Rodney

Glad to have you back. You are a friend indeed to be hooking your friend up like that with a copy of A:M. Bet you make his day. That is very astute of you. Martin Hash himself has stated that TaoA:M is 'the way' of Animation and suggested the proper spelling 'TaoA:M'. While I've resisted any religious over/undertones I changed my spelling from 'TAoA:M' to 'TaoA:M' several years ago to get in line with that reading for those that are so inclined to follow that interpretation. You won't find me correcting people that spell it other ways or just call it 'the manual' though. Purists are free to find fault with me there. I'm only human. For what its worth... There is no doubt in my mind that TaoA:M is 'the way' to enlightenment in 3D animation so I'm rather pleased with that reading of the title these days. Every time I read through the book I find new paths to understanding in Animation:Master and in animation in general. A lot of inspiration was poured into that book and yet I find it only hints at what we find waiting for us there.

Cross, Several years ago I started modeling the Unknown characters too (I only modeled a few though before I moved on to something else). Nice to see you did the whole character set (or most of them at least!). Great job. ...and yes... I could read the whole thing. I was exposed to that movie in Japan when it was first released. We bought a booklet at the theater that had games and such encoded with the set of characters. I set out to show my daughters how to read all of it. Yeah... it was all the rage. My goal with modeling the characters was to do animation on a path of the letters flying around in circles like in the movie. It seemed like a good idea at the time...

Alex, Welcome to the A:M Forum! I think your experience will help you transition well and complement what you have already learned. My suggestion... spend as much time with the resources available to you (including this forum) and have fun with the TaoA:M exercises. Emerse yourself in it if you can. ---------------------------------------------------- ...and welcome back to JJstudios! Some more good reasons for the $49 subscription. A:M is now cheap enough the guy you lent A:M to can afford it. Make sure he knows about the websubscription then we can welcome him too! For the record... Lighting should be easier now... moreso than it was years ago. There is more online documentation, more widespread knowledge of how to light scenes and more experimentation than there was before. The TWO movie helped a few more people really learn about Lighting too. Modeling... it can be difficult to wrap your brain around until you think of it more like drawing. Then once the model starts to take form the paradym changes to one more like molding and modeling clay. If you post your work in the WIP section others will gladly join in and help you through the rough spots.

Eric, You've been around the forum for quite a while so I'm surprised you don't know. A:M comes with several Exporters. 3DS is one of them. There are optimal ways to export models for use with each format. I don't know what they are so will defer to those more knowledgeable. Where you are likely to have the most problems is with rigging and decaling and having those retained in the Export. But... charge the client for the work or perhaps they (or you) can subcontract with someone for the work once the models are in the required format. This is definitely one area where it won't pay to sell your work too low or undercut yourself to make a deal. If clients are use to getting work done cheaply with A:M they may expect the same from when working with other products too. All products are not created the same. Once you get your research done and know what work will go into it pPerhaps you can let them know how much it will cost to have one (assets in A:M's formats) , the other (assets for use with other programs)... or both. Throw into the contract a 1 year license to A:M for $49 so they can use the assets in A:M too.

This sounds familiar to me. Perhaps you are using Windows Vista? I occasionally get an RPC error that... believe it or not... refuses to let me shut A:M down. A nice problem to have I must admit. The problem on my end however is that if I ever get that 'Switch to' dialogue it never lets me switch to anything. There is usually a 'Cancel' button too but I can't cancel anything either. And the 'X' up there in the upper right corner is no help either as it refuses to close the dialogue box. This sounds like the same problem that you are having. I end up having to terminate A:M via Control/Alt/Delete and killing A:M via Task Manager (as Caroline describes). I've had similar problems with Coreldraw in Windows Vista. Before I use to get the error occasionally upon startup too. As I recall what fixed it for me was reinstalling (or simply running) A:M with Administrative rights on. In Vista you can Right Click and choose (Run As Administrator). I admit my attack was more of a workaround as I never really discovered what the problem was. I don't remember reinstalling A:M as an Admin but that may have been it. If I find out anything more I'll try to post it here.

That has to be some of the best moving dust I've seen posted to date. Very effective. Not really any suggestion to offer here as I know you are just testing the dust. I don't know how this fits in with adjacent shots in the sequence but if its a stampede throw in additional dust coming in from off screen (screen left). I'm sure you've got that angle covered. Looking really good! I assume your stagecoach may play a role in this music video?

It looks like Robert has answered all your questions. I'll chime in too. I believe Hash Inc has removed many of the older video tutorials from their online store. Those that weren't as current with the times. What is there should apply to current releases pretty closely. I would caution you against purchasing second hand for a number of reasons. Here are a few. When you purchase second hand you are not purchasing the license. Hash Inc has relunctantly transferred licenses before but its really bad juju. When you purchase A:M the license is not transferrable unless you transfer that through Hash Inc. There are always extenuating circumstances where this may be a reasonable choice. For instance, I die. Can I transfer the license to my daughter? I think the new subscription method addresses this in a very effective way. If I die today... my daughter could use my license of A:M for the remainder of the year and then decide whether to purchase a license of her own. Subscribing/purchasing from Hash Inc helps them improve the program. It pays the programmers to code. It pays the bills and keeps the virtual lights on. It pays to keep this forum going. You may get a bum deal from second hand purchasing in which case you'll definitely not get active support. If everyone upgraded for $49 every year we'd see all versions get more support. But people upgrade that often when the version they are already using is more power than they need already. Do we fully realize the impact that has on the updates we will want to purchase in the future? Purchasing from Hash Inc guarantees you are getting a fully licensed program with Hash Inc's stamp of approval. Being in the same version as the majority of others in the forum has clear advantages for the user as well as Hash Inc. It gives us all a common ground on which to stand and communicate. It makes bug tracking and feature enhancing easier too as the variables that need to be considered are significantly reduced. Updating to A:M now sends a clear message to Hash Inc that you are involved and interested in the future. This directs their time and investment. Holding back sends the opposite message. I generally prefer the CD... for a host of reasons I won't go into. But the websubscription is great stuff if you just want to use A:M to its fullest right now. If you are waiting for the future you will never get there. I purchased two licenses for $98. Best decision I've make in years. Got $49? Got a year to apply to learning and using A:M? CLICK BAM! DONE.

Randy, What Caroline said. To my knowledge there are two purchasing options available barring purchases worked out through Hash Inc such as volume discounts and such on a case by case basis. A:M (the program) is the same in both. (i.e. no 'limited' versions) Purchasing the CD package ($299) will get you the 'perpetual' license. No strings. No catches. Purchasing the websubscription ($49) will get you a one year license. No strings. No catches. If you have no CD you have the one year license. There is no student version. One A:M for everyone. Note: There is no such thing as a perpetual license. Support for both packages (CD and websubscription) is limited to 12 months. The forum can and will extend that support considerably of course due to (if I may be so bold) excellent user to user support but Hash Inc support is based on the 12 month subscription. They may support you further than the expiration of the license but it pays to stay current. $49 a year makes that affordable. Additional support agreements can be worked through Hash Inc directly. Welcome again to A:M and the A:M Forum.

Unless the version tracking part o' my brain is broke I think you can find it here on Hash Inc's ftp site: ftp://ftp.hash.com/pub/updates/windows Download and install the AM2006.exe file located in the AM2006 folder. Once finished check via A:M's Help menu to see what version it has installed. You may be able to install and run this file so give it a try first: ftp://ftp.hash.com/pub/updates/windows/Am2007/v13/ If it installs but asks for a CD you don't have... you have an older subscription version and need to install from the 2006 folder.

I believe you set the looping/repeating in the Action you apply to the Flock. I'll investigate. Its been awhile since I 'flocked'.

I'll add this method to the mix as it can be useful when dealing with large numbers of models needing to be changed at the same time. If it takes less time than manually changing the shortcuts or editing the Chor file in a text editor it may be of use to you some day. Place your models in different folders thusly: Folder 3 Contents: Second model Folder 2 Contents: First model Folder 1 (Master Folder) Contents: (Empty) As needed copy and replace the files in Folder one1 with files from Folder 2 or 3. A:M will not care that you've changed the file as the shortcut will still point to the same file. Note: The files in the various folders must be named the same of course or A:M will either not find the file or it will use the last one that was placed there. Having A:M attempt to render models that aren't linked to in the Master Folder is not going to work well. The models obviously cannot be embedded in the Chor/Project either or they will not link to the external files. Programatically this is an example of how you can get split rendering of objects out of a scene. The process would recursively replace all models except the one you wish to render with an 'empty' or transparent model. It should go without saying that this can be effectively used to exchange Proxy models with Master models in the same fashion. It might be useful for getting random models distributed throughout a scene as well by random selection/drag and drop into the Master folder.

The short answer (at the current moment) is "No". Not in the true sense of it. The long answer can be as varied as your ideas and ability to experiment, test and apply what you learn to your goal. When the next HAMR release is made public this might serve to satisfy many of your needs but the release date is not close as far as I know. Much still needs to be refined and perfected and such things take time (and a very dedicated programmer!). You can create some of the things you mention in A:M for use in A:M but anyone you need to access the data and functionality would have to own A:M too. Good news there of course... only $49 for A:M! You'll want to investigate the use of Constraints and Constraint Limits as well as Dynamics in A:M. A wonderful example of one 'application' created with such a setup is 'the Squetch Rig'. Some very innovative users of A:M designed the Squetch Rig interface with controls for animating all kinds of movement in the face. While not specifically on target with your goals... the basic premise behind it is the same. There is at least one Tech Talk that demonstrates interactive movement where objects moved effect others in ways compatible with your goals. I believe its still linked in the Tutorials forum. It is 'tech talked' by Noel I believe. Animating the color of something via another object should be fairly straightforward as well. Look at the Squetch Rig and see the Null targets control colors changed by Pose Sliders rather than muscles of the face. How to do all of this... yikes... I dunno. Sorry. I can't program inside or outside of A:M. Setups like the Squetch Rig do demonstrate how its possible though. When HAMR is released it will help move these capabilities even further out into the world.

I should have added this little tip as often its thought that motion blur only results from using 3D models in motion. You can Motion Blur images too! With this method you render out your action without Motion Blur then reimport the rendered images (as a camera rotoscope) and test them out with different settings. Not only can you get some nice motion blur you can save a lot of time in rendering.

One of the best ways to discover what works is to test a range of settings with a simple model. With Motion Blur just make sure Objects are moving in the scene and render out a few tests with different percentage values; maybe 20, 50, 75, 100. You can try the test with two simple balls (one moving and one static/in place) then move on to more complex models/characters once you find settings of interest to you. Once you find a blur you like you can experiment with the spacing of the objects movement themselves. You'll find the spacing will make a big difference in motion blur. The more frames the slower the motion will appear. Fewer frames will increase the speed. ...and of course... the motion blur should serve a purpose. If inserted everywhere the effect will be diminished. Don't forget to post your results here in the forum ! The RenderPanel Options Dialogue looks like this (Note that MultiPass is On):

Ditto for Eric's results with Bias settings maintaining their curvature in v15. Only running tests with simple splines though. Animated focal length; I can set the focal length in the chor. to animate over time but can for the life of me figure out how to get the results to render. The focal length stays locked onto the first one set, the animated focal length DOES show in wireframe chor mode but refuses to render. Make sure you have 'Use Camera Settings' toggled on in your Render Panel or you'll get the Render Panels settings in the render. Also... probably not your problem but... just in case... make sure you have selected the view from the proper Camera prior to rendering. If you have more than one. I'm not sure about your Camera coordinates issue. I'd have to know a little more about your project to know what the best solution would be. Perhaps you would be better served by rendering from 'Birds Eye' view? That will give you the angles you are after automatically (I think).

Simply wonderful! Very nice touches throughout. I especially like the facial animation but your design sense and pacing is great too. As has been requested... More please!

I use to prefer the method Ken describes (Right Click and add the Light in the Model) and have used constraints to bind lights to Models at times too. I've found another method that seems to be a lot more versatile especially where you aren't sure what changes you may make to lights later on in a project. It grants you a lot of flexibility in editing and adjusting the lights over time and through 3D space. Create an Action (selecting the Model you want to use / it can even be an empty Model) and drag and drop your Lights into the Action. Then when you need the Lights added to the Model you can simply add the Action to the Model in a Choreography. Another benefit is that you should be able to create and organize Libraries of the Lights for reuse later. Yet another benefit if a little thought is put into it... you can apply the Action to other unrelated Models easily without breaking Constraints. Cons of using Lights in Actions? I'm sure there are some but I can't think of any at the moment. Perhaps when using Pose Sliders?

Congrats on your purchase and welcome to the A:M Forum! Its great to have you here.

Drag and Drop functions in A:M are context sensitive so the answer here isn't an absolute in every case but... in general: Image files can be Drag/Dropped onto selected Groups Sound files can be placed into Actions and Choreographies Model files can be moved into Actions and Choreopgrapies Actions can be dropped onto any model in a Choreopgraphy Choreographies can be added to any project Post Effects can be dropped onto any Camera/Composite All of these will open in their default location if Double Clicked. There is a little more to it but thats what I recall from memory. This is an interesting question and I should know the answer to it. I believe the Folder is a fuction of the text in the Library file itself. To test this you can create a new Folder within a Library and then exit A:M. Then in a Text Editor delete (or better yet... rename) the Folder entry in the .LBR file. When you next open the Library in A:M it will have changed. So... Folder Libraries are created within the Library folder itself. (I'll try to check this again next time I'm in A:M) I believe you've got it. I think you've figured this one out. You are quite correct about the CD data though and those using Libraries should learn this early. You cannot change the data on the CDs easily (exception would be a rewritable CD of course) and therefore you cannot add to those libraries. Futhermore when you attempt to save changes to a model/project referenced on the CD you will get an error. The files need to be copied to harddrive first. Yes. You've got it! What Glenn said.

Aaron, You have already have found your answer but... just in case. The question marks are generally an indication that the files are not where they are suppose to be. The Libarary is pointing to them but they aren't where they are expected to be. If you have just installed A:M is it possible that you didn't download the files? (Its a separate download)

A:M's pointer(s) to the folder(s) where the .LBR files are located determines what is listed in the dropdown list. To test this try duplicating a Library file. Rename it something distinctive so you will recognize it in your list. You can also create an empty text file and A:M will recognize it in the folder as an empty Library as long as it has the .LBR extension. If you open a Libary file in a text editor you'll see the answer to this question on display. Library files are text files with the type of resource and the location of the resource listed. The user doesn't see the shortcut though... they see the graphic representation of an assigned Preview Image. Of note, the Preview Image for the resource is part of the resource itself. Break the shortcut/link and the image is lost too. If there is no Preview Image asssigned by the user and the resource is where the shortcut points to A:M assigns a default image to it based on the type of file (model, project, action etc.). You don't add new paths to Models in Options | Folders. The models are added to the Library you place them in via drag and drop, creating the shortcut by Right Clicking and adding the shortcut in the Libary itself, typing in the path of the resource manually in a text editor or via an automated method (Libary Manager for instance). The path to the Libary isn't really related to this as the resources still reside in the place they always have. In this sense you could have multiple Libaries all pointing at similar locations but containing very different data. This does then beg the question... why have a whole lot of Libraries? If you don't need more than 1 or two it might be recommended to keep them to a minimum. Rather than create new Libraries you could instead create Folders within a single Library that can satisfy your needs. Where muliple Libraries may have their best advantage is when sharing files with other people. As long as you have the same Libary and the resources are all in place you will see the same thing as them. When you select 'All Libraries' from the dropdown list you are sure to get duplicate models if you have Libraries that point to the same resources. This can get confusing and you can accidentally wreck a good Libary if you start deleting shortcuts at random. This is another reason to keep your Libararies specialized and to a minimum. Of course selecting the individual Libary will prevent the duplication as only the resources shown in that Libary will be in view. My response here is a bit random. I apologize for that. If you open a .LBR file in a text editor it will be a lot more clear what is going on with Library files. In summary: A:M points to the Libary. The Library points to compatible files. (Actions with Actions, Post Effects with Post Effects, etc.) With Libraries you can then organize, reorganize and access those files with ease (and without moving them from their actual location) via drag and drop or double click.

I'm able to get into Community but not on all computers. Everything appears to be working and I had a chat a week or so ago but... generally no one replies to my chats. (must be my breath?) Steve Sappington recently updated the links on several Community tabs and they all work. I do have one computer that refuses to connect. That computer doesn't allow me in to Community at all however so its some setting there. Make sure your Internet Browser's cache is cleaned out. The following is a little too vague. Perhaps you can provide more specifics? The Community window is primary a collection of Links (Support links, A:M Films and TWO wiki at the moment). Other than links and browsing associated with that the Chat window is the only thing I can think of that wouldn't work. Outside of the Community window not working at all of course. As you say you are able to log in at least that works. In a chat window it is a good practice to get into to Right Click and select 'Clear' from time to time. This clears the chat cache and allows new text to come in. If you don't do this clearing process from time to time people may chat but you won't see the text of their words.

Justin posted this message elsewhere the forum as well as here. If you can help him see that message. http://www.hash.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=31496

He's cute.

I've only had a few moments to explore but I'm loving the improvements already. The changes in the face rig alone are tops in my book. Now to find more time to explore. Nice. Great job guys!