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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.
4,166 topics in this forum
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- 4 replies
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Hello - I'm not a new user but I have a new user question. When modeling, the user is able to select a cp either by clicking on that particular cp or by using the "G" key and grouping a couple of cps. After these cps are highlighted (they turn green) the user can hit the "T" key and rotate the model ... ...and those selected green cps should now be the center axis for the "turn" action to rotate around. That is what I remember... but now when I click on a cp and use the "T" command the model rotates haphazardly and the software does not use the selected cps as the center axis for "turning".. Can anyone explain where this is going wrong? Many thanks, To…
Last reply by Tom, -
- 12 replies
- 1.5k views
The A:M Community always stands ready to help each other out and this is indeed one of the reasons why I devote time to the community. I've been on the recieving end of the community's generosity more times than I can count. Having said that... a word of caution to new users might be in order. The knowledgeable among us (old and new) can certainly help us through the trouble spots but carelessly abusing the graces of others is guaranteed to put a stop to such excellent assistance rather than see it prosper and get us to the goal (whatever that may be in each case). Of course, A:M Community members can defend themselves so I'm not attempting to speak for th…
Last reply by vf124, -
- 9 replies
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The advertisement for A:M 2007 said it has dual-core support, can someone tell me how to enable it? See: http://robwilkens.com/tao/notdual.jpg On the left-hand of the attached image, you'll see exercise 2 rendering, on the right side of the screen, you see "Core 1: " and "Core 2: " usage. Core 2 is clearly doing the bulk of the rendering, as it's near 100% usage.. Core 1 is almost sitting idle, so clearly it doesn't appear to be being used. There's got to be some magic trick to enable dual-core support. Do I need to switch to a beta version to get this? -Rob
Last reply by rickh, -
- 3 followers
- 15 replies
- 1.5k views
Hello, This is my first post, I was wondering if anyone could make a suggestion how to attach bvh file into character model? I already know how to import bvh file, but couldn't make the character model to attach to each other. Thank you, Richie
Last reply by Paul Forwood, -
- 12 replies
- 1.5k views
I'm currently working on a 2d game that supports alpha channel PNG/TARGA files and I was wondering if there was a way I could render to TARGA and have only the model itself reder and everything else be a "blank" background. This is a vital process for my game and I'm hoping it can be done in A:M if it helps, I'm using v11.1H Thanx guys.
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 10 replies
- 1.5k views
Hi All, I've been trying to create a dimension rounded bump on the surface of a globe. Using the library materials, I'm getting either spikes or rectangular protrusions, but not a smooth rounded look. It would also be wonderful to have some size variation in the bumps. What is the best way to approach this ? Thanks for any suggestions.
Last reply by itsjustme, -
- 22 replies
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Afternoon everyone. I'm getting back into this again after the clean up here in California from the fires. So, I apologize if i'm rusty or sound stupid, but, I have an animation (simplistic), using the lamp (the pixar looking one). I want to animate it (which i've done so far). I want to have that light bulb turn on or stay on. How do I add a light source to the lamp? Thanks!
Last reply by Steven547, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 1.5k views
I am sitting in a Maya class (No fights intended, just part of my degree) For texture mapping, you take the model, cut it into parts, make a seam, and unfold it flat so you can add the texture. What is the equivalent in A:M? Do we have a way of flattening?
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 16 replies
- 1.5k views
my mom is an artist (on paper no 3D for her), and i can draw a little, but i'm not remarkable. my question is - are any of you who use this program are remarkable artists? can you sculpt things out of clay and draw realistically? my mom thinks i should use modeling clay to sculpt a face before i model one in A:M. did any of you do anything like that? i don't want to model photo real looking people, but people that are slightly realistic (anime-ish) i'll give you a picture of this doll; just slightly realistic like her.
Last reply by phatso, -
- 13 replies
- 1.5k views
I want to convert 3D files from other CAD programs such as Pro Engineer. More specifically i want to convert a file format called IGES that is commonly creaded by Pro E into MDL that can be pulled in by Animation Master. What application do you recomend for converting CAD formats such as this?
Last reply by Jeetman, -
- 1 follower
- 14 replies
- 1.5k views
I started in modeling a face per the excercies. I created a nose and added an eye. So far so good..then I tried to tie the eye to the forehead and the cheek. My smooth curved splines suddenly became sprung wire angles. I tried adjusting the bias handles and things seemed to get worse. I kept tweaking the splines in the problem area until I would get them "kinda'" like I wanted and wamo zamo my tweaking had changed the spline bias for another area. I went back and watched the tutorial video. The instructor didn't seem to have a problem with his eyes and nose attaching nor did the example in the manual. What did I miss and what should I know to keep my models fa…
Last reply by Russell, -
- 1 follower
- 21 replies
- 1.5k views
i was wondering if any of you professionals out there could make some tutorials for certain "3d" type skins or textures, or to even make them. but, just for now, i was wondering how you would make a '3d' texture for reptilian type skin. if you did an replied that would be great.
Last reply by animation man hi, -
- 3 replies
- 1.5k 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, -
- 1 follower
- 15 replies
- 1.5k views
I have opened AM, but every time tO try and draw a spline, I cannot see the control points. Am I doing something stupid?
Last reply by HomeSlice, -
- 1 follower
- 9 replies
- 1.5k views
I know how to do a copy flip attach, but my computer doesn't. Everything get discomboerated. Also anytime I do a copy many of the CP's are locked on the 0 reference line and will only move on the Y axis. Is it me, my computer, or the software?
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 12 replies
- 1.5k views
pretty simple i have a jet plane that has jet engines and i need an effect to show that its working something like this would be nice Image location i know that this image is attached to a modeling guide but the guide is to the wrong part of what i want , i want the flame effect not the how to build a nozzel
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 14 replies
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I posted earlier that I haven't been yet able to try this software, so I have silly questions. I do hope I'm not testing any of your patience. I'm guessing there is a lot to animation, more than I'm aware of, and perhaps rendering is the least of it. I'm looking at A:M and Houdini Escape as options, and with a workstation ATI card in my laptop, Houdini renders faster than the other software I've tried(GPU rendering). Yet... A:M's TAO technical manual says that the patch exports take under a hundred patches and turn into thousands on a single character. Does this patch modeling and painting make rendering any faster? My processor is only an i5 in my laptop and fr…
Last reply by southpawami, -
- 1 follower
- 10 replies
- 1.5k 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, -
- 1 follower
- 15 replies
- 1.5k views
Just had to stop by and introduce myself. somewhat of a late starter. I bought the software for the use of work. I have only tampered with the software with great success after the first few tutorials. I intend to immerse myself in it over the holidays followed by a bunch of questions. i look forward to the much needed and anticipated feedback.
Last reply by jon, -
- 6 replies
- 1.5k views
Hey Guys, I'm in this version 18. And on PC. There has been a consistent crash that has happened when I copy a group of splines/ cps and paste them in the same model. It doesn't happen every time, but I would say it does happen about once or twice a day. Has this been fixed in later V18 version. Thanks
Last reply by NancyGormezano, -
- 1 follower
- 12 replies
- 1.5k views
Here are two short animations of my BattleMech. This is an 85 ton machine so it should kick up a lot of dust. But I am having trouble deciding which is best or how I can improve them. Any help would be appreciated. Cone: Side_View_Dust_v3_cone.mov Sphere: Side_View_Dust_v4_sphere.mov Thanks.
Last reply by bubba, -
- 7 replies
- 1.5k views
hi all i go make my cartoon right now but i don't understand the use of render server and render slave - how to export a project to theses programs ? - if i understood, i export so to render server which makes run render slave ? under wine on linux i canno't directly run render slave thanx a lot for all, you are gentle people and i like it regards stéphane
Last reply by stefff285, -
- 18 replies
- 1.5k views
Ok guys, How would I go about creating a Disc Brake like this one? [attachmentid=19942] Any help is much appreciated! Kel
Last reply by the_black_mage, -
- 1 follower
- 7 replies
- 1.5k views
Greetings, A returning A:M "user" from long ago. Air quotes because I played with the software, but not to the extent of many famous A:M alumns (B. Prince, Raf Anzovin, Victor N., many others). I'm looking forward to exploring the latest and greatest. I'm a long time 3D artist working in research, creating environments and models for interactive simulation. I recently came to the conclusion that I need to step up and take my work to the next level. My first CG workshop (Become a Better Artist with Rob Chang) was an eye-opener for this atelier-trained artist, and a step on the path to self-improvement. I have some big goals personally and profes…
Last reply by markw, -
- 15 replies
- 1.5k views
I am really making headway with this program. After many months of frustration, I am finally making this program work for me. I still have a couple issues with my animations. I know this must be such an easy fix, and is something that is very basic, but I am having alot of troube with it. I want a 5 second walk cycle. I can only get my actor to walk for 1 second. Isn't there a way to make the cycle loop? I can get other models to do it, but for some reason this one does not. I have checked the manual and can't seem to find an answer for the problem. Is there a certain place on the timeline in which I drop the walk cycle? Is there a setting I need to change? Proble…
Last reply by LurkerAbove, -
- 1 follower
- 13 replies
- 1.5k views
Hi folks, I am following the flower tutorial and want ot duplicate the paddle. I have it grouped and when I right click on it, the plugin is not in the context menu. Any clue what is wrong? Besides some texture plugins, AM shows no other plugins. For an exmaple, there are no export options at all. Cheers Michael
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 11 replies
- 1.5k 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, -
- 14 replies
- 1.5k views
Pretty much what the topic says, I'm trying to export my model I made in Animation Master into Maya, so how do I do that?
Last reply by FlyingMonkieBoy, -
- 15 replies
- 1.5k views
I've seen mention of the plugins on this page ( http://www.innovateenterprises.com/AM/ ) in several posts here on the forum. First I tried the LWO13 and OBJ13 plugins using A:M 13beta2. I opened a new model window and clicked file/plug-ins/import/ and tried to import LWO and OBJ. In both cases, no new window ever popped up to let me choose a file to import. When those didn't work, I went back and opened up A:M version 12.0v+ and tried using the LWO12.hxt. This time a window did pop up to let me pick a file. Then it asked at what angle control points should peak. After that I got the following error message: "Not a Lightwave object (Missing LWOB tag)". …
Last reply by walasek, -
- 18 replies
- 1.5k views
]It seems to be the season to ask questions about shadows ( !)... I am trying to be more systematic in my approach and, after losing a lot of time due to operator error. I finally got a lighting set up in a choreography that I liked. The shadows were an interesting shape and lead the eye into the picture. As part od the new approach I re read the section on lighting in the old V8 manual and in the new Technical reference book and thought I'd try it with more than one way cast for the shadows. The results were a big disappointment and I don't know if its me or a problem ? The two included files show what I mean. Example 1 is using one ray cast p…
Last reply by Simon Edmondson, -
For now I'm stuck with the 2002 version of this software, and I need to make some text. It would be tedious to model each letter from scratch, not to mention challenging, so I hoped there was a text option somewhere. There isn't. I've heard about some Wizard Font plug-in that provides text, so I looked it up on Google, hoping it was freeware I could download....no luck. Can somebody help me out?
Last reply by Distress, -
- 1 follower
- 6 replies
- 1.5k views
So if I buy the subscription License for $79.99; What happens when it expires? Does the software become useless or I just don't get the latest updates/patches? Thanks
Last reply by Blickfang, -
I need help
by T MAC- 1 follower
- 15 replies
- 1.5k views
Hey Guys, I am new to AM and need help with some issues. I have e-mailed support@hash twice, but have recieved no reply. How can I get some advice for my problems? Thanks T MAC
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 16 replies
- 1.5k views
I would like to make a 2 seconds animation of a simple object rotating. I would like it to start as a wireframe and as it rotate becomes fully textured and then back to wireframe. Is that something possible to do? If so, could someone point me in the right direction? Thanks. Pierre
Last reply by NancyGormezano, -
- 15 replies
- 1.5k views
I’ve played around with Boolean cutters several times now and I’m pretty pleased with how simple they can be used for cutting shapes. However, I’ve been digging through the project files on the A:M Extra DVD and I’ve not (yet) found a project that makes use of a Boolean Cutter, instead, I only see very skilled spline modeling of which I can only dream of. I did a quick search hoping to find a possible reason why I don’t see it used often and if there are any downsides to using Boolean Cutters.
Last reply by wildcard, -
- 14 replies
- 1.5k views
Hello, I have been working with AM for about 4 months.. First time ever to explore animation, modeling etc.. I have really enjoyed the process and plan to continue learning and working on animation. Here is the video I made, hope you like it. David...
Last reply by nino banano, -
- 1 follower
- 1 reply
- 1.5k views
I thought I read somewhere that this was possible, but now I can't find it. I want to swap the selection... unselect the current selection, but select the current unselected CPs. An alternative would be a way to add the current selected CPs to the hidden CPs (as opposed to adding the unselected CPs with Shift-H). I can select the "other" CPs and do a Shift-H, but it's a lot more work, and I'll be doing this a lot as I attach decals to surfaces of a somewhat crude NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race car. (It'll be whizzing around a race track, so it doesn't need to be perfect.) Here, I've hidden most everything other than the right side of the truck, and I've cli…
Last reply by nemyax, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 1.5k views
The idea is a thick rubber band with both ends tightly clamped so that when a ball strikes the rubber band, the body of the rubber band fluctuates the most at the center and less as it gets closer to the clamped edges. Here's the technical run down, I need to make a tube with 5 ringlets made up of vertices(I don't remember what they're called in A:M) be struck by another rigid body that causes the center ring(#3) to spring/bounce at say 100%, the rings directly above and below(#'s 2 & 4) to spring/bounce at 50%, and finally the top and bottom rings (#'s 1 & 5) not to move at all with a spring/bounce of 0%. How do I go about this? [Apologies in adva…
Last reply by heyvern, -
- 1 follower
- 15 replies
- 1.5k views
I just learned how to make Normal maps in another post. Now that I know how to do it I am perplexed as to what the difference is. What is the difference?
Last reply by R Reynolds, -
- 18 replies
- 1.5k views
Hi all, Back to working on the project after too long away from it. I am doing the last bits of cleaning up the rigging on my penguin character, and I have a pose that I have no clue what it does (or was supposed to do). I want to delete it, but can't seem to. If I hit the delete key on the keyboard with it highlighted, nothing happens. If I right click it, there is no option to delete. This happens in both the Properties area and in the Pose Sliders pane. Also, something I thought was strange, it does not show up in the Project Workspace. My other poses do (pose 2 and Leg Constraints) but not pose 1. I really want to get rid of pose 1, because if I tu…
Last reply by Roger, -
- 1 follower
- 18 replies
- 1.5k views
So many tutorials and so much advice throughout the forum involves the use of photoshop. I was thinking about trying to pick up a used copy of the software on e-bay. I probably wouldn't need the whole CS3 suite, so I was wondering; what would be the least elaborate version of photoshop would I need to do the stuff for layering, texturing, IBL,etc. My experience at image manipulation & CG stuff is less than minimal. I already have Corel, but the learning curve on it seems, to me at least, steep. The learning curve in PS is probably steep as well but I think I could follow the step by step instructions that people give in their posts. I would rather spend…
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 9 replies
- 1.5k views
Hello All- If you view the attached picture you will see that the goal is to create a rigging whereby a Pose Slider can cause a larger tube to cover up a slender hose over time. I tried rigging the larger tube with a simple parent child boning situation however, because of the curve in the line, when the first parent bone is scaled down, it causes all of the children to collapse vertically and so the larger tube does not adhere to the curve of the slender hose. I thought of constraining to a path but was hoping that it could all be done with a simple Pose slider. Any suggestions are appreciated!! Thanks! Tom
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 18 replies
- 1.5k views
I'm working on an entry for the 11 Second Club, which has three Squetchy Sam characters in it, plus a couple of stationary props. My problem is that the choreography is playing back so slowly that I can't get any sense of the motion or the timing without rendering out a quicktime every half hour or so. I've got relatively big iron hardware (3.0ghz P4 HT, 2GB RAM, 80gb HD running WinXP and AM14), and I usually I can get 30fps with an older rig, like the Knight or Shaggy. I know that the squetchy rig is more complex, but does it really slow things down that much? I've got version 15 on my dual core Mac, but I can't even run this choreography at all on that machine …
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 15 replies
- 1.5k views
Ive been having issues with painting the models. When in normal mode and I go to paint, lets say a normal round brush, it is distored horribly either long ways or widthwise. SO then I do Projection painting and it looks great however when it goes to accpet not only does it distort what was painted but it also will mirror what was painted on one side on to the other. I tried breaking the head decale in two two seperate decales on front and one back and painted them accordingly but if I painted on lets say the back of the head with the back of head decale then it still copies over to the front decale even though it was never to be painted. If there is an instructional site…
Last reply by Sean delgatto, -
- 18 replies
- 1.5k views
alright, there is an image that i am trying to use within a light (u predator fans should recognize this) and the light type is a Klieg when i place this image under the light in my model, everything seems fine, yet when i render it in choreography mode, the three dots never appear on anything the light targets... i know this may be confusing, but if anyone is good with this stuff, please help me out thanks
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 2 replies
- 1.5k views
Hey..... For smart skin purposes.....can you animate/key the bias handles curvature? If not, a low spline model with longer handles seem to present a difficult issue with how the curves work as the creases get squeezed.
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 1 follower
- 15 replies
- 1.5k views
Hi Everyone. I am a newbie and eventually I would like to make a 15 or 30 second TV Commercial. Is this possible? How do get the studio's to air it? Has anyone doen this before? Thanks, Bob
Last reply by Jentham2000, -
- 27 replies
- 1.5k views
I am still struggeling with the path constraint. I have a car model sucessfully constrained to a path, but strangly the modelbone is not moving along with it, thereby causing the posesliders doing unwanted things. Any ideas, what could keep the modelbone from going along happily with the model?
Last reply by jakerupert, -
- 10 replies
- 1.5k views
Casting shadow but not seeing the object. I need to make an object cast a shadow but it need to be invisible. I did it in the past for composite scene but I am overlooking something.
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 3 replies
- 1.5k views
Question: how do I assign multiple materials to a single model? For example, a 'skin' material for a human character's body, and an 'eye' material for the eyes? Thanks! Bryan
Last reply by bcgreen24,