
When I pull up the Dope Sheet in order to add dialogue, I type the sentence, but whenever I have the timeline up and I type my sentence the words don't show up so I can fit them in the correct spot. Why aren't my words showing. Is there something wrong with the Dope Sheet. Is there something that has to be turned on for it to work? Please I am on the tutorial where I add sound to keekat saying the secret line. I need help. Hope some one can help me.
Last reply by Ganthofer, -
- 1 follower
- 21 replies
- 1.7k views
Hello A:M community, my salutations as a new member and hopefully a new customer. I will continue my search readin thewebsite and related websites, but before or during this time I want to ask and hopefully get some answeres from experianced or begginer notices on the product and if I really should get it. I would love to start by Introducing myself, I am sirius, it is not my real name but itis rather a catchyname, I hope I shallbe spending much time here, and may I also add some of the movies or demo trailers of developement of movies I have seen here are great Now right to the point, I am working on a project for a movie/trailer introduction for a game in de…
Last reply by Sirius, -
- 5 replies
- 688 views
Hi all, I've had AM since v8.5 and have always marvelled at how easy it is to assign cps to bones, add fan bones, smartskin, etc... My question is why can't you do it the same way in a poly program (C4D, LW, etc...)? I am just curious here, trying to understand. It seems that it would be so much easier to lasso select a bunch of points in a poly program and assign it to a bone. The problem would of course be subdivisions (right?). But wouldn't it be feasible to say use the model in "isoparm" mode (less subdivision). assign the points to the bones and then subdivide after. The software would then extrapolate the extra points from subdividing with reasonable results. Jus…
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 3 replies
- 764 views
There was a previous thread on this, but I wasn't sure what version was discussed (I could have missed it). But is there a way during modeling, as I move a control point, to limit that movement (for example) ONLY to X? As I choose windows, it tends to allow movements in a plane, so I would be moving in X AND Y... But in many cases, I want to ONLY move a single vector at a time. Thanks much! John PS: The other post had mentioned using #'s 1-6 or so. I took that to mean using the various camera views, but this would still have the CP move in 2 coordinate systems (ie: X and Y, Y and Z, X and Z), yesno?
Last reply by Muff, -
- 3 replies
- 602 views
Hi, I am new at this and I am really interested in learning how to animate 3D. I have a little problem and I tought may be some of you can help. Can someone tell me how to save my animations under actions? I just made my first animation and i coul not save it to reuse it. As far I understood once you have made your animations you sould be able to reuse them. please help. Seduar...
Last reply by seduar, -
- 6 replies
- 702 views
Despite being inspired by the Tech Talks presentation on dynamic constraints, I am unable to reproduce any of the effects there with v13. Please correct me if I am missing a critical step or two: 1. I make a chain of three bones inside a simple tube of CPs. I assign the CPs to the bones. 2. I open an action with this model. 3. I translate the top bone back and forth in a couple of keyframes. 4. I return to frame 0, click on the lowest bone, and right click => new constraint => dynamic constraint 5. I still have an animation of a stiff three-bone stick moving back and forth. No swinging. Stiffness is set to 50% by default. If I try to change this value…
Last reply by mtpeak2, -
- 2 replies
- 462 views
Way back when I was in Viscom Class, and 1st learning about AM. the class went over to Lightwave 3D, and I fell in love with that app at that time. Since then I've com to realize that out of all the 3D Apps, (Bryce, XSI, TrueSpace, 3DSMax, Cinema4D, Houdini, flamingo, Anim8or, Z-Brush, Xara 3D etc..) that LW, and AM are the best, user friendly, short learning curve one out there. and I want to reteach myself about AM, since I really haven't messed with it in years now, I'm a newbie again. Hence I lent my copy of my CD with Animation Master on it to another classmate, (as classmates will do.) that (a few months later) dropped out, and we lost touch over the years. …
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 1 reply
- 461 views
This is really a non-important question, but does anyone know why they changed the interface from version 11 to version 12+? I really liked the collapsable panels and the cool Office 2003 look.
Last reply by pdaley, -
- 1 follower
- 6 replies
- 789 views
I have modeled a character, and for a scene I am animating his hand needs to appear to be on fire. So I created a material with particles, however, when I add the material to his hand and render it there seems to be a beam of random particles that are emitting from nowhere. I have included a pic illustrating what is happening as well as the specifics of my material. Can anyone tell me what is going on, and more importantly, how to stop it?? My Particle Material My crudely drawn example of the problem Any ideas as to what is going on??
Last reply by markeh, -
- 3 replies
- 448 views
well, i updated my product with all of the v14 updates and now my thing wont render. it will only render up to the 58th frame, then either hose up or suddenly quit, no pop-ups or anything. the vid is set to render to 40 seconds, it is 30 frames per second. i hope u can help, thx
Last reply by Ravager, -
- 2 followers
- 10 replies
- 1.1k views
I recently rendered an animation and I noticed 2 black pixels showing up on one of my models during the scene that keep flashing. What causes this?
Last reply by C-grid, -
- 0 replies
- 404 views
I'm making a character in v12.0w and I would like to try average normals on the face. I am looking under surface attributes but I can't see it anywhere. Any help would be appreciated. Mike
Last reply by mike logan, -
- 1 follower
- 11 replies
- 1.4k views
I need help modeling. How do they construct a 3D model from a 2D picture? Please I am really needing help on this.
Last reply by Muff, -
- 1 reply
- 328 views
you know those words just under the avatar vid/picture they say "newbie, journeyman, master, exe" some of the words look like theyve been reworded by some people, is it because they have authority to do so, they have a high enough rank or is it because im having trouble trying to do the same to mine? i hope im not confusing you. thx
Last reply by nimblepix, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 608 views
I posted a few days ago thati have been part of the forum for about 3 years know and that i never have seen where you vote for the image contest, only the results of the voting, in my post someone said check the new postes, for the voting, i still have not seen it, know i was just reading that the voting is almost over, where is it I dont want to vote because i have entered a image but i would like to check on the compitision, befor its decided by whoever decides
Last reply by Caroline, -
I need help modeling a nose, mouth and the eyes. I have no earthly idea on how to do that. Does anybody know how to model like the pictures of the Wookie, the Yeti, and Victor Navone's alien? Please somebody help. I would really appreciate it.
Last reply by itsjustme, -
- 27 replies
- 2.4k views
I need help with entering the image contest! I emailed my image to steve@hash.com are newbie's not allowed to enter the contest?????? Thank you Dion Kirfman Here is my image I didnt get to enter,
Last reply by goodguy20k, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 745 views
Even though I am not a newbie, I am having a problem. I created some pose sliders and did the poses. When I looked back, I realized that I could do what I wanted without half of them. One slider has nothing attached to it. I have tried to delete them and they are not deleting. Is there a specific technique to getting rid of these. Any help would be appreciated Leo
Last reply by Banes, -
- 14 followers
- 263 replies
- 26.1k views
Hello and Welcome to the New Users forum! Our goal here is to provide help and support for those working their way through Hash Inc's manual; The Art of Animation:Master . Animator Tony White stated in his recently published book; From Pencils to Pixels: We encourage everyone to take advantage of the resources at your disposal. Post your exericises in the TaoA:M forum. You'll learn from the experience and feedback you get. You'll have a whole lot of fun! The entire community of A:M users is here for you. They'll guide and encourage you as you explore the world of animation as only they can. Remember we are all in this learning proce…
Last reply by Gikefod, -
- 1 reply
- 331 views
I need a really indepth tutorial on sprites and stuff i have looked at others and none seem to help does anyone have one or know one or if you can just help me by telling me stuf that would be great too
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 2 followers
- 102 replies
- 6.3k views
Hey folks. I have a bit of a delima. I am making a short subject film, and the render times are a little out there for the small choreographies that I'm doing. I just spent 72 hours with my computer tied up rendering an eight second choreography. Unfortunately, it was a 75 hour render, and when it crashed at 72 hours, the avi was unuseable. It is clear to me that the most memory expensive bit in the choreography is the warehouse-brick-front and the street/sidewalk. Attached is a copy of the image. The building, street/sidewalk, and fire hydrant are the only non-moving items. The horn character and the van (on the right) both move. The character moves behind the…
Last reply by HomeSlice, -
- 0 replies
- 407 views
Just lately when i go to the AM still page it wants me to login every minute or so even though it has my name on the top of the page as login aready
Last reply by richard m peplinski, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 778 views
Is there a current feature list for AM as well as a feature list for the coming version? Also when is the new version due? I now have all the time in the world to learn AM inside and out due to now being disabled and housebound most of the time so once I get the money together I want to get into AM fully. I like the changes I see in these forums now and in particular the massive amount of help directed towards new users. Cheers Mike R
Last reply by mykyl, -
- 2 followers
- 17 replies
- 2.4k views
I'm thinking about buying Animation Master but I have no animation experience. I'm a fast learner and i'm pretty good at photoshop and things like that. I was just wondering how hard it is to learn if you have no experience. Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Chris
Last reply by Muff, -
- 2 followers
- 19 replies
- 1.6k views
I'm trying to get my fire with a flickering light - I've looked through the forum and found that if I render the fire to a tga alpha channel I could apply it as a gel to a klieg light ( ) However, I've tried various ways - the simplest is rendering a ball with the flame material as described in TaoAM Chapter 16. I get the alpha channel for the ball, but the flames do not show in the alpha channel. Am I doing something wrong, or are particles not supposed to show up in the alpha channel? I was reading this thread on Compositing Particles, and, while it is all a bit too hard for me, it does seem to imply that you can get an alpha channel from particles. …
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 2 followers
- 4 replies
- 701 views
I need to make a trafic light operational. I have the model created and all CPs in groups with materials applied. I'd like to have each of the three colors change from their "off" state to an "on" state. I think I can do this with poses, but I'm not sure how it's done.
Last reply by digitalqube, -
I'm not really new to AM (5 years) but I still find butts to be a problem modeling properly. Any pointers. Here's a screen shot to show you what I mean.
Last reply by UNGLAUBLICHUSA,
