Camillo

Very Very Nice agep! Looking forward to seeing the finished model. I also tend to run the patch count extremely high on mechanical models. I like the detail you put into your model. Camillo

Hi Gerry, Yes, I'll post more when it's finished, the Client gave the OK. I've Finished and smoothed out the actions, and I'm almost ready for rendering ( just a bit more tweaking). Calculations indicate about 40 hours render time in A:M. I will still have a lot of work on post production FX in After effects, and then sound and music. This Project is a rush interupting other work for the same Client. Not complaining, the Work is nice it;s just that there are only a limited number of hours in the day. ( need to sleep and eat sometimes, and there is the Honey-Do's) Thank's for your interest, Camillo

Thanks for the Great Response; Modeling Takes a lot of practice, and each model I do gets better. Yes the highlight on the chair leather could use some inprovement. I'll make some changes. Thanks Phatso! Animas3D, Here's the settings for my shinny brass material; Shinny Brass Perlin: amplitude 100% Octives 4 Atribute 1 difuse color: R-253 G-220 B-151 difuse falloff: 120% ambient intensity: 10% specular color: R-255 G-255 B-255 specular size: 90% specular intensity: 80% reflectivity: 65% Atribute 2 difuse color: R-249 G-200 B-108 difuse falloff: 140% ambient intensity: 10% specular Color: R-255 G-255 B-255 specular size: 225% specular intensity: 80% reflectivity: 65% Camillo

Thanks Fuchur, The "Show more than drivers" button is what I missed. I knew it must have been something simple that eluded my goal. Thanks again. Camillo

Thought someone might be interested in my latest rush project for a client to be used in a 30 sec logo. Took 18 hours of work and contains 10,671 patches. Camillo

I Could use some help. I am trying to change the group surface properties over time (Ambiance percentage and Glow). I've got the latest David Rogers A:M book which states, surface changes can be made over time. The section on surface property relationships is a bit confusing. I've tried it in a relationship using both percentage and On/Off sliders, but I get no results. I'm sure it is some simple but important item that I'm missing. If someone could point me in the right direction I would be most grateful. Thanks Camillo

I'm Not much of a gamer and have never worked on such. Currently I'm working on POV movies for motion simulators and there has been talk about creating games for the simulators. It uses the Vuzix Model VR 920 Glasses and head phones for sight and sound, so it should adapt well for games. I look forward to seeing some of your work. Speaking of work, I've taken enough of a break and must get back to work. Dead lines can create stress. Camillo

I'm using V14 and it will render to PNG, I don't know about V11 I skipped past that one. Went from V8.5 to V13 then to V14. If you have Adobe Photoshop or access to it. You can import the TARGA file into it and export as a PNG file (I use Photoshop V7) I always work with TARGA Files and it works well for me. I hope I was of some help, Camillo

Yes, Just make sure you have alpha buffer on when you render. Camillo

Hay Postality, In your PWS (Project work Space) find the Choreography and clock on each item. In the properties panel you will have a choice of active on or off. Just set everything but your model and lights to active off. That renders the background to black in the alpha chanel. Camillo

Welcome to the A:M Community, UH. . . is English not your first language? Have fun with A:M! Camillo

Hi Geoff, Well . . . he does go over. The important thing is to keep trying. Search on the internet for a video of someone doing a back flip and study it. Timing and feel of weight are important. Your knight looks almost weightless at times. a little squash and strech will help. also, Preston Blair's book on animation is a good start to understanding motion. I come from a 2D cell animation background and it helps with creating motion in 3D. Did you do it as an action or in a choreography? Camillo

Thanks for the replys, Doing some tests in After effects I think I will be able to get what I want. After I get some refining done I'll post in WIP. I'm using particles and dust along with heat distortian on a landing craft as it touches down. I want to push myself beyond my current skills. That's the only way to improve. Now I just have to get bussy and pull it all together. Thanks Again; Camillo

Thanks Mike. Looks like no one else could answer that one. I'll figure something out, because I don't let go until I do. Some day I'll post in WIP and let you know what I did. Camillo

I'm looking to create the heat distortion you get from jet blasts. I have some ideas about doing it in post production in After Efects or frame by frame in photoshop. Has any one done this yet? And how was it done? Thank you, Camillo

Thanks for the comments, I am having trouble with the planet glow, have tried several things. Still a work in progress. The bug robot is very big compared to the Star Troopers (Still under construction) and it is stiff because I havent rigged it yet, Just wanted to see what it would look like in the scene. I'll poist more as I progress. Comments are helpful Thanks Again, Camillo

Did some refinements on a Still from a previous posting. Started some aditional models and started Story board, Camillo Thank you for comments

Thanks Eric and Gerry, The stars were just a picture with low rez. You are right they do look loke snow flakes. I use to have a starfield generator program, but can't find it Now. I'll increase the haze on the planet and decrease the bump, that should help. The Client gave the project a go from the pix. I do want to ramp the level up in the final animation. Thanks for your input. I'll post more as the project progresses. Camillo A Faithful A:M User

Last year I was having similar screwy problems on version 8.5 deleating and reloasing the program would help for a while but the problem would return. Turned out to be a CPU problem. New Mother board solved the problem. You might consider that. May or may not help, but it solved my problem. V14 is the way to go though. Camillo

I was a little confused by the answers and I've added Hierachal lights many times. In the model window in bones mode right click and go down to add new light. It's easy to move the bone to any position in the model. A Kileg light would be best for a desk lamp because you can direct the light. Just thought I'd put in my two cents. Camillo

A Still Shot I put together in a couple of days for a client to show the look of a 3 min. piece to be used in a motion simulator. I will be producing 3 to 4 POV adventure animations per year so my work on "alien Invasion" will have to slow down or be put on hold. What do you think? Camillo

I likeit! Nice animation. You can feel the weight of the character. Good luck on the win. Camillo

Thanks Rodney, I guess 98 sounds about right. Time goes by fast when you get old. The first couple of years I din't have enough time to work with A:M, and I am just now starying to feel I'm making good progress. Some times sitting at the Computer I realize that it's 5 in the morning and I should be in bed. I'm not real confortable posting on the forum but I'm trying. I need the contact with someone who understands and thinks the way I do about creating. Camillo

Thanks a lot John Just what I needed. This is great to have so many people to help out. Thanks again. Camillo

Thanks Jim, I could not seem to find any others from the forum search. Maybe I didn't do it right. Your help has put my thinking into a new direction. I,ll try the doudle wrapped path with 50% ease. I was trying a single wrapped path with 100%. I'll post again if I Still can't get results. Camillo