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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.
4,141 topics in this forum
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- 2 replies
- 217 views
im making a spaceship and wanted rays of light to come out of the bottom. i made one light that i like. is it possible to copy the bone light to make multiple lights that have the same properties?
Last reply by frosteternal, -
- 6 replies
- 752 views
I have been working on making a path for my camera to follow in a choreography. I have "discovered" that when, after making the path, I move one of the control points to tweak its position, AM does not seem to realize that I've changed something and so no asterisk appears by the filename and I cannot save my project. If I do undo, then the control point moves back to where it was, so AM does realize I've moved it for purposes of undo. And if -- after I have changed a control point's position -- I then change something else, including something related to this path (like rotating the entire path), then the asterisk appears and I can save and the changed control point's …
Last reply by RoyBU, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 422 views
Hello, I'm still working out of the David Rodgers book. I set up a choreography, put in some model buildings, etc. Saved it, embedded the files. When I go to open it up.....nothing. The computer keeps asking me to find stuff. Do I have to put(or copy) all the models, decals, etc, into one project file when I make something? Thanks, Andy
Last reply by Dhar, -
- 1 follower
- 10 replies
- 441 views
Hello All, I've been trying to save an image with an Alpha channel, bring it into AM and loose the black background. I think I finally did it. I created a set of directions, so far this process has worked for me. If anyone knows of an easier method, please let me know. Andy leaf.mov Alpha_channel_directions.pdf
Last reply by rusty, -
- 7 replies
- 350 views
I think I know the answer on this one But I will ask any way and see if you guys have a quick fix. If you copy/paste a part of your model or in the case if you selected a couple of groups and lose the pivots. Is there a way to reset the pivots on a groups without redoing them. So I can use them to update material. Or in the case if you selected a couple of groups and lose the pivots.
Last reply by DJBREIT, -
- 3 replies
- 619 views
Wanted to say hi. So um... Hi. Also, I was thinking of picking up AM. It really is very impressive. I had just a question. I'm running a 1.6g antholon with 1g ram, with a geforce fx 5200. does that stack up as a decent machine to run AM, or should I look to upgrade? I understand the Minimum requirments for the system that are listed in the program info, but I was just curious what those of you who use it regularly would suggest is an ideal pc config.
Last reply by DarkLimit, -
- 1 reply
- 202 views
Hello, my name is Sergio, I would like to thank Jason for helping me to install the Animation Master on my computer, since I was having problems installling it. Thank you for the support. And I also want to introduse myself as newbie since I am new at this. I've been reading on this web page and and I think I found the right product to learn to animate 3D Characters. I can see there is people with a lot of talent here and I hope to become one too, to become an expert and start my own mini movies.
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 9 replies
- 456 views
Hey, When I model an object, there doesn't seem to be a means of seeing it's dimensions in any system...Inches, centemeters, feet...etc. The "Scale" settings in the properties panel is not adequate. Why is there no numeric system display for this??? William
Last reply by detbear, -
- 3 replies
- 343 views
Hello, I'm treating to render in Toon mode and I think I have put all the correct setting in the Rendering Options, Camera, and Model Surface Properties, so Lines are showed in renders but I have some Scale Compensation problem or something like that, cause when the camera moves near or far of the model, it seems like if the Toon line always maintain his... same width??? So when the camera is near, the lines show very "thin" and when the camera is far the line is very "thick", and... How can be possible??? Well, as I say I must be missing something cause it's simply not possible get a decent/coherent line all the time in this way, so... HELP! And thanks
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 461 views
I'm just kinda going hmmm? Why not? When you open a model from the libraries (or, if you don't have your libraries set up; from the data folder)... Why, when you alter the model in wireframe mode, are you not also altering (scaling/translating) the skeleton? Since you are not actually changing the basic geometry, except to make it taller, skinnier, and thicker here and there; I don't understand why the skeleton doesn't scale as well. I think I'm missing some important aha moment here... because it seems logical to me that both would scale/translate at the same time. hmmm? why not?
Last reply by zandoriastudios, -
- 1 follower
- 6 replies
- 526 views
this question is of the large kind; how do i plan for the size and proportion of things in this spaceless place that is 3D? what should be taken into consideration? does the intended detail in materials matter? (and by materials here referring to all things not wireframe!) if so, is it custom to, say, make another model for extreme close-ups? does the intended proportion between objects shown matter? if so, is it custom to speed up the process by, say, using postproduction? does the camera present us with certain rules, as in 'you want "macro" with distance blur, scale the model x10 for starters'? does rendering enter the equation or is that j…
Last reply by dblhelix, -
- 2 replies
- 336 views
Hi, I have used the standard Eddie character, set up an action for him, added some voice and then added a dope sheet. Adjusted the widths to sync lips with voice, everything worked fine but the lip movement is far too large for what I want - in fact it looks totally unrealistic. I went in and adjusted the percentage for each phoneme at each change in the timeline, so that action looks OK, but it will be very cumbersome if I have to do this every time I do lip syncing and I am sure there must a cleaner way around this problem. Maybe I was dreaming, but I seem to remember a slider that could be used to change the range for an action - as I said maybe I was dream…
Last reply by LensOnLife, -
- 2 followers
- 3 replies
- 366 views
I have two characters, and I want one a certain sized compared to the other. So I'm applying the 2001 skeleton to the smaller one, but I don't want to make him bigger so it fits. Is there a way to scale down the entire 2001 skeleton? Or am I just going to have to size down all the bones individually? thanks!
Last reply by zandoriastudios, -
- 1 reply
- 328 views
I assume from absence of any real information in guides that it is not possible to use any form of scan software (eg on clay models) to develop character in Hash... characters must be created by the stitching method described I think. Any advice welcome. also about importing characters from other programmes outside Hash... I understand that inanimate objects can be imported. Are there any tools for converting an inanimate object from say 3dstudio max into an object that can be animated in hash? Many thanks. Look forward to responses! Sorry, I am an AM newby and just learning the ropes here... and clearly this is much the best character animation software on the m…
Last reply by Rodney, -
well, i did the advice on the magnifying class one, and it looks all blury( i use it for a sniper rifle scope). does anyone know how to make something appear at least 3x larger by looking at it through a model (or patch) without looking blury like under a magnifying glass? (hope i'm not being complicated) NEVER MIND FIXED one more thing, how do you make something completely transparent and have a reflection, like a glass window? thanks again.
Last reply by Bruce Del Porte, -
- 4 replies
- 302 views
ok heres the deal when ever i create a model that is some what complicated ( more that 50 CP) i will try and rotate the image to color something or to add mor e and only a small part of the screen keeps up the rest (95-98%) of the previous image stays locked in place and wont let go for a few seconds and by then iv lost any points i was cusrrently working with , has any one experanced this or fixed it?
Last reply by sponger, -
- 3 replies
- 1.3k views
Hi all, I've been using screen space ambient occlusion and it keeps crashing on me. I have an Nvidia gt540m graphics card on my toshiba core i7 laptop. I try to use just the cpu to render the screen space ambient occlusion but it still fails. Any ideas or setting I might be able to use? Does anyone else have this issue?I have a deadline coming up, so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Mark
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 3 followers
- 43 replies
- 3.8k views
Is there a Vid tutorial on Screen Space AO? I cant get a result when I turn it on. Can someone with experience in getting results make a quick tutorial?
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 464 views
So... I am making a fencing mask. I need for it to be transparent in the places where the mesh has holes in it. I am making a bird's egg model and then putting a cookie cut decal over it. Is that the way to go?
Last reply by c-wheeler, -
- 3 replies
- 525 views
When I open A:M, I get a message that says, "Error running scripts on this page. Do you want to continue running scripts on this page?" Then, while I'm working, I keep getting an annoying ding-a-ling chime. Over and over. What's happening here Johnnyb
Last reply by JohnnyB, -
- 7 replies
- 419 views
OK really two question 1st can i take a image say 500X500 pixels and have it applied to the entire model 2nd once done can i get the image to move around it , kinda like a chain rolling around a gear curenty im trying to come p with a worm hole effect , the model itself consists of really distorted donut shapes but i cant seam to get them to you know look worm holeish with out the use of textures, and then i get into the problem of there being a big square just sitting there.
Last reply by Gerry, -
- 4 replies
- 433 views
I get some terrible results when scrubbing my video. The animation is not timed and it is difficult to see if you have an accurate layout. For example, when doing the "Can You Say That" tutorial, scrubbing to verify the lip sync is just about worthless. So the solution is to render to see how it works. The problem is the render takes 1 1/2 hours to complete. Is there any kind of "quick render" that you can do that will do the entire 6 second video but quickly so you can just see how it looks. I am using an Athlon 64 dual core 4200+ CPU with 2GB of matched RAm and v13C of A:M. Thanks for the help.
Last reply by Kurrykid, -
- 1 follower
- 9 replies
- 687 views
Hi all I am having a problem in trying to get seamless decals to work in v13 and v14 on my computer, can someone confirm or assist in showing how its done. here are the steps I have taken without any success. 1 Made a patch surface 2 Import an image tba or jpg and applied to surface 3 In the image properties I applied 4x4 images and selected seamless 4 Quick rendered or full rendered resulted in seamless not working, leaving it in normal tiling effect. I might have a virus! Please help Oh I really love this program, thanks Mr Hash
Last reply by chopper, -
- 8 replies
- 742 views
I was just wondering if there were any good seamless texture generators you guys may know of. I've tried the genevia or whatever it's called and it was a tad confusing. Anyonoe have some input on this subject or available seamless texture creation programs? Thanx guys.
Last reply by pming, -
- 31 replies
- 1.5k views
Hi, I had the 2003 CD version and some plugins but unfortunately I didn't use it much. Now I started again with animation, so I bought the subscription to have more features (or less bugs). Currently I'm using (trying to learn) 15.0G because there was a bug with real time rendering in shaded mode with the 15.0H version, so I'm sorry if the following problems have been corrected: 1. If I try to customize the toolbars just by adding more toolbars to the window (Tools/Customize/Toolbars), when I press "OK" all changes disappear (my screen resolution is 1920x1200 if that helps). 2. While there is enough space on the existing toolbar line for more toolbars (~4…
Last reply by dllb, -
- 7 replies
- 498 views
ok iv been experimenting with the boolean cutter and know can make some pretty good looking impact scars now, what i need know is the ability to apply a secondary material to the model so that the inside of the part that is cut away shows the secondary material. ie i blow up a metal wall and the freashly showing metal has a differat texture than the normals wall
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 2 replies
- 316 views
What is the best (or preferred if you prefer) codec to use for QT and for AVI? Also, I accidentally rendered to a JPG sequence, how do I make them into a movie? thanks in advance.
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 4 replies
- 426 views
I'm working on exercise 7 in the "Art of Animation Master", and I'm having a little trouble. When I open the dopesheet in the new action, it appears in the project workspace, but not in the timeline. In the manual and in the video tutorial, the words can be moved around in the timeline. I can only do that in the project workspace. Is this a difference between PCs and Macs? I've included a screenshot of what I'm seeing. Thanks. Bruce [attachmentid=18105]
Last reply by ytsorf7, -
- 9 replies
- 739 views
Let me ask another question. I have my objects set to be rendered as wireframe. They look like they are drawn as vectors although they should not be. The edges are straight and not curved. So when i look from my camera, i see a square object with straight lines. If i rotate the object, it becomes rounded. How can i make the wireframe not look like vector through my camera view? Hope i am making sense? When i go in the modeler, the object is all rounded, no straight lines? I checked all the settings and they are all set to wireframe. Thanks. Pierre
Last reply by pierrotsc, -
- 2 replies
- 307 views
I am searching for a rigged Crash Test Dummy. Does anyone have one or know where I could find/purchase one? Vegas_Skippy
Last reply by MMZ_TimeLord, -
- 6 replies
- 639 views
Hiya. A couple of Q's regarding workflow stuff... Just wondering if there is a way or a plugin that allows the selection of a patch straight away? Basically, I want to select a patch or series of patches and have the CP's attached to that patch selected. Thinking in polygon terms, it would be like selecting a polygonal face, but using hash patches. Is there a way to us "raytrace selection" or "only front-facing" selection? Say I have a simple vase. I want to move a few patches outward. If I drag a rectangle selection box around the CP's I want, it selects the CP's 'behind' the ones I want. I don't want those ones in the back. Is there an option for this somewh…
Last reply by pming, -
- 4 replies
- 2.1k views
Hey there, Hashers. I purchased a copy of A:M way back in 2007, and am only now getting to the point of learning it. I know it’s 13 years out of date by now, but it works for me and I have no immediate desire to upgrade. I am learning by going through the ANIMATION: MASTER, A COMPLETE GUIDE book by David Rogers. It’s as old as the version I’m using so everything seems to synch up well for the most part, but I have hit a snag in Chapter 4 (Action Basics) that I just can’t move past. In the process of animating my model (a flower sack), it instructs me to copy frame 0 and paste it on frame 24…. OK, HOW? I don’t mean how do I do a copy and paste, that’s comput…
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 5 replies
- 633 views
Please help refresh my memory - since I am just learning A:M - is it possible to draw a bounding box around (with the Right Mouse Button) in the Choreography window same as in the Model window?
Last reply by HomeSlice, -
- 3 replies
- 757 views
I am trying to shape Eddie's eyes (Hash A:M stock model) to a rotoscope photo of a face. I select the eyes and pupil groups in the PWS (by control-clicking one after the other using my typical Windows ap habits, not sure if correct for A:M) -- a new group is created simultaneously it seems. Anyway, then I press "H" for hide, and as desired, the wireframe except the selected eye parts are hidden. Now I want to adjust the mesh to better represent the eyes (although there are probably better ways to go about this). My first thought was to group the pupil points and scale then down. The problem is, I cannot seem to select CPs in the Model window -- when I…
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 2 replies
- 323 views
is there a method that i could use for selecting empty groups in the project work space?
Last reply by C-grid, -
- 1 follower
- 10 replies
- 2k views
Hi, Looking again for the Forum Expertise It seems simple - so it probably is - just not for me. Frustratingly so. I'm trying to make up a mosaic and then colour it dynamically through poses. Everything is fine EXCEPT I'm not able to set up the groups. Here area couple of examples of the types of groups that I've been trying to set up without any success. I can't seem to be able to set them up when there is a common CP between what I want in the group and what I want outside the group. 1. A group with only Orange Tiles 2. A Group with only Black Tiles 3. A Group with only Green Tiles Oliver
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 7 replies
- 566 views
Hello AM world. I've been working my way through the exercises and the forums for two weeks now and having a good time so far. When I drag a selection box in the workspace window, the box is opaque black inside until I release the mouse button, then it is clear. This makes it hard to see the CP's I'm selecting. In the videos I've watched the box is clear while dragging to size. How do I fix this?
Last reply by bossofme, -
- 1 follower
- 3 replies
- 496 views
I wanted to know if there's a way to remove all the lights in the room and have the model self luminated. I know this must sound like a strange request, but I'm making a game with my animations and the engine already has lighting for the models so it would look strage with shadows and lights reflecting off the character. I'm using a pre-render method for the game, I'm not using the model itself which is why this is important. Thanx guys.
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 1 follower
- 1 reply
- 335 views
Hello! There is any way to recover registration info of AM serial number in the hash site? I bought AM several years ago and would like to upgrade to the latest version. I have boxes of storage cd's and still haven't found the old master cd. thank you! Benjamin Pastrana
Last reply by Bruce Del Porte, -
- 2 followers
- 5 replies
- 678 views
Does anyone know of a good set and background tutorial? Some help would be great. Keith
Last reply by BUDDHABUCK, -
- 0 replies
- 206 views
ok usualy this does not bug me much but on a really complex model its starting to , for some reasion both lines and CPs are being put behind the Grid is there a way i dont know of o fix this
Last reply by Master chief, -
- 5 replies
- 1.1k views
Not sure if this is possible or makes sense, but I'm working on a beveled cube example from "A:M A Complete Guide", and I made a beveled cube with straight splines by setting peaking. Now I want to slightly round the bevel, so I want to selectively set some gammas on the bevel splines. But first, I want to set all the alphas to zero and all the magnitudes to 100% just for uniformity. If I "select all" with ctrl-A and then set the bias properties for all, some of the biases on the model do not change, and are still odd-ball values. Is this supposed to work, setting all at once? -SB
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 4 replies
- 748 views
I seem to have gotten that almost perfect angle with a window in perspective view. I would love to make that view into the camera view. Is there a way to turn the persective view into camera view? Thanks, William
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 2 replies
- 221 views
This is a visual tutorial Red ball with simple black and white decal Key color not set both colors show. Key color set to black, black portion does not show Key Color set to white, white color does not show This was done in v14a keycolor.mov
Last reply by phatso, -
- 1 reply
- 240 views
need help in setting the piviot point at x=0
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 2 replies
- 265 views
The bone I'm trying to aim is is right there, but I can't get this other bone to select it with the eyedropper. I try to select the target from the list and the bone does not appear on the list. I can see the bone on screen, but clicking on it gets me "None." The bone I am trying to aim at is a child of the bone that I am aiming with. Don't know if that matters*. * It must matter. I just made it a sibling bone and, bam, it worked! Thanks for your help, um...me! I solved it myself within minutes of asking, lol. Is that one of the laws of rigging? that you can't aim at child bones?
Last reply by Paul Forwood, -
- 4 replies
- 269 views
I have been trying to render an AVI in A:M that I can use in a Pinnacle movie I'm creating. According to Pinnacle, I need to have the following settings on the AVI: Quality: DV TV Cropping: Yes NTSC: 720x480 Audio: 44 kHz 16-bit Stereo So far I've made several attempts to render AVIs but once I insert them into the Pinnacle movie and burn it to DVD they only appear as a green screen on playback. I've adjusted the frame size on my animation to 720x480, but this still hasn't corrected the issue.
Last reply by rusty, -
- 2 replies
- 224 views
Hello - I created an animation awhile back and used several cameras for different angels and I pressed a key which I thought was "tab" to switch from camera to camera - can someone tell me what key to press? Thanks - Eric
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 1 reply
- 453 views
sometimes i would like to render amovie in the shaded mode, because it doen't need to be that detailed, i am just trying to get an idea across and don't need hair or fire, but it has the pink camera frame in it, is there a why to do it to get rid of the frame
Last reply by Noel, -
- 2 replies
- 264 views
ok is there any way to have a model go from shaded to wireframe in a percentage ? IE in some space games they have a weapons selection and the textured model would turn into a wireframe where they explained some of the inside parts
Last reply by johnl3d,