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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.
4,140 topics in this forum
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- 1 follower
- 20 replies
- 1.3k views
Hi again, I seeem to be having a problem grasping combining actions to render a movie of a few minutes. I understand the concept of the shift-keyframe to go from say the resolute walk and have the character perform other actions in a new choreography action. I also added a dialog action with a new choreography action and that works fine. That all takes about 9 seconds. Here is the character flow I have so far. - Character walks across the screen (resolute walk) - Character sits in a chair and turns head to face front - Character speaks and the mouth is animated That all works fine and I couldn't be happier. Now, I need the character to turn his hea…
Last reply by greg, -
- 0 replies
- 248 views
Hey Hashers, I added Volumetric Dust for Exercise 6 but it's rendering with very noticable banding. The Help file says to increase the Quality setting for the Volumetric effect to get rid of the banding, but unless my eyes fail me, I can't seem to see it. Can anyone verify this? I'm not sure if this is a bug or I'm just looking in the wrong place. Here's a picture of what I see for my Volumetric Dust properties. I'm running V13 f. thanks! -Jim
Last reply by jpappas, -
- 5 replies
- 422 views
im trying to make some of the lights more solid and visible without showing light on everything else... i tried playing around with some of the settings but i can't figure out what im doing wrong.
Last reply by ortanu, -
- 1 follower
- 6 replies
- 617 views
I have some live-action footage I am using in an animation. The footage used a green screen and in After Effects I eliminated the green to leave only the actors and an alpha channel. I imported the footage into AM as a TGA sequence. So far, so good. I want the footage to be lit by a klieg light that has volumetric turned on. The problem is that the volumetric effect is lighting up the transparent part of the footage somewhat brighter than background objects, so the actors appear to be in a rectangle that is unnaturally brighter than the surrounding scene. I don't understand what is causing the klieg light to (apparently) reflect off the transparent part of the…
Last reply by RoyBU, -
- 3 replies
- 400 views
i can't make the a volumetric light shine through an object...it just passes right though it... i've never really worked with volumetrics...
Last reply by the_black_mage, -
- 14 replies
- 901 views
I just want to know which one is better for using AM, a wacom tablet or optical mouse in a long run?
Last reply by UNGLAUBLICHUSA, -
i m abit lost i made a walk cycle, constrained both my character and walk action to a path. but my character seems to move too fast along the path please how can i adjust the speed with which it moves along the path.
Last reply by robcat2075, -
walk cycle
by bighop- 1 follower
- 6 replies
- 373 views
I made a very simple model, and created a walk cycle for it. Now when I put the model on a path, and try to increase the time is walks the path, the model completes one walk cycle and freezes, but glides through the path. Any ideas anyone?
Last reply by John Bigboote, -
- 4 replies
- 301 views
Hi - I am creating a walk cycle for a character and I have the first pose at 00:00:00 - I am trying to "copy frame" and "paste mirrored" into frame 00:20:00. For some reason it isn't pasting the "hips" and "pelvis" movement. Has anyone run into this problem - where it didn't copy the whole keyframe - that can let me know what I am doing wrong? Thanks - Eric
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 5 replies
- 309 views
Hello - I am making a walk cycle for a new character I created and I am trying to "copy" and "paste mirrored" frames, but for some reason it isn't copying and pasting part of it - from the "hip bone" up - so Hips, head, back, and back 2. Any ideas on why? Thanks - Eric
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 2 replies
- 410 views
After modeling and rigging a character, I decided to test it on the walk cycle from TaoA:M. Having spent so much time in the Project Workspace, I got use to double clicking on an item when I needed to start something new... I did this for a new Choreography Action as well, thinking I could do the walk cycle that way. However, near the end of the process I discovered that I did not have access to the "Has Stride Length" setting. Can this be turned on somehow inside a Choreography Action? I decided to render what I had, even though it isn't constrained to a path: SarahWalkTest2a.mov Also, I need to enable the Neck and Finger bones for the 2008 rig, but I'm no…
Last reply by Bendytoons, -
- 8 replies
- 427 views
I set up a walk cycle for the figure I've beenn animating ( WIP section ). When I test it in the action window it looks OK but, when I come to use it in the choreography window I get smal amounts of foot slide, which is very annoying. Is this a function of the step distance or is it the way I may have set up the cycle itself ? I did the tutorial in TAO book but slightly fuzzy about the area that I place the markers in for the step distance ? Any help greatly appreciated. cheers simon
Last reply by Simon Edmondson, -
- 5 replies
- 577 views
Ive put a walk cycle onto a path, but I wanted to adjust the speed. I tried increasing the 'chor length' and 'cycle length'. I think thats what they are called. Anyway, that was great for slowing it down, but when I tried to speed it up again, this time by reducing those parameters I lost part of the cycle. ie, part was truncated.. then my character slides the remainder of the path, where once, he walked.. Do I really have to be so linear in my work-flow? Im sure theres a way to change the speed without this problem.
Last reply by Christian, -
- 2 replies
- 297 views
When applying my walk to character and playing animation... the character speed walks the path. Is my problem in the keyframing or could it be the stride length..again any help is greatly appreciated, Thanks.
Last reply by Stronghorn, -
- 2 replies
- 225 views
Got a general question about walk cycles. I have fought these things from the beginning so I want to make friends with them. Say I'm making a short with a very charismatic preacher on stage pacing back and forth. Each of his walk paths are of varying lengths and sometimes it's a stroll; sometimes he's walking a little faster. Can I use the same walk cycle for each of these? If I set the starting and ending frame for each time he walks, will it adjust his walk speed and keep his feet from slipping? The last time I tried to do this he would take one step and then slide along the walk path. I hope am able to figure out why that was too.
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 4 replies
- 290 views
before i try this, is it possible to have two actions run together? i want to use a talk action with a walk action layered together. i tried using blending but it did not seem to work...
Last reply by sir fen the usa, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 291 views
i made a couple of animation in the chro, at a time i want the character to walk along the path i made . when i do this as in constrain the character to the path, it does not walk well along the path, as in it starts from the middle of the path, what can i do to corrct this.thanks
Last reply by robcat2075, -
ok i'v noticed when i make a walking seen the model alway look like its powerwalking (very fast) How do I get it to walk slower?
Last reply by bts0, -
- 5 replies
- 509 views
I have an elaborate choreography with several different characters walking and talking, one is even flying. As one character walks near another, I want him to wave hello to the other. But, when I try to apply the keyframes for the hand, that hand removes itself from the walk cycle and no longer swings by his side, from that frame on. Is there a way to throw in this quick series of keyframes and then return that hand to the walk cycle?
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 1 reply
- 292 views
I'm making a walking animation, using the action window, I completed the action, however it only seems to play the first 10 frames, why is this. =/
Last reply by phatso, -
- 11 replies
- 732 views
I made a walking action for the rabbit. when i try to put it in a new choreography it starts walking backwards
Last reply by Gerry, -
- 2 followers
- 10 replies
- 625 views
Hello All, I made a simple character consisting of pieces of chalk and a chalkboard eraser. I'm a teacher and I'm using this as a "Bug" intro to a video my class will be doing later this year. Anyway... I created a simple walk cycle 24 frames. I made a path and constrained the eraser to it Assigned the action. Extended the Cycle length to 15 seconds The character walks ok, but it will glide for about two frames at the end of the cycle, and return to his walk cycle and glide at the end again. I did set the stride length, but I must be missing something. It's bugging me because when the character walks, you can see there is just something not rig…
Last reply by itsjustme, -
- 5 replies
- 399 views
Hi - another walking question. I referenced exercise 5 "Take a walk" - and created the 4 poses at 00:00:00, 00:00:05, 00:00:10 & 00:00:15 then I copied the frame and mirror pasted. The walk cycle looks good. When I bring the character into a chor and apply the walk action and have it repeat lets say 10 times. Each time it repeats there is a 'jerk" motion when it starts over, so there isn't a smooth transition between the last frame 00:00:15 - going back to 00:00:00. Is there something I am doing wrong... some setting I didn't set or something? Thanks again - Eric
Last reply by flashawd, -
- 3 replies
- 292 views
OK short and simple i have a scene where a bot triggers a emp device , id like to have a explosion based on an expanding sphere comprised of lightning or something that resembles the such , I'm not expecting much but any idea are welcome
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 13 replies
- 747 views
I'm not a new user but am unsure where to ask the question so ...? I am doing a little character test for a figure and have it sitting on a stool but I keep getting positional drift on the hip null. I tried using Hold for the interpolation method to no avail. I tried using zero slope, again no joy. I deleted all the key frames for the hips except the one on frame 0, still no luck, It keeps drifting I have deleted the keyframes for the foot targets too so neither they or the hips should move after frame 0. ~Still the hips keep drifting position. Is there something I am missing here ? regards simon Mac OSX 10-68, V15J,
Last reply by Simon Edmondson, -
- 6 replies
- 422 views
Newbie here. want to say hello, I'm New A:M user since yesterday.. thats my Homepage: http://www.td3d.com/2DGallery.html thanks everyone
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 8 replies
- 821 views
I have decided to start a series "Afternon Pondering". In this series I plan on putting in new things as I learn, new characters and models as I learn modeling. In this way I feel I can learn and put stuff out at the same time, and learn to take criticism
Last reply by Gerry, -
- 4 followers
- 41 replies
- 3k views
I bought Version 8 a long time ago. If I rember correctly I paid over $400 bucks for it. I tried to use it but after working for 6-8 hours on something and just when I went to fine tune the modle, BOOM! "Program has preformed blah blah" and I would lose all that work. I got frustrated with the program so I took some time off from it. I had it in my CD case at work. We had someone steal a computer from our department and ya they got my CD case with my AM cd in it. I called hash and figured I would just pay to have them send me another CD since the program will not run without the CD. WRONG! I was told the only way I could get the software is if I upgraded for $150..... So …
Last reply by Mike Hart, -
- 1 follower
- 22 replies
- 1k views
I'm trying to get a StarTrek warpdrive like effect on a flying logo. Any tips on how it's done? I'm using a Mac G4 OS Tiger 10.4.8. I have AM 12.0u. I like the elongated looks of the stars also. Thomas
Last reply by tjherr, -
- 9 replies
- 1.3k views
hey guys long time no see i have been trying to get an effect similar to this not the crystals them self but the cracking pattern on the ground, making ground is easy enough but the few methods i have tried so far don't quite work for the cracks as its ether virtually impossible to get the lines to match the terrain grid or it just doesn't line up. additionally i cant seam to make textures blend into each other vs a hard line.
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 290 views
How do i start the Treez plugin in AM 16?
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 565 views
Hello all! I'm an Interactive Media Student, majoring in Film, Video and Audio Production. After taking a class in Maya, i bought this program to help myself with my own projects. I have owned Animation Master since July and have worked with it very little due to time constraints. I can model efficiently and compile images together and know some basic animation in A:M. Now that you know where i stand skill wise (beginner) my question. Does anyone have any tips on creating fluid effects such as a body of water? I can create a simple grid and apply the water effect to it, but as far as animating it and compositing into a live action video, i need to get w…
Last reply by Bruce Del Porte, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 569 views
is there some way to generate water or liquids to make a stream or fountian exe, like a sprite, only in water form and not "particles"?
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 402 views
does anyone know how to make the camera view look underwater? thx
Last reply by ddustin, -
- 2 replies
- 215 views
can i use am to put watermarks on videos if so how do you go about doing it please.
Last reply by debbie harry, -
- 4 replies
- 517 views
Dose anyone know if there is a way to make a water mark on AM? if so plez let me know by emailing me
Last reply by Stuntmunky90, -
- 4 replies
- 547 views
Hi-- I just upgraded to v12 and am trying to weather a model. The online help says to right-click the model and a weathering dialog box will appear, but I'm seeing no such thing. What am I missing? Thanks for any help. I'm sure more stupid questions will follow!
Last reply by Gorf, -
- 3 replies
- 415 views
I'm not to sure if this is the right place to post this but i am not sure where else to put it. I am currently setting up my personal website where i can post all my animations for exercises plus anything else done with A:M. I have already put a link on there for the Hash website for people to go to,but my main question is can i also add a link to the TWO website.I really would like to promote this great project done by the Hash community but was not sure if i was allowed. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Please note the site is still under construction and may change shortly. Cheers Jay http://www.freewebs.com/youngman1/
Last reply by youngman, -
- 2 replies
- 92 views
Patchwork3d.de is down
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 8 replies
- 725 views
I have tried everything, but for some reason, my model's head looks fine in the modeling window, but when I render, it shows noticably fatter. This is the first time I have had a project do this. I have supplied an image to show the comparison. The image on the left is the rendered version, the image on the right is from the modeling window. Image renders fatter in the chor as well. Any suggestions?
Last reply by jmdsbussrv, -
- 5 replies
- 558 views
I'm working on rigging my first model and I was wondering if there is a general feeling about the best way to get smooth deformations. I've searched for any topics on weighted CPs versus fan bones versus smart skinning; and while I have found information on all of those, I haven't seen any discussions comparing them. I guess I'm really looking for a comparison on which would use the least resources and be the most responsive when animating and most efficient in general. I hope I'm not repeating an old topic, and if there is already a thread, please let me know. Thank you.
Last reply by thefreshestever, -
- 2 replies
- 344 views
I have a clip rendering... there is an animated decal on a model... sometimes when a frame renders it seems to split the decal in half diagonally leaving one half of the model with the decal and the other half of the model black... I have tried to render the clip as an .avi and as an .mov and I get the same problem.... any suggestions?
Last reply by Dascurf, -
- 3 replies
- 339 views
Thanks to a trick I learned in these forums some time ago, I'm implementing some motion with a chain of bones, of which the end bone has a kinematic constraint to a null, and the null has a translate-constraint to another object. (Imagine, for example, an octopus leg hanging on to an object moving in a perfect circle. This method realistically is the only way to do it.) Anyway, so far I've not had any problems with this until today. I have a null that successfully translate-constrains to several objects. Then I constrained the null to a bone of an object (not the model bone). I tested the motion and it looked good. Then I positioned to a frame prior to enfo…
Last reply by ArgleBargle, -
- 1 follower
- 10 replies
- 415 views
Hi - I am playing around creating an animated fan character and I am getting these weird distortions when I render the image in different areas of the model - Here is a pic of the back of the fan - I have the distortion circled. Thanks
Last reply by zandoriastudios, -
- 38 replies
- 2.2k views
Hello all, I been using AM for a few weeks now, gone through most all the tuts except the more comlex ones. Have a question, I was creating a model after the "Thom" model just to work on my modeling and the 5 point patch technique(and also to practice attaching arms, etc.) It was going well, I saved the project, all looked well in wireframe and shaded mode. I saved and closed the project, went to grab a drink and came back a bit later and opened. Here is what I saw... Evertime I close it now and reopen, I get stranger and stranger things happening to the model, am I doing something strange?!? It weird that it looks different and more messed up …
Last reply by knipple, -
- 14 followers
- 263 replies
- 21k 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, -
Welcome New Users 1 2 3
by KBaer- 5 followers
- 141 replies
- 15k views
Welcome to the New Users forum! The idea behind this forum is to provide help and support for users who are new to Animation:Master and are going through the Art of Animation:Master tutorials. We encourage you to post your Works-In-Progress (WIP) from these tutorials to this forum. You will learn a lot from the feedback you get. Rodney Baker has gallantly volunteered to be the moderator for this forum and will be here to answer basic A:M questions. We encourage everyone to pitch in and give encouragment to new users. It's always exciting to see artists emerge from being a beginner, to next hotshot animator. And don't forget, we have the New Users Pa…
Last reply by Robert-Jank, -
- 11 followers
- 179 replies
- 16k views
Welcome to the New Users forum! The idea behind this forum is to provide help and support for users who are new to Animation:Master and are going through the Art of Animation:Master tutorials. We encourage you to post your Works-In-Progress (WIP) from these tutorials to this forum. You will learn a lot from the feedback you get. As moderator of the New Users forum I'm here for you. You could say I come with the box. I'll be here to answer basic A:M questions but the entire community of A:M users is here for you too. They'll guide and encourage you as you explore the world of animation as only they can. New users are welcome to post to any of the forums…
Last reply by Graham, -
- 3 replies
- 343 views
Hello, how can i weld these two points ? and what is the Path group model icon for ? Thx
Last reply by jakerupert, -
- 6 replies
- 1.2k views
Has anyone attempted to make a animation of a welding torch raining down sparks and what not?
Last reply by robcat2075,