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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.
4,140 topics in this forum
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- 2 replies
- 431 views
Hello. First of all I like to thank SlipingLizard; KenH; rossk; DarkLimit; UGP; Dhar and Rodney for helping me out so far. I am getting better avoiding those folds and creases. I have modelled the head the arm and leg. Now arrived at the foot I have another question. Can anyone suggest how best to model the foot of this baby? The bottom rim of the leg has 6 control points. How do I connect them with the 5 toes and the heal of the foot? The baby should have a plastic sort of look, so the toes don’t need much reality details. I thought that I might could join up some spheres as toes!? What is in your opinion the best way of finishing the foot? Thanx, in the hope…
Last reply by Dhar, -
- 3 replies
- 470 views
Im having big probs when i render.. i made a model with small yet amazing detail but when i render it, its hardly visable. how (when i render) do i get it to look more realistic. its really hard for me to explain this
Last reply by oakchas, -
Hello to all, I just purchased AM this week and started looking around the interface and exploring a little for the first time last night. I created sign in name in the Community panel but when I click the sign in button, a panel comes us saying (Sign in name does not exist). What am I doing wrong? Thanks in advance! T MAC
Last reply by KenH, -
- 1 follower
- 11 replies
- 680 views
Ok.....just wondering....is it normal for a 10 second movie to take 3 days to render???
Last reply by Robert-Jank, -
- 1 follower
- 15 replies
- 965 views
Im working on a movie for The mini movie contest, and when i render it, theres this Y,X,Z manipulater in the far bottom left corner how can i get rid of it when i render it?
Last reply by Robert-Jank, -
- 7 replies
- 593 views
I've been applying decals of Soviet Revolutionary Posters over brick wall. The posters go on fine, then after a while, disappear. The white areas on the wall show where the posters were. The one remaining [near ground level] has since disappeared. The container in the PWS then changes from 'SOV. POSTER_01' to 'SOV. POSTER_011' [or...SOV.POSTER_03' to 'SOV.POSTER_031'] The 'Image' inside the container says 'SOV.POSTER_01'. Is the brick [as first decal applied] over-riding the poster? Something else?[attachmentid=13991]
Last reply by Dhar, -
- 0 replies
- 306 views
Is A:M able to use grahic tablets(pen devices) to any degree? If so, any recommendations in both the low end/intro to the high end/advanced?
Last reply by zerokill, -
- 1 follower
- 3 replies
- 347 views
Ive been working on a movie, not for a very long time. I need someone that can take a look at it from time to time and see what parts need tweaking. Could you help me out with that, if so just reply and ill Private Message you my link.
Last reply by Robert-Jank, -
- 2 replies
- 415 views
Hey, all-- I'm getting my head around Animation:Master, courtesy of the Animation:Master 2000 Handbook. (Yes, I'm a little outdated.) It mentions some plugins such as RasenX, RebumpX, and A:M Loft, as well as a whole section on using governmental STDS files for environment mapping. The problem is, it being a little out of date, most of the links it mentions are dead and I've not had much luck hunting them down elsewhere, even on the lowrestv Plugins page (the RasenX/RebumpX link appears to be dead). Does anyone have new (live) links to these and other tools for A:M?
Last reply by abdab, -
- 1 reply
- 399 views
I'm trying to make some grass and i'm following along on http://www.hash.com/am2004/Modeling/Hair/index.htm but when i change the color of the blades from green to yellow on the diffuse color timeline, the color changes in blocks--that is it begins with a green, then abruptly changes to a lighter green, and then to a yellow. there seems to be no gradient.
Last reply by markeh, -
- 2 replies
- 429 views
I'm having an issue with my AM V.12p modeling window. Seems like I may or may not have pressed a button that may or may not have changed something in regards to the way the screen responds. Before today, the modeling window was fun and easy to work in, the model turned with relative ease when I used the manipulators on it. Today, after some quick key strokes, something changed. The modeling window is now noticeably less responsive, the model sorta jerks into position when I turn it and the view sometimes doesn't update. Very strange. I changed from DirectX to OpenGl and back but no change. Which one is the better performer anyway, DirectX, right? After s…
Last reply by Dhar, -
- 8 replies
- 684 views
Hi! I've modeled my character for animation in the T-pose. I plan to use Anzovin's "Setup Machine" so I can start posing and animating my character. My question is: Should I do all the coloring and decaling of my character BEFORE rigging and animating, or should I animate my mesh, save the actions and then add them to a character who has been "decorated" after the movements are done? Any ideas would be appreciated, regarding flow. Tim
Last reply by heyvern, -
- 2 replies
- 455 views
well im underway with TAoAM V12 Yeti and reading the book and watching the videos, i have come to realize something. watching the web videos i see that in the project workspace eg: model, there is an arrow next to it that you click and the properties for this item drops down under the item. but in my Yeti v12 the properties opens up in another window like it use to be in V7 that i was using. so did they revert back to the old way or is there an option that causes the properties to pop down from the workplace items? cheers
Last reply by John_TrueBlue, -
- 3 replies
- 405 views
Hi! I'm currently learning about Decals. I noticed that when used as a decal, any particular image can only have one property (i.e. Color, Bump, Displacement, etc.) Let's say that I have a color image and I made the same version of it in grayscale, to render the exact decal as a bump, as well. Are there any tips on how I can position the color and bump images exactly on top of each other? It does not appear that a decal can be moved once it is applied, so I'd need to know how to apply two with certainty that they would overlay each other as if they were one image. Thanks, Tim
Last reply by Laconic, -
- 1 reply
- 356 views
Hello New user here. I was wondering the fastest way to handle making a scene where to characters talk to each other back and forth. Do you have to make a seperate action and dope sheet each time a character speaks. or can I make one really long dope sheet for everything each character says and then space it out in the chor. I hope this makes sense
Last reply by Dhar, -
- 9 replies
- 603 views
I'd like to model a fly rod, but the only problem I see is with the fishing line. I'm really bad with bones and constraints and what not, but I'm guessing i'd probably want to assign bones to the line or something to make it limp. I also need to wrap it around the reel, obviously. I just wanted to know what the best way to go about making the line was before i started.
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 0 replies
- 333 views
Does anyone know if there will be an update with Animation Master V11.1, A friend of mine loaned me his Radeon X1900 XT so I can see if it is worth the expensive price for it and when running AM on the card it looks kinda funky. The Workspace looks like it is in 8 bit 16 color mode. No matter what I do it just looks weird. I've downloaded the latest catalyst drivers and the one it came with and still no change. Is this something that ATI needs to correct or Hash? Any information on this issue will be greatly appreciated.
Last reply by Lokinz, -
- 3 replies
- 401 views
How do I export a model to create an avatar?
Last reply by zerokill, -
IS IT LEGAL
by 8up- 1 follower
- 13 replies
- 3.1k views
I plan on making a CARTOON FROM ANIMATION MASTER TO SELL ON DVD. I have a few legal questions about making a cartoon and publishing it myself 1) if i buy the program(AM) do i have all rights to use it(can you come back and say you want a cut because i used your program) 2)Do i (by law) have to tell what program i used to make my cartoon (must i put am's name on the box) 3a)I see alot of add's in 3d world magazine for pre-built 3d things like cars, town's lamps etc. Will any of these programs work well with animation master. can i just order the kit and drop and drag things into A.M. in a 3d workspace 3b) are these legal (do i own th…
Last reply by luckbat, -
- 9 replies
- 698 views
Sorry Rodney, do not know where to post this! Why do I get creases and dents in my splines? Now this problem does not happen all the time, just on some tied places and curves. When I move (translate) a control point the new spline has a dent. Where does this dent come from? I have checked the difference with Peak and Smooth but that does not solve the problem. I tried to adjust the problem with the bias handles but no success. I have a jpg image that I would like to show you so you can see what I mean. Also I did not have this problem with the giraffe, maybe because I put more or less every control point to the same place as the tutorial but the problem started …
Last reply by Slipin Lizard, -
Exercise 2
by kanime- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 459 views
Here is post # 2. I enjoyed this one. It was simple but shows off the ease of using premade animations that you can apply. BR, KB
Last reply by kanime, -
- 2 followers
- 2 replies
- 474 views
Hello, I recently received a flyer describing a neat 2006 upgrade that will have "Group Project" software and that software will facilitate an animation that we can all participate in. Great idea and so I have decided to post my work in hopes that I can join the project. I like the forums and community that seems to be available here. With that here is my first post, which is for Exercise 1. Thanks
Last reply by MMZ_TimeLord, -
- 6 replies
- 621 views
Hello All! I have created my first model mesh and I'm happy with it. I created the model in centimeter measures, and now I'm ready to add my decals. I plan to create the decals in Photoshop. Here are my questions: 1) If my model is 1000 cm tall according to the rulers in A:M, should I also start with a 1000 cm file in Photoshop, so that when I'm decalling, the proportions are correct? (Ignore the fact that I might only decal some parts. I just want to know if the measurements in Photoshop should be the same as in A:M). 2) If the answer above is yes, what should the pixel density/resolution of the file in Photoshop be? (300 dpi? 72 dpi?) 3) Finally, is …
Last reply by Laconic, -
- 2 followers
- 14 replies
- 883 views
I'm just curious. When I take my daily look through the various forums I often wonder about the ranking system, from Newbies to Masters. Obviously one has to work one's way up. But how does it does it work? Rodney, perhaps you can enlighten me? Ed
Last reply by Robert-Jank, -
- 12 replies
- 695 views
As I'm putting certificates together for those that completed The Art of Animation:Master in 2005 I'm reminded of a few of the obstacles that animators have run up against while working through the manual here in the New Users Forum. I can see a few things to help streamline the process of administration/certification on my end too. Everyone's ideas are solicited in an effort to keep TAoA:M fun and educational. If you've completed the exercises online in the forum I'd especially like to hear from you. Some of the things I'm hoping to implement this year include: Collect all the exercises into one user friendly interface on a webpage to launch off from. …
Last reply by Robert-Jank, -
- 5 replies
- 685 views
Hi there, I've been an on-again off-again AM user since version 4. When I download the v12 updates or the v13 alphas I get this message when I try to install:- " An I/O error occurred while installing a file. This is normally caused by corrupt installation media or a corrupt installation file" It happens with any .exe file I try to download. Anyone got any idea what this is, as the problem must be at this end. Mike Logan
Last reply by mike logan, -
- 7 replies
- 705 views
I've been trying to use the Edit->Move Frames-> Scale and Snap to Integers feature to slow down clips of mine, but it seems that this won't work when trying to change the keyframes on the model bone. In fact, I cannot move any of the keyframes on the model bone. Is there something I'm overlooking here or a better way to do this? I basically would like to slow down my movie but keep the keyframes on integers so I may go back and easily edit them. Thanks --Ross
Last reply by jakerupert, -
- 1 reply
- 410 views
Why does the Objects lines kink between the controlsin the v12? In v11.1 2005 the lines had a nice curve to them. With the new ones,will we have to put more control points. Maybe there is a setting in the options I hav'nt found. Here is a shot to show what I mean. Can any body explain? Thanks[attachmentid=13811]
Last reply by KenH, -
- 2 replies
- 454 views
Whats the difference bettween the two? Ive been meening to ask this for a long time.
Last reply by Robert-Jank, -
- 1 follower
- 29 replies
- 1.4k views
Just as I solved my video card problem with fresh drivers, and entered into [hopefully] A:M heaven...I start getting white spline lines showing through the decals. 'Happened last night with lines on a roof. Now again with the wheels of this armored car. [it's not happening with the other objects because they are older bits brought over from the tank model.][attachmentid=13517]
Last reply by KenH, -
- 3 replies
- 527 views
Hey there. A:M newbie here! I'm and Anime animator for those who want to know. and being a newbie, I have TONs of questions, but I'll just ask the one I want to know now.... How the heck to you to cloth?! I saw a post in the cloth forum and it looks cool, ("I'm thirsty, water anyone") and I wanna do somthing like that to a peice of clothing. unfortunatly, the only way I know how to make that peice of clothing is to model it, and...well you know how that doesn't flow. Any tips? -JAR3D P.S. Inore the typos. I don't normaly do that much, but right now, theres a TON of construction going on at our place, and there are two hammers pownding on concrete less then …
Last reply by rossk, -
- 5 replies
- 685 views
I am trying to export a video file to DVD for playback on TV. I am doing 720X480 with aspect ration of 4:3 but the TV is cropping the sides off of the video. Do I drop it down to 640X480? Do I go smaller? If any of you guys are video-heads please let me know. Thanks, Justin
Last reply by Slipin Lizard, -
- 3 replies
- 504 views
i am running 11.1v in animation master and the choreography actions are not working in the choreography window, if i drag and drop a premade action to the model from the librarey, like the cancan it works fine. but when i go to skeliton mode , advance the timeline slider, and move something, it make a action movement, I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling but it dosn't help. i was hoping someone could help Thanks
Last reply by richard m peplinski, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 507 views
Hi, I went to duplicate something in a simple model of a pegboard/coat rack kind of thing I need for a wall. I wanted to duplicate the pegs at certain intervals, but right clicking and going into the Wizards folder only revealed Extruder, Grid, Font, and AI. I created an HXT backup folder and stuck the Font Wizard in there temporarily, but then that only left the Grid and Extruder wizards as choices when I restarted the program. Is the Duplicator Wizard now unavailable in the Mac versions? I'm running Tiger here. Can I get it to work? At least to show up in the menu? Seana
Last reply by sbk, -
- 1 follower
- 1 reply
- 525 views
Hello:) I am using and learning AM for 6 years now (started with AM99). I have done the taoAM , I have a small movie on AM films http://amfilms.hash.com/search/Entry.php?entry=801 AND I have a second place in the last xmas image contest. Does that make me a hash fellow now ? Until death Comments on the little movie are welcome. Greetings Marc
Last reply by zandoriastudios, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 578 views
Is there a UK distributor now? I aks as more and more people are being charged crazy ammounts for software import duty from the states. e.g another app that costs the same cost another £70 ($124) just for import duty on top of the vat etc already paid. Cheers Mike R
Last reply by Stuart Rogers, -
- 5 replies
- 604 views
I created a simple model and hit the create icon button. Then I saved the model and the project with embedd on. Now I wanted to save the model to the library with the icon as the preview image. I created a shortcut in the library pane and now could see my model in the library, but only with the default Hash guy preview image. How do I substitute the preview image I created in AM with the default image?
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 5 replies
- 533 views
Hi all, I'm starting up again with exercise 6 after being away for quite a while, and I'm running into a problem right off the bat. I want to have Shaggy walk up to the door before he tries to open it, so Ive made a path, dropped Shaggy onto it and then dropped a "resolute walk" action onto him. When he gets up close to the door, I'm hitting the "force keyframe" button at frame 30, moving his hand up to the door and placing his feet together on the ground (in skeletal mode), moving the frame counter ahead by about 3 frames and then hitting "Force Keyframe" again. What happens is that the hand and foot motions I've changed are stretched out over the entire 33 frame…
Last reply by Slipin Lizard, -
- 1 reply
- 390 views
Help, I have a simple model that I paid to have created a few years ago... in HASH Animation Master. Now, I am finally ready to do something with it... but am using Cinema 4D. The C4D gurus suggest that if the file were exported as a Polygon File to OBJ, I can probably work with it. Is there anybody reading this that could help me out with that? Thanks! Taylor Collins taylor@soaringstuff.com
Last reply by KenH, -
- 2 replies
- 422 views
Just to let you know i just finished my last tutorial and posted it. Just wondering if you can put me on your list of making certicacats? Just wondering. Yes finally i've finished! On to Animation Bootcamp!
Last reply by Robert-Jank, -
Welcome New Users 1 2 3
by KBaer- 5 followers
- 141 replies
- 14.9k 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, -
- 1 reply
- 430 views
Hello. I am having problems playing my sound files. I Opened in Sounds "My Library" which contains some empty folders like Cartoons and Animals. I don’t know where A:M has written those folders to, because I can’t find them nowhere on my hard disc. Anyhow, I clicked and dragged a wav sound file from my hard drive folder into this "My Library" window and I double clicked the icon that it created within this My Library window. The message says “Invalid sound file….Unsupported file type”. Now the sound file is a wav file I have edited in Adobe Audition. When I right click on the sound icon in My Library and pick play, the sound file plays and can not be stopped unless I…
Last reply by Robert-Jank, -
- 2 replies
- 324 views
Hi folks, I post this here, because it`s probably a beginnersquestion: I want to wrap a poster around a postercolumn: I scale down my decal a bit until it fits in the height, when I apply with set to "cylindrical" I see it triple and when I render it, I see it only distorted. Then when I look under image "repeat" I see 3 in the x-axis but when I alter this to 1 the image is still distorted when rendering. What am I possibly doing wrong? Any help anybody Please? Jake CylindricalPoster.bmp
Last reply by JohnArtbox, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 342 views
H'lo All - I'm faily new to A:M, but I've been looking for a guide that covers building a skeleton/rigging from scratch with no luck. I've done most of the tutorials, and I can transfer a rig from old Boneless Thom to get a humanoid moving, but I'd love to start from nothing and figure out how to place the nulls/hinge bones/etc. where I need them. Any suggestions? Thanks! Obiwayne
Last reply by obiwayne, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 577 views
I just recieved a leaflet saying I can upgrade to the 2006 version for $99. If only. lol. Unfortuantely I was one of the stupid ones who wouldn't put the time or effort into learning a diffirent way of modelling. Something I have regretted ever since. I was one of those prize idiots who sent my copy back. I keep popping in by the forums just to see the amazing stuff that folks have done. So even though I am not a user I have been grabbed by the bug that refuses to leave me. lol. If and when I get fixed up by the docs and can go back to work, rest assured I will be an Animation Master user. Keep up the good work folks. Cheers Mike R
Last reply by mykyl, -
- 7 replies
- 392 views
Hey I made a head in A:M and I also made some ears of my own and I want to attach them, but I think I wasn't paying attention to the number of control points. Not to mention my ear needs to have that amount or it won't work correctly how I want it. Can someone help me out and tell me a good way to attach these? I been worknig on attaching them for a while, no luck. AM_Chars.prj.zip
Last reply by Dhar, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 671 views
You will have to excuse my very green question but this is what I need the most right now. I can see by the demo videos online that AM is very intuitive and seems fairly easy to learn...just what I need. I am so close to buying AM but need to know how easy it will be to import Illustrator files of say a company logo with paths, extrude them, fly a camera around/thru it and then settle into the scene where I want it. I've played around with other product demos online but they lack a good set of tutorials on just doing something this basic. Do you have any examples of logo/text animation done in AM and a step by step guide. Thanks in advance for your help and understandi…
Last reply by Slipin Lizard, -
- 1 follower
- 10 replies
- 460 views
During the modeling of a somewhat detailed FW190, I realized that I would have to apply cylindrical decals to some parts of the model. The only way that I know how to put cylindrical decals on a surface is to have the part on the 0,0 xy coordinate. How can I translate the decal to the model instead of moving the model part to the 0,0 point? Say I have 20 different parts all over the model that need cylindrical decals applied. It would be a real pain to move the part to 0,0 one at a time, then put it back in place on the model.
Last reply by NancyGormezano, -
- 5 replies
- 651 views
Hey Rodney! I just want to thank you for your never-ending efforts to cheer on the new users who come to A:M. Thank you for using your powers for good and not for evil. Continue cheering for truth, justice and the A:Merican way! If only a certain former cheerleader were more like you...
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 0 replies
- 307 views
Hi, all. I'm trying to rig up a simple contraption, where I just need to move one hinged lever, and it has a knock on effect moving all the other attached bits (see WMV file for what I'm doing). I've got it working, but I can't believe it needs to be as complicated as it is. Do I really need so many bones? The JPEG shows the bones and their constraints. I just move Bone1 and everything else works from that. Bone3 has a kinematic chain to Bone2. Bone6 has a kinematic chain to Bone5. Any critique of my method most welcome... action.wmv
Last reply by Gorf,
