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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.
4,141 topics in this forum
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- 9 replies
- 1.1k views
Help! I have two error messages I have researched and can't fix. 1. When I open A:M I get the message "unable to load plug-in [/applications/animation master 16.0/textures/simbiont2.atx], -err- This one doesn't seem to cause any problem, but because I have another error (below) I thought I'd mention it. 2. When I create a new dope sheet, I add a sentence then get the message "dictionary modified or index file missing. Recreating index file" This message takes me to a "locate file" dialog box, and at the bottom of the dialog I can see that it's expecting a *.i file. SOOOO, I can't make my characters talk! Btw, I have version 16.0b and I'm ru…
Last reply by purplegirl, -
- 13 replies
- 748 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, -
- 3 replies
- 470 views
Ok, so I have decided that rather than try and tackle brand new material when I'm exhausted at the end of the day, I'm going to try to finish things I'm a bit more proficient at, like modeling projects I've been working on. I only need to do a few more parts for my treasure chest, and it will be done. One of those things is a clasp for the padlock to go through. I'm trying to make a U-shaped piece of metal, and have drawn out my path and the cross-section for the path. When I do the extrude along a path operation, though, I get a strange twist in the object. I don't see any kind of twist settings in the plugin, so I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. …
Last reply by Roger, -
- 5 replies
- 695 views
I'm trying to create a Choreography, that is better suited to make reflective metallic surfaces more realistic. The default Choreography with ground and background makes a reflective objects look a bit unrealistic and dead. Adding more objects helps, but also increase render time. I've created a 360° skydome, what does a good job making it more live like and realistic looking, but it's missing a visible light source, the sun. SO I'm trying to make a light source to actually show up in the reflection instead of just emitting light with out being able to be seen. Problem is, I'm doing something wrong and I don't know what, any one able to give me nudge in…
Last reply by wildcard, -
- 4 replies
- 520 views
I built a simple character, root bone and 2 eyes with a null for target. Wondering how to give aim at constraint in model so as to not have to apply constraint everytime in chor or action. Thanks!! Also...check out Rossproductions2012 on YouTube, see what I've been working on....
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 4 replies
- 458 views
When choosing File > Save Project As, shouldn't you get a field for the name, in case you want to update the name or change it in some way? I don't have that, and I'm pretty sure it's something I used to have.
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 7 replies
- 869 views
OMG I can't get this subscription to work, support won't help me either. How did you guys get it working? I have tried everything here including stopping avast but nothing has worked. HELP PLEASE!
Last reply by Jason Simonds, -
- 22 replies
- 2.5k views
So I've been away from A:M for a few years and I have the itch to get back into it. So I dug out my A:M 10.5 CD and installed it (I don't have the money to upgrade). It's coming back quickly to me. I am trying to model my coffee table right now, but I'm stuck. Plus I don't think the way I did it was the best way. Here is a pic of my coffee table (please forgive the mess). As you might be able to see, it has rounded edges and corners and there is an indentation with a gold band that goes all the way around. The way I did it was I drew the outline of the profile of the table (Table1.jpg). I then extruded that and stretched it to make a square (Table2.jpg). I then copi…
Last reply by Fuchur, -
- 18 replies
- 1.7k views
These letters are made is sections, like bricks. I wish them to go from shiny and new to old and rusty over a period of about 2 seconds. Hold for anther two, then begin falling apart. At first a few pieces, then faster, then all at once drop to the floor (about twice the 'letter height' ) in a pile. Animating the material strength wold handle the first part, but how would I go about that. This is a Darktree/Simbiont material. Would it be worth setting up a Newton simulation for the falling apart? I've never worked with Newton before. (I've heard he is a nice guy, but can be difficult to get along with.) Lock.prj
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 7 replies
- 730 views
I have both the models for my treasure chest in the same project file, they both show up in the PWS. However, they're in separate windows and I'm not sure how to combine them into the same window, other than using cut and paste or exporting a model and then reimporting it into whichever window I choose to be the active one. Is this how it's done or is there something obvious I'm missing?
Last reply by Gerry, -
- 2 replies
- 486 views
I brought a rotoscope in to help me make the side pieces for the top of my treasure chest. Now that I'm done with it, how do I get rid of it? I tried right clicking and deleting, tried hitting the delete button, nothing is working so far.
Last reply by Roger, -
- 5 replies
- 747 views
I've experienced a system crash, and AM needs my serial number to re-activate, which I can't seem to find. Help. John Bailey
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 39 replies
- 2.1k views
Here's a Noob question for you guys that I missed on somewhere down the road. Is it possible to snap a bone to a CP's position? If so, how might that be accomplished? William
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 13 replies
- 1k views
At one point I modeled an old-timey padlock, but now can't find it. So I'm doing another one. Problem is, I can't quite close up front of it so it is a solid surface. The part that is giving me problems is the upper-right. I thought I was going to be able to have a 4 point patch and a 5 pointer, but the 5 point patch actually has six points, so I don't know how I'm going to fix this without creating a buch of extra patches. Also, it just kind of looks odd the way it is right now. I'm not sure that the splines are laid out right. The other thing, now that I've learned about beveling, I really don't have a clue how to bevel something like this. Its fairly …
Last reply by Roger, -
- 3 replies
- 394 views
Does a swept object appear as a just one piece to AM? I'm trying to select one of the cross sections that make it up to move it down or rotate it, but I can't. I don't get the yellow selection highlights like I normally do. I've tried Edit > Deselect all but all the CPs are still green. Any ideas what's going on?
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 12 replies
- 1.5k views
I'm trying to extrude along a path but not getting anywhere. I created my path in the shape of an arc (working on a handle for my chest) and I created the cross section ( an ellipse). When I choose Plugins > Wizards > Extruder then choose the arc as the path and the ellipse as the cross section to extrude along, I am not getting the results I would expect. I get something that sort of looks like I wanted, but not quite. One end is pinched, and I was expecting the cross section to stay more or less vertical in the middle and then curve off in the opposite direction on each side, like an arch. Here are two screenshots:
Last reply by Vertexspline, -
- 6 replies
- 1.4k views
hi, all. I purchased quicktime pro and exported targa sequences... can bring them into my images in project but can't bring them into camera unless I bring them all one at a time...hmmm...
Last reply by tomross2002, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 791 views
Hi, everybody. new forum user here. I am having trouble bringing an avi into my chor. as a camera rotoscope. some avi will work such as video that I have created with AM but video from my camera won't show up or render... any suggestions?
Last reply by Walter Baker, -
- 20 replies
- 1.6k views
I did an annual purchase of AM a few days ago. AM seems nice, was very happy to see the 3d connexion option, though every time I start AM the Windows Colors drops to the limited Windows 7 Basic palette. It's rather disappointing, as the windows 7 basic color palette looks ugly compared to the other palette. Does any know when this will probably get fixed? Also, what are the current rumors on OpenCL rendering?
Last reply by southpawami, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 890 views
Hi everyone! To give you an idea of how far I go back: My first version was called "Playmation" and I had to travel quite a bit, to a person's home, to see a demo AND buy my copy. Really, the program was called Will Vinton's Playmation -- bet Martin wasn't too happy about that. I still have that copy, though the box needed taping up. Still have the disks. Over the years, I have bought at least 3 or 4 subsequent versions -- I'm looking at two versions on my bookshelf right now (at least another is in the debris under my computer desk). My question is -- are there any records here at Hash Kingdom of my copies? It would save me considerable archaeological…
Last reply by TheSpleen, -
- 2 replies
- 785 views
hi people, does any one know a tutorial that teaches head modelling.
Last reply by mouseman, -
- 5 replies
- 690 views
v.13 Mac So I did a nice job on the Boneless Thom Lesson. How do I extract him (My Boneless Thom) and save him as a new .mdl so I can use him in other projects? How do you place him in "My Library" or is that not what I want to do? Where do you keep your collection of models after you create them?
Last reply by Schloss, -
- 11 replies
- 932 views
Hi I'm Keizerzilla and my mom got me Hash Animator for Christmas. We have tried to install it with the discs we were sent, but the program will not work. When we inserted the disc, the setup file did not come up. We tried double clicking on the file on the disc and it appeared to have downloaded it, but no icon of any kind to launch the program is on my computer. Does anyone have a suggestion as to what we failed to do or could it be that we didn't receive adequate disc info?
Last reply by mouseman, -
- 4 replies
- 644 views
my new wireless keyboard has no number pad, how do I switch views? Thanks.
Last reply by Gerry, -
- 1 follower
- 3 replies
- 933 views
Is there a newer version than Version 11? The store dosent say.I have v11 .It just says -This product was added to our catalog on Tuesday 06 November, 2007.The only copyright date I see is next to Mr.Dodo ,copyright 2003 Zandoria Studios ,did know if that was for the book or just the "Mr. Dodo" character.
Last reply by livewiresrus, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 844 views
I forgot what it is called but I modeled half of my guy on the left side, and since he is symmetrical there was a way to copy, invert (mirror image) and attach the other part to him. I thought it was Mirror Mode but reading up on that tool it is designed for making adjustments to the right and left sides at the same time. I would look for it but I don't remember what it was called?
Last reply by mouseman, -
- 4 replies
- 1.2k views
So , lets suppose the big bad gods took away all your own characters and you were left with choosing only one library actor. Who would it be? I am asking because I am still working on learning modeling and do hope hope to create my own characters someday but in the meantime I need to also work on learning animation techniques and just wondered what some of your thoughts would be on that. Thanks.
Last reply by Vertexspline, -
- 3 followers
- 33 replies
- 4.5k views
I bought my first copy of AM at a show in LA and Marshall sold me version 3 and told me to download version 4 when I got home. This was around the mid 90's give or take. I upgraded a few time and the last one around 2000 when they just made the native switch to the OSX. I upgraded again but was disappointed with the stability. I have a project coming up and thought AM would be good for it. So 11 years later I am tempted to get it. I did some searches here but nothing new came up. Is it finally stable or will I be disappointed? I know they were great at repairing bugs when they couple be replicated but that normal unexpectedly quieting and loosing work sucked to much.…
Last reply by Xtaz, -
- 1 follower
- 9 replies
- 1.9k views
I found these on Safe Harbor ,was just wondering if anyone has bought them or have heard anything about them be it good or bad.
Last reply by livewiresrus, -
- 1 follower
- 8 replies
- 1.2k views
Im new to all of this and everthing im working with is old v12 and all old tutorials,im hoping to scrape up the money to get $79 sub,and should I (since im just learning) better off getting the newest version or is most of the program the same ,and if i get to know v12 ill still know whats going on in v16.In a nutshell what has changed or is that too much to get into with me just starting out?Are there alot of plugins that were separate from A:M now a part of A:M and does set up machine still work in the newer versions,if you could point me in the right direction I would be very grateful.
Last reply by mouseman, -
- 1 follower
- 10 replies
- 631 views
SO I got my 2 new computers. I own AM V16 both Web and CD. I cant get AM to launch at all. I coppied my master lic but no help. I put in the code from the cd but no help. I also can not run the messengers for net render. Any ideas?
Last reply by jason1025, -
- 3 replies
- 569 views
Hi, I'm trying to do a rack focus and I keep getting these bubbles around the objects. In the example image I've uploaded, thats suppose to be an X Wing Fighter! You can see the X Wing but these bubbles appear around it. I've set up the render in the options panel to "Use Settings From the Camera." I've tried to turn on and off motion blur, Reflections, and shadows. Anyone else have this difficulty?
Last reply by John Bigboote, -
- 10 replies
- 1.1k 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, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 921 views
You know how we flatten models in a pose so that we can evenly distribute the decal. Well I cant remember how you actually apply the decal after you flatten the model in the pose.
Last reply by Vertexspline, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 787 views
Fluid Is it me or is there no mention of the settings in the tech ref?
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 1 follower
- 6 replies
- 484 views
In the tools tips Curved mode by selecting an object and hitting c or shift c. I cant find out what it does. Cant find it in the tech ref.
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 3 replies
- 414 views
I am hitting the "render to screen" button (the one immediately to the left of the render lock button) and am not getting any output to the screen - it renders like it normally does but then never shows the image on the screen. Render lock seems to work normally. Anyone have any ideas what may be going on?
Last reply by mouseman, -
- 3 replies
- 462 views
I remember a discussion recently about using bias handles; I think this post (Straighten a spline ring) was part of what I was thinking, but I vaguely remember there being more discussion on bias handles recently. Anyways, I'm starting to come to the conclusion that if I'm making a lot of bias handle changes, especially involving increase of the magnitude, the real problem is that I don't have enough geometry (splines and CPs) to support the structure that the model needs. For example, if I have rings of 4-CPs on the arms and am changing the bias handles to make them the right shape, I probably need 6- or 8-CP spline rings for the arm. Would you agree or disagr…
Last reply by mouseman, -
- 15 replies
- 878 views
Hello ,new to the forum and fairly new to A:M i boughta copy on ebay v12 looking for plugins mainly sweeper for now ,found a place to download it but i dont have a key # to activate it,wish i had v13 i guess its part on A:M now.Can anyone help me out?
Last reply by livewiresrus, -
- 1 follower
- 1 reply
- 545 views
What exactly does the World Space button do? I pressed it but didn't notice anything happen.
Last reply by jason1025, -
- 4 replies
- 577 views
I may just be trying to run too many things simultaneously but I don't recall experiencing this before. When I start a render and then open another window (such as for browsing the forum) A:M appears to stop rendering and waits until I return to start rendering again. Looking closer, the renderer doesn't seem to be completely stopping but seems to slow down considerably. I'd guess I've told Windows somewhere to give the active window full priority but... not sure where and when I would have set that. Any leads will be appreciated.
Last reply by Rodney, -
- 5 replies
- 675 views
Hello, Have a spline ring selected and some of the points on that ring are not as even as I would like them to be. Tried selecting the whole ring and then setting Y and Z values to 0 in the Properties for the Y and Z translate values, but that doesn't seem to have done anything. Did I do something wrong? I guess it is not critical that they be perfect, I can eyeball them and get something acceptable but it seems like there should be a better way to do this.
Last reply by Roger, -
- 12 replies
- 972 views
I tried searching the forum but decided the quickest way was to just post a question. I'm doing a second Simcloth skirt on my dancing girl (some new steps), just resaved the chor with the original skirt animated and deleted the splines folder. But when I go to do the simulation, her skirt just falls through the floor. I know this has been brought up (probably by me!) but I can't find an answer and I recollect that it was a simple fix. EDIT: Got the skirt to stay attached but now the simulation isn't happening. The skirt stays rigid. Awhile back I downloaded and watched the video tute on cloth made from a scene in TWO, however I lost it when my external drive went bel…
Last reply by robcat2075, -
- 15 replies
- 1.4k views
Hello and here is my scenario: I have developed MANY detailed models in A.M., V15 - that I want to have plastic Injection Molds made from. The Models are to Exact Scale because threaded Inserts will be needed and holes will need to be lined up and they need to interact with other components in the "Industry Standard" size. I am trying to convert one of the many files with little success. My Problems: 1. AM's MDL files are not supported except in Wings 3d (Old version). 2. When I export the model into a *.OBJ or *.DXF File - I lose my curved surfaces. I must have curved surfaces (I thought DXF supported that? No? How do Autocad users get their smooth model…
Last reply by Wildsided, -
- 7 replies
- 502 views
I was making my archery bow and had some materials applied. When I opened my project today, the materials were still in the PWS but non of them are showing up on the bow?!?!?!? I made a new project just to see if they worked there and they did. Not really sure what got changed to where non of the materials are visible on my model. Thoughts?
Last reply by thumperness, -
- 2 replies
- 570 views
I have put a character on a path every moves fine but the arms. In my action window arms move but not in the choreograph. What am I doing wrong. Thanks.
Last reply by Kimberly, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 517 views
i'm working with a modified Gala. did something to her hair, it suddenly displayed double layers intricately woven into the geometry. decided that the fastest way to solve this was to make new hair model from the original Gala by deleting all but the hair. dragged the new hair model onto Gala v. 6 in a model window, styled it and of course it didn't work. in chor, the hair model now trails 20 cms behind Gala 5cms to the side. due to many versions, opened the original to compare with current Gala, both are positioned the same. opened current new hair model to compare its position to hair placement on original and current Gala, no problems. …
Last reply by dblhelix, -
- 4 replies
- 678 views
Hey guys, got hired to do a custom 3D deep fryer basket for a patent application. I'm rendering the final model and I noticed that the camera (as camera's will do) is sort of warping the edges of the model. The further out from the center of the camera lens the more the perspective changes slightly. Is there any way to get a flat perspective so I can render this model like it was a drawing on a piece of paper? Any help is as always much appreciated. You probably know what I mean but image attached just the same.
Last reply by Rob_T, -
- 6 replies
- 644 views
I have worked through the tutorial in TAoAM on how to install the 2001 rig. and applied it to a simple model I have built. At the end of the tutorial it says " You may have to assign ~CP's to finger bones" but it doesn't explain how or where to look to find how to do that ? There is an earlier reference using the rabbit model to how to use the hand controls of the 2001 rig but I didn't see an explanation of how to assign points to the elaborate controls. I am probably missing something that is very obvious here but, could somebody point me to an explanation or tutorial on how to assign CP's to the hands in the 20001 rig ? I've got around it before …
Last reply by Simon Edmondson, -
- 3 replies
- 484 views
Campaign for a less wild transit. tapir. also means idiot or a person who disrupts traffic.
Last reply by Vertexspline,