Rodney

Reza, For the record the error I get when posting is: "Fatal error: Maximum execution time of 30 seconds exceeded in e:\http\forums\sources\Drivers\mySQL.php on line 101" Line 101 is makin' me mad! Added: I dropped a note in the Forum Support Forum.

I get that with almost every post I make. That shouldn't stop the image from uploading though... I use the backspace button twice then refresh and I see my post (with graphics if loaded). We probably need to clean out out browser caches to make the error go away. Just so you and I are seeing the same thing here's a screen shot. Note the File Attachment area with D:\Example.gif typed in. Browse for your file *on your harddrive* and select it. Then click the "Add Reply" button. Apologies if you are doing this already.

Reza, You should be able to upload the occasional updates right into your post! Look for the place to type the location of your file down below where you are typing your post. When you click submit, the graphic will upload with your post. Don't know that this will work in all instances though... BTW - Here is (the first of) your two latest updates for those who cannot access via copy/paste.

Ken, That's something I tend to forget. Thanks for reminding us as I'll stop posting links to the main FTP site. Is there any way you could add the words FASTER after the FTP mirror link on you main page? Like: FTP Site FTP Mirror (Faster) This would remind people like me when we are quickly surfing for an answer to post. I definitely don't want to contribute to slow connections on your server! Thanks!

Nope, I'm not smart enough to try that! Here's how to do it. I'll post pics if necessary. - Maintain your base but move it slightly above the 0 plane - Delete the target thingies (I keep forgeting their names) - Create a grid and place that as your target * Hide the parts of the grid where you want the roots! - Engage the Treeez wizard Note: For some reason the plugin drops the hidden areas to 0. I'd guess because they aren't really there but the information says create them so they're created at 0. *It's imprtant to note that this method might not work forever as Marcel's updates may eradicate this particular *feature* of Treeez. I'm experimenting with creating a whole forest with the click of one button but no good results to post just yet.

Sorry for the OT here but Animation Master is one of the reason's why I bought a PC rather than a Mac so many years ago. I wanted to buy a Mac. 'cause Mac's could draw pretty pictures! I saw them all the time in magazines, etc., etc. When I was debating whether to buy a PC or a Mac many factors weighed heavily on my mind. Money, compatibility, etc. I was leaning heavily toward the new Macs... I knew I wanted one but wasn't sure where I was going to find the money for one. I remember seeing an add for Animation Master and it mentioned something about Hybrid technology or somesuch... in short... A:M could run on a PC as well as a Mac! I might not have made my decision that day... but my 'note to self' held sway on my decision... the price of a used PC did the rest. I guess sometimes I can see the forest through the trees! (Hey, whaddya know back on topic!) Want to know how I made Marcel's plugin automatically create roots?

You and me both, Chris... you and me both. There is so much (information) I miss every day. I'd love to compile a lot of the stuff that I run across from time to time into another reader friendly form. Never seem to find the time... Are any of you out there writer's? Any people well versed in the art of interviewing? Product reviewers? Ad men/women? Editor? Publishers? Fanzine/Ezine contributors? Website copy writers/maintainers? I think there may be a need for you. Show yourselves!

Good Grief! I leave for a couple hours and come back to this!!! You guys are rocking down the house. Marcel, Your about to pass the 2000 hits mark for this post... with 100 replies. As a matter of fact, this post is the 100th posted reply!!! History in the making. I'm so proud!

John, You can extrude the base! Just make sure that click on the Model1 tag in the PWS. As long as you remain in the Action you won't be able to extrude. With a little luck I'll post a few shots of how NOT to use Marcel's plugin... while they were failed attempts they hint at interesting possibilities with a little ingenuity and the Treeez plugin! Has anyone done any toon rendered trees? Am I missing those as I quickly scroll throught the forest of posts here?

You sure seem to be having fun! I like your bear!. Keep on posting.

Wow again! Your posts really explain the process... and the results are truly impressive. I especially like your tip of reusing/altering your basic splines to create other faces. Now that is a useful and time saving tip! Keep inspiring us! There may be hope for us 2D types yet.

If there is a lesson to be learned I guess it might be... Animation Master users are born... not enlisted. A moment but a memory by Rodney Do not think to finish this work for the man's hands won't work with you Rather, Let it remain as appearing here in unfinished form an eternal work in progress. Er time and fate allow return unto this place in solemn remembrance what might have been still could be when we renew belief Dedicated: 23 Mar 04 Damn. Now he's got me writing poems... and cussing without emoticons

Ah... Zach! Not that Zach but that Zach! I must have been really tired when I wrote that as the last time I remember England (&Britain) and California weren't nearly as close as I might have imagined them to be! Wonderful kid? Didn't he call his Mom a vampire... and us old....

Don't let this guy fool you! His english is good enough to chat on a Thursday night for hours and hours and hours... David, 1) Glad to see you posting here. 2) Sorry to see you haven't got your Valkyrie converted yet. 3) Learning Animation Master at school?! We should all be so lucky! I'm jealous! I think I went to a website that might be related to your school last week... maybe not though... This young man... (26) - Remember now I'm psychic(!)... is the editor of an online animation magazine! Post a link please! At least I think you are... How many other spanish speaking-types have 40+MB movies of Macross mechs flying around? When I saw you post here in the forum, I IMMEDIATELY heard the theme music playing in my head... strange... I think you may have damaged something in my brain... Either that or I AM psychic and I woke up this morning with the music in my head. Critique: I really never got the chance to say it while chatting but I think your movie would look much improved if you added some quick cuts from image to image. It would 'flow' with the music, which is very fast paced in comparison to the images. You might not even really have to cut the length of the film. Maybe just zoom in on parts of the current shots, rotate a closeup here... and there... adjust the color... vary the variety a bit. Just a few pesos thrown your way, my friend! Welcome to the forum and the Animation Master community. You are going to have fun! Edit: Unless I'm mistaken, David is the editor of an animation magazine (not specifically 3D)

E tu Artbox? Not you too John... Can there be no secrets among friends? When I saw your post I summoned up the strength and typed out the whole 'explination' ... the big reveal! But I couldn't post it... I've just got to post at least one or two more pictures before the secret is revealed... the mask removed... forever. You'll find strength in simplicity my friends, "...a threefold cord is not quickly broken" Eccl4:12

Good job Frank! Let us hope that COOOL Darktrees + COOOL Treez Plugin = 1 or more COOOL candidate for acceptance from Marcel! To everyone: Awesome work! I'm really enjoying the different types of trees that can be generated with the plugin. Each just as unique and the personalities behind them. Too much fun!

Thanks for that motivational speech! Even those of us fully committed to the cause may stumble along the way... together... as a team... We Will Prevail! I think Nancy lives close to Mike... perhaps she can recon the AO and return will the intel we need. Wasbabi Woman Wonder... come in... ... (Need sleep... gotta go to work... drat, no choice... work it is)

Seriously, thanks for the comments. High praise from the two of you is worth the effort alone! When I get something going I'll post info and a project file, honest. I'm trying to learn not to post things too early as it kills the self motivation and I get distracted into something else... TIP: I did say I was faking this variable line stuff via line rendering and toon rendering so it really is nothing special. Note to self: Particles might work well too. Find out who did those cool writing animations with particles.

Nope. ...and flattery won't work... (or will it? I'll have to think...) *Added image: Lines with no (or little) variation

No one... gets left...behind. Arrrrgh.

Victor, I almost cussed when I saw your 'test'. (That's a good thing) Wowsers! Incredibles(!) Pixar has just gotta hire you! oh... um... nevermind then... disregard. Anyway, that is one sweet looking character! *and character test. Glad I could be here in the night to see it first. And we all thought you couldn't top Blitz! "Rough"... he says... "test"... he says... That's it. I'm giving up 3D... (Not!) You remain an inspiration to animators everywhere. Especially those here who love A:M!

Here's another test. Sorry for the delay. I was trying to get the perfect fade from grey to black and kept breaking my "perfect" settings and getting junk. The attached is all A:M except it was converted to .gif from .avi rendered out of A:M and the gif frames 'timed'. Both processes done in Corel Photopaint v11. Next step will be to show how it works in 3Dvision.

While the Hash Fellows attack the subject of variable toon lines from the high ground I thought I'd post some tests I've been working on here. The idea (for me) is to fake the variation of line thickness to achieve a line like that from a brush or pen. I've got some pretty satisfactory results with toon render but won't be able to post them for awhile. This very basic example uses Render as lines on object(s) with no patches. The toon render version uses patches. I expect to post a more complicated character "drawing" soon but have forgotten most of my toon render settings. I had a few renders but haven't the first idea where I put them. The effect looks better (IMNSHO) with the toon renderer. Well... here 'tis...

Found the thread. Lots of junk in the thread by some guy named Rodney but the gem is at the end. Bill Young retains his guru status and demontrates the improvements in bias adjustment: Bias Adjustment then and now For people that don't want to go link chasing here's what Bill said: And the specific quote we are after:

Mike, You still there? Any progress?