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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.
4,157 topics in this forum
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- 3 replies
- 932 views
I'd like to copy a group splines from a model to another model window. I opened the model "Eddie" in a model window and found a group called "Eyes" and selected it in the Project Workspace. Some CPs are selected in the actual model. I use Edit | Copy and then move to a new Model Window. I use Edit | Paste and see a group appear in a new model called Model1 in the PWS, but no geometry appears in the model window. My intent is just copy the groups that comprise the eyes so I can experiment with deforming them to match a real face in a rotoscope -- but I can't copy them it seems. Perhaps they only exist as part of other splines and so cannot be copied? …
Last reply by sb4, -
- 6 replies
- 1.1k views
I'm wondering -- when we create a circular spline by lathing a line into a cylinder and deleting the CPs at one end, is the resulting geometry a true circle or do splines merely provide a very good approximation of a circle? -SB
Last reply by sb4, -
- 16 replies
- 2k views
Is there a forum here where computer jocks and motivated users can really work together on computer/AM compatibility problems in the interest of finding obscure workarounds if necessary, rather than just abandoning the computer or buying expensive new hardware? I'm having more display problems with my Vista laptop, but I don't want to give up. I feel there must be some workaround, such as a special OpenGL compatibility driver that can use low-end chips, even if slower, or DirectX option, or some other trick like using an older A:M DLL or such. My main problem seems to be repainting the screen. The latest showstopper is that when using a rotate manipulator, the…
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 2 replies
- 717 views
I thought that in order to show all curves, you hit the button with the red, blue and green curves - how do you show the pose curves as well? I've gone back through my notes and am having problems finding that.
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 1 reply
- 839 views
On my Win XP SP3 when I hit the "0" key for shaded-wireframe, my control-points are black. Is this an artifact, or is there an option for the color? The black CPs are hard to see. -SB
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 2 replies
- 809 views
In a model window, I have an unattached 4 point spline. I click on a CP to select it, then right-click to bring up the context menu. I select "Delete", and it asks me if I want to delete "Untitled". I click "Yes", but nothing happens -- the CP is still there. However, if I use the "Delete" key instead of the menu, I can delete the CP. Is this normal? Is the Delete menu reserved for something else? (A:M 11.1i, WinXP SP3) -SB
Last reply by sb4, -
- 15 replies
- 1.7k views
I bought AM at Wondercon last year and haven't looked at it since I installed it. Today I decided to learn a little about it. It asks me for registration info every time I start up, then gives me this error message: Unable to load plug-in [/Applications/Animation Master 16.0/Textures/Simbiont2.atx],-err- Then it opens and I can play with everything. I went through the first video tutorial but I couldn't save anything. This makes me think I'm not really registered. I have the disc with the activation code, but I thought I put that in when I installed the program. Thanks for any help you can offer.
Last reply by RobinR, -
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- 1k views
(I tried to post this in archive forum to not bother up-to-date users, but forum is readonly.) To any other AM 11 / Windows Vista users: I'm having display problems where the screen doesn't seem to refresh, or partially draws with my Windows Vista Compaq laptop. Particularly, when only one A:M window is open (say, chor or modeling) the background grid does not fully draw. Having two windows open magically makes the grid draw fully in both windows. In a Model window, I'll switch to "shaded" mode and a patch won't render. If I tweak a control point, suddenly it might render. Sometimes while drawing a spline, parts don't draw while making it. …
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 8 replies
- 1.1k views
Are there some recommended settings for A:M if you are working with "toons" style rendering that will be most efficient for rendering and overall workflow? -SB
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 2 replies
- 800 views
I probably have some setting dinged somewhere but not sure. I'm just doing basic spline practice in a Model window. In pure wireframe mode, the splines look like normal smooth curves. In the shaded modes, each spline becomes a double line segment instead of a smooth curve. What do you think I have wrong? -SB
Last reply by sb4, -
- 5 replies
- 796 views
Hi, I'm trying to get my work to buy A:M, we are a training centre for children and i knew about Animation master years a go from the media place i used to work in. I loved it!, think it is fantastic for kids as well. We have PCs and Macs available, I downloaded the trial version for the PC windows 7 but have had a few crashes with it and the display seems to go off sometimes. I would like to trial it on the Mac but i don't think thats possible, i have 8 days left of trial on the PC. My question is, is it better running on the Mac rather than on the PC? If i can convince my work to buy it do i have to choose which platform to buy or can it be used on …
Last reply by markw, -
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- 618 views
I know some versions of A:M have nicknames; 2004 "Orangutan", 2005 "Sorcerez",etc. Does anyone have a complete list of the years and names, or fairly complete? **** Edit -- I found the info on the archive pages. -SB
Last reply by sb4, -
- 1 follower
- 17 replies
- 1.6k views
This is just a nitpick, but: (Using A:M 11.1i) I noticed during rendering there is a small animation of a couple of aliens "boxing" during the rendering. Is there a way to disable that animation? -SB
Last reply by sb4, -
- 1 follower
- 10 replies
- 1.2k views
Hi - I'm just restarting learning A:M (V11.1i) after years of fallow, so I have some really basic platform/environment questions. I was just fooling around with Keekat in a choreography window. I started in Chor mode. (Standard Mode was selected the whole time.) In Chor mode, it seemed there is only one selection I can make, the entire Keekat object, so I found a handle and tilted Keekat so he fell like a tree in one second (using 3 key frames) and was horizontal. It played back fine using the "play range" button. I tried clicking the "Modeling Mode" mode button and then "play range". It also played back the same animation, albeit with a different l…
Last reply by sb4, -
- 5 replies
- 999 views
Wikipedia mentions that A:M Version 14 (2007) introduces Ambient Occlusion (AO) and Image-based Lighting (IBL). Can someone explain what those are? Regards, -SB
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 10 replies
- 1.4k views
Hi everyone! I've been an A:M user on and off over many years and was even briefly involved in the Scarecrow of Oz project. I recently watched the TWO DVD and really enjoyed it. It inspired me to pick up A:M again. I might even get through all the exercises in the AoA:M manual this time. Nice to see you all again! -Sean
Last reply by markw, -
- 5 replies
- 864 views
I was watching the "Flower Power" tutorial, and noted that the leaves were intentionally not connected via splines to the stem. Rather, they were just positioned adjacent and bones were used to constrain the movement so the leaves would position appropriately. When and when not should you attach various parts of a model to each other by splines? Is there a general principle to use? What are the advantages and disadvantes of attaching vs free floating? -SB
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 6 replies
- 785 views
today my program went all crazy So I reset the settings....now I get this: dotted lines? and if I try to grab anything I see whats behind it and if I use the lasso tool this: seen these before but cant remember how we fixed it Please help Gene
Last reply by TheSpleen, -
- 1 reply
- 697 views
I'm wondering: when you are editing around in an animation and tweaking key frames, is there a way to "reset" a keyframe to the state it was in when you visit it and before you move off it? I'm aware of undo, but with subtle changes it seems it would be hard to tell when you get to the exact point you started, and maybe you would overshoot and undo something else you didn't want to. I suppose you could save project at each keyframe and reload it if necessary; seems cumbersome though. -SB
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 10 replies
- 1.2k views
I have the Orangutan 10.5 disk which I installed, then applied the 2004 11.1i upgrade to. When I launch the 10.5 version, the help menu works fine. With the 11.i1 version (2005), everything seems to work fine except the Help menu -- it gives the error: "Failed to launch Help" I'm hoping it is some simple file missing from some place during the install. Does anyone familiar with old versions have an idea what could be amiss? My work around is to install and run both versions, just to access the help menu, which is awkward and space-busting. Is there some way to view the help without the program? That could be another workaround. Regards…
Last reply by sb4, -
- 7 replies
- 1.2k views
Hi there, i continue with my questions: If i understand it right, in V17 i can load .OBJ, and remodell them with the snap to surface function, right? How complex can the .OBJs be? Next question: Even in polygonland, a quad is now the best thing to have. I learned to model with quads only, and where you use a 5 pointer in AM, you have five quads coming together. My question: Is there another way to make such a region appear smooth other than using the porcelain material? Best regards, Heiner
Last reply by Heiner, -
- 1 follower
- 6 replies
- 930 views
could someone simply confirm/deny that this method: http://www.hash.com/forums/index.php?s=&am...st&p=199541 is/isn't viable this year, this version? thank you!
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 3 replies
- 920 views
Hi there, back from the Philippines and into work mode, i am now official AM user again. After beeing away from AM for about 5 years, i will have plenty of questions. Right away i am wondering if there is something like HDR lightning in AM? Best regards Heiner
Last reply by Heiner, -
- 13 replies
- 1.4k views
I want to groom hair on a model and i went to "new"- "pose"-" percentage" in the modeling window, then I go to "view"" toolbars" and check "grooming" and close. The box appears when I check the box but when I close the window it disappears. I just downloaded the new version after not working with the software for a while and am a little rusty so Im not sure what my problem is, but I didnt see any other posts about it so it might just be me, any help would be appreciated
Last reply by richard m peplinski, -
- 1 follower
- 12 replies
- 2k views
Anyone know how to create something like this dense_beveled_cube.mdl Modzz2.mdl I cant figure it out. everything I create it seems impossible to create a smooth dense cube.
Last reply by itsjustme, -
- 1 follower
- 0 replies
- 602 views
Anyone know of a nice car bucket seat model?
Last reply by jason1025, -
- 3 replies
- 783 views
Hi, Im doing the face tutorial. I have a problem som of my "polygons" sometimes get a strange from, sometimes only on one of the points. Ive tried to fix it with the bezier handles but it dont work. Is there some relax tool i can use? And while modeling, ive seen that i canuse 5 pointed polys but should i stay away from 3 sided? It seam like them give me alot of trouble. What do i do wrong when this happens?
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 727 views
Hi guys What setting decreases the distance between the cloth and the deflector? this setting also kind of gives a feel for how thick the cloth is.
Last reply by jason1025, -
- 1 follower
- 7 replies
- 926 views
Where i can find this model of a bathroom?
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 5 replies
- 941 views
Hi, I try to render but when i do it says : Avistreamsetformaterror, most lile caused by a codec compresssor that does not support 24 bit data. I know I have a lot of codes installed, but do i have to install codec into A:M? Or does anyone know what this can be? I could render the scen as tga images but not as avis. Another question is if there is some additional download I should do? I cant find the same assets as i se in the tutorial movies.
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 4 replies
- 922 views
Hi, im looking throu the video tutorials and i se it says Animation Master 2003 in top. Does this mean that the videos are 10 years old, and if so, are they outdated? I just wonder so I dont sit and learn stuff that is obselete. Sins Dyrwoolf
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 17 replies
- 1.6k views
I am trying to use the Surface constraint to make pupils move on an irregular eye. I have got everything working exept for one detail: I can´t make the pupils align in the direction of the surface normals. As I understand it, the Property Translate only is the one controlling this. I have set it to ON but it still does´t behave as I want. I have tried to change all of the properties I could find, both for the constraints and for the bones I use. I also made sure that the normals were pointing outwards. I have run out of ideas... what am I missing here? This is the current alignment of the bone that controls the pupil mesh. Note that it is pointing in the…
Last reply by Gerry, -
- 3 replies
- 732 views
I created my pose slider for my squetch ball, it was there before I switched to cho mode, now that I'm in cho mode and scrubbing through my frames of my animation, I can no longer see the pose slider. I've tried clicking on the squetch bone and the base bone in the PWS, neither of those brings up the pose slider. Have I done something wrong?
Last reply by Gerry, -
- 7 replies
- 891 views
Closed out my camera view so I could make some changes in bones mode. Now I can't get my camera view back. I don't want to start a new choreography, but that is the only way I can think right now to get the camera view back. I checked the View options but didn't see much there. What am I missing?
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 4 replies
- 965 views
I am struggling to learn about constraints. I want to make eye bones aim at a null target, but I have two problems: 1. How should I do to add a constraint to a bone? I can only add a constraint in choreography. But as I want the constraint to be saved with the model I don't think this is the way to go. The reference guide explains features of different constraints but don't say how to add a constraint... So the question is: How do I add a constraint to a bone that will be saved with my model? 2. When adding an Aim at-constraint to the eye bone in choreography mode it will not work unless I move the Eye bone from the head in the bone hierarchy. The bone woul…
Last reply by Visping, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 935 views
I am following a tutorial how to model an eye. When it comes to the Lathe-tool I run into trouble as it does not behave as i expect. It does not lathe with the end-CPs in center. It seems to lathe round the spline-center instead.... I have tried to alter properties, SHIFT-clicking on different CPs before lathing etc. I can see three reasons: 1: I am a bit stupid not understanding the obvious... 2: The Lathe-tool is not intuitive enough 3: There is a bug in Animation Master 17.0d I am hoping for the first and that someone can tell me what I am doing wrong. This is my spline before lathe: This is after doing lathing. Why wi…
Last reply by Visping, -
- 10 replies
- 1.6k views
Hello. I am a previous short time user who got derailed by life 5 years ago and am just finding my way back. I have the CD of v13 and have reloaded it on my computer. It is working fine but I have a couple of Q's: 1) Where can I find info regarding resolution; is AM capable of TV/DVD broadcast quality? 2) Where can I learn about the new features in v17, and what about additional plugins that would work in v13? 3) What, in your estimation, is some good yet not terribly expensive video editing software I can buy to assist in this process? I have looked around a little and have yet to find any real answers to these questions. Whenever I ha…
Last reply by itsjustme, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 806 views
Hi Guys I know its been a little while. Where can i find the data download zip? Cant remember.
Last reply by jason1025, -
- 5 replies
- 1k views
I just downloaded and activated v17.0 subscription and the program opened and would let me draw lines, etc but when I tried to open an existing project file from a previous version (v11.0) instead of opening a file from the directory it automatically went to, the program stalled and then crashed. This is the same problem I had with v16.0 last year and never did figure out what was wrong so I went back to my v 11.0 (run as v12.0 with a downloaded patch file from the ftp site awhile back). Unfortunately that option is becoming increasingly difficult as the CD has gotten all scratched up and the Disc repair I tried didn't work. Needless to say, half the time it doesn't even …
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 11 replies
- 1.4k views
Hi all Well this is quite embarrassing but I'm having issues trying to activate AM. I've spent the last 15-20 minutes searching and reading but I am still stumped. First the version I bought is the lifetime not the yearly one, don't know if that makes a difference. I have AM installed but I don't see a master.lic file only a master.txt file. When I look at the details of my account I see: Transaction ID AuthCode I tried both of these codes but nothing. There are two other codes but I assume they have to do with the credit card. Where do I find the activation code. *hangs head in embarrassment* EDIT: May have jumped the gun as it shows it's st…
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 4 replies
- 879 views
Hi there, currently i am still on the demo on V.17. Since i am going on holiday on the 12.12. i will buy my regular Version when i come back in January, to make the licence last longer ;-) Right now i wanted to install the TSM 2, but its not showing up. My questions are: Is the TSM not working with the demo? And, is the TSM 2 working with the regular version of V17? Thanks for helping, best regards Heiner
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 10 replies
- 1.2k views
Hi all, it seems as if its the great time of the comebacks. Looking trough the forum is saw that not only me, but some other users are coming back to A:M. So, i had to use other software for a couple of years. Wrote books about and managed to get hired by one of the major developers of 3D software as a technical editor. Now, established in my new job, i return with my personal projects to A:M, because A:M still rocks. One of my clients will sponsor me the latest version, and for the time beeing, i monitor the forum for interesting topics. I am especialy interested in building work pipelines, which involve A:M and other software. Since …
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 6 replies
- 850 views
Hi there, Since it is now possible to import OBJs i am wondering, if it is possible, to use its UVs (if there are some of course). If yes, how do i acess them. Besides, i am wondering, if the OBJ importer which is implemented in AM now, is the one by Arthur Walasek? Best regards, Heiner
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 8 replies
- 1.1k views
Hi, folks - Thanks for reading, sorry for such a basic question. I'm modelling a mini servo with some attachments - the first is the "rotor" that attaches directly to the servo shaft, the second is an elbow piece and the third is an extended arm, as attached. On the attached screen dump, I've photoshopped the bones of the different models in the choreography as best I can so they can all be seen. The dark red one at the bottom is the servo main bone. The big cyan one can be ignored - it's a boolean cutter. You can just about see the bone for the servo shaft - it's in there, but it's overlaid by the light red model bone of the rotor. At the base of the elbo…
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 5 replies
- 1.1k views
I've probably asked this before and gotten good answers but... I know that CTRL-click is the one-button mac equivalent of a right-click in A:M Is "Command+" still the MacOS equivalent for CTRL+ combinations on a PC? What is the equivalent of holding ALT on a PC to subtract things from a selection?
Last reply by largento, -
- 1 follower
- 21 replies
- 1.8k views
I imported an obj into A:M(via the .obj importer) which converted it into a Hash model. Then I imported it a second time in the same way using the same process. The results are two separate models in AM that are exactly the same. However, when I click on the same cp on both models, I notice that the cps are not named the same thing. You can see this by clicking a cp, then right clicking, then choosing"Edit CP weights"..... Each model has a different CP # for the same cp. Something like "CP# 296183" and "CP# 495742" Anyway to get those numbers the same so that I can make a mesh action that will effect both models the same? I would real…
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 2 replies
- 661 views
Under the Newton properties for an object there is the line Extended Material Click to Select Is anything supposed to happen when i click that? The first time i tried it I got a little dialog box that said "Big Problem" But since then nothing, even after doing "reset all settings"
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 2 replies
- 789 views
I use to have under properties a way of adjusting hair density, but My computer ran into issues and had to do a fresh install of XP SP2. However when I reloaded Hash V11 with Upgrade to AM V13.0 suddenly that Density option went missing. I tried reloading it, and will try again after I get done posting this. But its a real problem, I can't find any software update links other than for VS 17 web version, which I refuse web subscription, I only want hard copies of software. Anyway if you guys know what possibly happened so that I can undo it that would be great. Thank you.
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 2 replies
- 733 views
Gotten to a point where I'm adding a light to a model. However, adding the light completely blackens the model surfaces that don't have ambiance set high. It's likt all reference lighting in the window turns off..anyone ever seen this? Thanks, Rich
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 3 replies
- 724 views
Hey all,-- Never seen this, but a decal won't show up on the modeling window but does in render--anybody know why this might be? Thanks, Rich
Last reply by Fuchur,