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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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- 24 replies
- 1.4k views
I love A:M, but it seems to have a mind of its own...'squirrely' would not be too strong a term. Sometimes I get an image inside the yellow decal bounding box, sometimes not. [i switched Open GL for Direct3D] The first few applications of decal [2 or 3] work, but after that...nothing. Since that switch, the yellow boxes do not appear when items are to be sized. rotated or moved. Except in brief flashes. Then they disappear. On the day before yesterday, I got the fish to swim along its path. Last night [new fish] it would not. Lately, when I try to view animations in the Hash Films section of the website, all I get is a black box, though there is the Quicktime toolbar and …
Last reply by Dhar, -
- 0 replies
- 386 views
I'm attempting to do a sort of "shoot 'em up" type of animation, and the more I play with A:M the more I realize there's tons of stuff I still need to learn. Anyway, there are several things I'm having problems with. Firstly, I'm trying to do a muzzle flash when a gun is fired. I was reading on the the special effects page on the Killer Bean website, and he said he did muzzle flash by modeling a vaguely conical shape, making it glow, etc, then scaling it up and down in (I assume) the choreography. I thought it might be easier to just put the muzzle flash on the model of the gun, and make an action that scaled it up and caused the gun to recoil (because then one would…
Last reply by darklemur, -
- 2 replies
- 431 views
I was just wondering,If I wanted to create a completely new library...Say in the name of "Sprinkler". Can this be done? If so...What are the steps to do it? Thank You very much
Last reply by Knockwood, -
- 2 replies
- 495 views
I'm assuming that the individual models, etc. from the Extras CD are free for use. But what about the component parts of the "project" sections? For instance, could I use Jim Talbot's leopard model, even if it's not out there as an individual model, but only as part of the project? (Hypothetically. That's not actually the model I'm playing with.) I guess I don't need to ask permission to use the Soap Opera set. But still...
Last reply by JTalbotski, -
- 1 follower
- 1 reply
- 366 views
how can i group a couple of models or props in a chor and have them be linked togeather? I would like to move my scene around by a group....I looked around and could't find a what other than contraints... is there another way? thanks
Last reply by rstephens, -
- 3 replies
- 464 views
I followed the online tutorial for it's a pitch. I tried it with the skeleton as well as the knight and I have the same response (twice with both character's). When I set the frame 18 pose and use the slider to see the animation, both feet end up in the air between frame one and thirteen. It looks like the charter is hurdling. Its appears that it didn't regester the foot placement in frame ten. I can go back an replace the foot but I have to do it on a number of frames establish foot contaqct on the ground. I am using v12q. I don't have the inverted knee problem others have discussed. I did set the balance and balance riged to 0 per the tutorial. Any ideas??
Last reply by mtpeak2, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 555 views
I have a group of students working on 30 sec animations in groups. Each person is working on diferent parts. My question is can you put 2 choreographys together in one project. The effect they are looking for is almost like a change of scenes. Is there a better way to do this? Andy
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 4 replies
- 393 views
Like a tire and rim that's speeding down the street, or in my case, the prop of a small airplane. I've got the prop boned, but I want the prop to look like it's going 5000rpm. How do I achieve that look?
Last reply by Eric2575, -
- 9 replies
- 540 views
I'm wondering how to make an object disappear over an amount of time? I want my nuclear membrane to disappear.
Last reply by johnl3d, -
- 2 replies
- 453 views
While I just got A:M v11.1, I see that v12 is out. I've searched the Hash, Inc. site but can't find a description of it. Can't anyone tell me what's new? Also, is it true that v.13 is in beta? Then too, I see that there is an A:M 200X Complete Guide [ 'hope I got the title right] coming. The Hash Minute Movie contest is promising one as a prize, so I pre-ordered a copy on Amazon.com, but they didn't give a release date. Anyone know when it's due out?
Last reply by Slipin Lizard, -
- 2 replies
- 421 views
Hello everyone, I've just ordered A:M and I would like to get a new PC to run it on. Does anyone have any recommendations on the following: 1) Processor - AMD or Intel? What processor would give best results in A:M, best speed etc? 2) 32 bit or 64 bit - is it worth getting an AMD64 processor? 3) How much memory? - I will probably get 1Gb Ram, is it worth getting more? 4) Graphics card - Nvidia, ATi - in the past I have stuck with Nvidia - better the devil you know? Any other recommendations would be gratefully accepted
Last reply by jon, -
- 0 replies
- 377 views
Can I use Booleans with Toon. I have attached a project, that should work. Can anybody please have a look and tell me whats wrong with it? Thank you Jake stadiumBoolTest.zip
Last reply by jakerupert, -
- 1 reply
- 363 views
Hi, I'm following the "Flower Power" exercise in the "Art of..." book. I'm unable to correctly place control points near the y-axis because the points are snapping to the points on the grid. How do I toggle the 'snap to grid' feature in the modeling window? Cheers!
Last reply by Eric2575, -
- 5 replies
- 464 views
Hi! I've been working on "The Door's Stuck" animation chapter. I've devised the script so that Shaggy tugs on the door slowly once or twice, then tugs three times in quick succession. All of that gets me to frame 00:06:00 or so. At 00:06:00, I'd like Shaggy to turn his head to the camera as if to say "What the Heck?" So, at 00:06:00, I did a "Make KeyFrame" and at 00:06:10 I set a key frame and turned his head toward the camera. My PROBLEM is that now his head starts turning to the camera from the first frame (00:00:00) instead of at 00:06:10, where I'd like him to start turning. Please help me figure out how to isolate moves between a set of frames,…
Last reply by Laconic, -
- 4 replies
- 422 views
Although I'm not exactly a new user, I think these questions fit in here nicely. 1. When a cp is selected and the turn manipulator is used in conjunction with the Ctrl key, the rotation is constrained to the vertical (I think it's the vertical). Is there another key to constrain a turn in the horizontal? 2. Is it possible to make and apply a cookie cut decal to a single patch, where the decal is smaller than the circumference of the patch, without making the edges that are outside the decal disappear? So far I have been unable to do that, but it may be the way I am making the decal with alpha and all. So far, when I apply a decal like that, say just a simpl…
Last reply by Eric2575, -
- 2 followers
- 2 replies
- 549 views
Hi everybody. While I'm new to the forums, I've been using AM since v9 in 2002 and was planning to upgrade to the 2006 version. So please bear with me as some of these questions might seem elementary. I was wondering what exactly the v12.Op Installer available at this site did, and whether that was the same as ordering the 2006 upgrade from the AM flyer that recently came in the mail. One thing that kinda worried me was accidentally scratching the AM CD, and having to buy the whole thing over again. It happened once before, with my 2002 CD. I had the Complete Guide to AM:2002 by David Rogers and the 2002 program itself, and was content to stick with that…
Last reply by NancyGormezano, -
- 12 replies
- 595 views
One of the most rustrating things about learning a new app., is remembering where the tools live. I know I managed this once before, but for the life of me, I cannot remember where to go to specify a image as a Bump Map.
Last reply by Kelley, -
My mate Pengo!
by Guest SandGroper- 7 replies
- 527 views
Hey here is a model of my first character my mate pengo! Please dont laugh as pengy gets very upset if you do, he may even bite your nuts off so be nice . cheers groper btw : whats the deal with attaching him ....some upload error?
Last reply by higginsdj, -
- 2 replies
- 453 views
"white triangle to the left of pedal under groups" on project workspace. The little toggle switch is missing. It seems that I remember in choreography and action the switch is there. For some reason I don't have it. I notice that in the online tutorial as soon as the instructor starts, it's there. How do I get it back? Thanks
Last reply by Douglas, -
- 7 replies
- 680 views
I'm modeling a shotgun shell, and I would like to put some decals on the side. I have one decal that I've created that says "Remington" and it has an alpha map. I import it and change the application method to cylindrical, but when I apply it there are about 20 different "Remington"s stamped around the entire model. Spherical and Planar produce different, but undesired results. Any suggestions?
Last reply by KenH, -
- 2 replies
- 435 views
I've had A:M in my hands for over a year now ever since our Man with the money met (I think) Martin Hash at a trade show and came back with the software and told me to check it out. I regret that I've failed to take advantage of this forum the way I should... ditto with contributions. I'm trying to make up for lost time. Anyway, to the point: when I started out rendering, I went directly to AVI/MOV files. I've since realized that's wrong. I'll skip the long stories about how I learned them, but here are things I've learned: Products like Sorensen Squeeze (or Divx products) do a heckuva better job as a post-process product than any part of a direct render outpu…
Last reply by Slipin Lizard, -
- 0 replies
- 326 views
I'm building a house with a stone foundation. My texture map isn't long enough so I'm duping it and hiding the seam with a wooden beam. The top image is the Modeling Window. But in the Choreography, it jumps forward. Any ideas as to why?[attachmentid=13247]
Last reply by Kelley, -
- 2 replies
- 422 views
Is there a way to reset the program to the defaults?
Last reply by MMZ_TimeLord, -
- 0 replies
- 408 views
I thought that AM did export BVH files ..but I am having a bit of trouble finding where or how that is done. Could anyone direct me to a link or tutorial ? Thanks. I own version 12.
Last reply by Motility, -
- 4 replies
- 493 views
All the advice I've been getting is starting to bear fruit. The fish is attached to its own path, and an Action has been applied, and he swims and move his fins. But...it's this damned fog! I want some, but when he swims to the back of the circular loop, he disappears. I only have one camera, and I found the Fog settings. I punched in numbers repeatedly and nothing changed. Then I enabled IGNORE FOG. [ON] No change. Then I turned fog itself to OFF. No change. So...where's this fog coming from? [Thanks].[attachmentid=13144]
Last reply by Kelley, -
- 2 replies
- 496 views
Is there any way to create multiple vanishing points to distort perspective?
Last reply by Karl, -
Hello all, I have built a 8ft, high 6ft wide, and 5ft deep sound proof computer room. The walls are 8in thick using various sound baffles. At the end of the month i am going to order my computer(ABOUT TIME). This computer is going to be for the sole purpose of making a 2-D cartoon like the simpsons. I needed a 3-d program with bone structure that converted to 2-d. I am going to have no programs except for animation and windows xp pro on it. I have a laptop off to the left to surf the web and listen to music so this one will be off line. The computer spec's are as follow's: 2048mb pc3200 ddr400 memory 300gb 7200rpm 16mb serial ata hard drive 2- n…
Last reply by 8up, -
- 3 replies
- 453 views
Ok for a Wotw movie i'm doing i want to use nulls in the legs of my tripod but i don't know how to work them all i know how to do it file new null and thats it how do i get the nulls to act like the ones in the feet, hands, and hips of actors?
Last reply by itsjustme, -
- 1 follower
- 6 replies
- 768 views
Here's the box I put myself into: I have a character looking at another and eye focus is manually placed on the 2nd character. The camera then starts to move in on the first character for a close up and character turns to address the viewer. The camera is still in motion as the character looks at it. I figured I'd be clever and translate eye-focus to the camera. However, so the eyes would move somewhat naturally, I'd go to the channel for enforcing translation and changed the type from hold to linear. Well, sure enough, it sorta worked... but not totally as I expected. As soon as enforcement rose above 0%, the eye focus immediately leaped to a point just a bit in f…
Last reply by ArgleBargle, -
- 2 replies
- 444 views
I forgot how to put decals on a model, and I can't find how to do it in the book! Oops, I accidentally posted 2, sorry.
Last reply by Slipin Lizard, -
- 2 replies
- 498 views
I have AM 11.1b and each time i render a video the video finnishes but when i try to go to the folder and view the file the computer says windows has experienced an error and needs to close. is there any type of patch or solution to this problem?
Last reply by gsellis, -
- 1 reply
- 426 views
Hi there, I want to toonrender a model of mine with blackoutline only upon white. I made all the according changes in the renderoptions, modelproperties and cameraoptions and it works fine in the previewrender, but when I do a final render in the chor, I get only a total black picture. Any help anybody please? What am I possibly doing wrong? AM12 q WinXP Thank you ;>/ Jake
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 5 replies
- 568 views
I'm building my first path, but one of the points developed a kink where I want it smooth. I found the path in the PWS Choreograhy list, I've got it selected with a yellow box...but how to display the CP that I need to fix?[attachmentid=13115]
Last reply by Kelley, -
- 2 followers
- 19 replies
- 1.4k views
Hello, I think this is what David refers to as "gamma popping" in his book. Sometimes when I am animating a character in the Chor, the arms in particular will look a little "planar" and concave along one spline (flattened-looking). If I switch to muscle mode and select what I think is the offending CP with its spline direction, it will suddenly go back to the way it should look. I understand what gamma does, but because this character is not a mechanical model, I haven't adjusted the gamma at all. All randomly sampled CPs have a (default?) gamma of 0%. It's as if occasionally a spline forgets whether it is to bend in or out. As I said, as soon as I touch a CP+splin…
Last reply by sbk, -
Mist Render
by Tacku- 2 replies
- 501 views
I have a problem. Whenever I render a mist effect in action mode, it turns out great. But when I render in Chor, it turns out like a transparent white sphere. What's the deal?
Last reply by cuboos, -
- 6 replies
- 652 views
can some one send me the font wizard? or upload it as a zip or post a link to ware i can download it i need it for a project
Last reply by cuboos, -
- 2 replies
- 362 views
I made a simple decal in photoshop with an alpha channel to be used as a cookie cut in AM. Once pasted and applied as cookie cut, the decals does it's job, but the patches that lie withing the edges of the decal do not render. I'm sure there is a very simple explanation and fix, but I'm not an expert on decals, sooooo...anyone?
Last reply by Eric2575, -
- 5 replies
- 575 views
I'm trying to finish all of TAoAM and was just about to start the one where they all do the cancan...number two i think. i open a choreography, and start to drag the stage to the choreography window...then a window pops up that says "parameter is incorrect" and the mouse dissapears onthe AM screen...help?
Last reply by .:shortdog:., -
- 6 followers
- 147 replies
- 10.3k views
It is that time again. Time for upgrading to the latest edition of Animation:Master. As a way of saying thanks for your continued support of the New Users Forum I will again be raffling off a free upgrade here in the New Users Forum. This year the rules have changed a little in order to include more A:M Users and to thank everyone for supporting new users of A:M. The rules: 1) Only legal owners of Animation:Master (any version) are eligible. 2) Hash Inc is not affiliated with this contest and no connection with them should be inferred. 3) A:M Users can enter their names in the contest twice* 3a) A:M Users must post in this thread to indic…
Last reply by dborruso, -
- 1 follower
- 0 replies
- 394 views
Hi, I wanted to stamp a decal on my character, but she had a light list already. Decal was nothing special, targa with alpha also tried without (it made no difference)... and suddenly.. she was in darkness. No light list. Anyone else have this problem? Using 12.0q for Mac 10.3.4. Seana
Last reply by sbk, -
- 3 replies
- 468 views
Following along with the book Excercise 5 Take A Walk, I've been unable to fix the slipping occuring. I've adjusted the stride length, shortening both points, lengthening both points, lengthening one point while shortening the other, nothing seems to really work. How do you adjust the stride length to get rid of slipping?
Last reply by sbk, -
- 5 replies
- 449 views
I've had good success using a Klieg light with a rotoscope on it to fake being an overhead projector. However, I need to switch to another image during the choreography. I've put multiple rotoscopes on the light, but only the first one turns up. I've changed the order of the rotoscopes. Again, just the first. I've changed the transparencies of the rotoscopes. Still nothing. I've tried changing the "on top" setting. Again, no change. Stranger still, in the choreography, I get a group of blank oddities. They are attached. How do I make this work right? Is there another way to do this. I don't need to go as fancy as faking sliding an overhead sheet off the su…
Last reply by ArgleBargle, -
- 2 replies
- 522 views
How do you go about making it so a model i have has a picture to go with it? Thanks!
Last reply by ArgleBargle, -
- 0 replies
- 390 views
Sorry... accidently posted this twice. Admin can DELETE this post. Sorry
Last reply by phnxpyre, -
- 5 replies
- 563 views
How do I completely duplicate a model with groups, poses, and sub folders?
Last reply by KenH, -
- 2 replies
- 427 views
Hi, after I´ve installed A:M and the 12.q upgrade, I found, that all object in the libraries are there two times. Does that mean, I´ve made something wrong during installation? Thanks a lot RingerT
Last reply by Dhar, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 682 views
Well, I've decided to get A:M. Even though I will post here again, I just wanna say thanks to you guys, these forums have been very helpfull with my decision making. So, I'm going to buy it in about three months or so, until then I'll make a good old fasioned analog effects mafia movie, and put off my fan film until I get A:M. Thanks again!
Last reply by Tacku, -
- 1 follower
- 9 replies
- 735 views
Hello all, I am trying to use the Dwarrowdelf set so generously donated by William Sutton, as found on the Hash2005 CD under data\models\sci-fi\balrog. I loaded the dwarrowdelf.prj file and tried to render out (to a file) one frame as a TGA. Although I specify the beginning and ending time as the first frame, the render nonetheless begins rendering all 300 frames. When I abort the process after waiting for one or two frames to have finished, I find that the resulting TGA files are basically empty and unreadable. By the way, I tried with both AVI and Quicktime and both of those also ignore my direction to only render a subset of all the frames. (In mucking a…
Last reply by RoyBU, -
- 1 follower
- 6 replies
- 497 views
I'm trying to add a series of flat Shelf Corals to the scene. It would make life a lot easier if I could select one within the camera view, duplicate it, and adjust its position...rather than dragging down another from Objects>Choreography, then have to back 'way out [visually] to find it, rotate it, drag it into position, then scale.[attachmentid=12929]
Last reply by heyvern, -
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 602 views
Okay, I am this far on this tutorial. I have tried this tutorial a number of times since I first received A:M v11.1. [attachmentid=12934] Anywho, my question is this. I am about to start adding splines around the brow and cheeks, as it sais in the book, but do I do this like it was done in the Plane tutorial???? Or do I just click add, and just start from an exsisting CP. Thanks
Last reply by Odog2020,