TommyDAQ2

That's EXACTLY what I needed! Thanks Fuchar!!! (I realize it should be remembering windows, but for some reason, it hasn't been... I know it forgets everything when it crashes - at least there's backup now, but Not sure if I'm liking that yet). Thanks again! Tommy

It used to be that if you would customize which panels were open, and their location, then quit the app. It would remember where they were when you relaunch the app. However, with v18, that doesn't seem to be the case. Each time I either quit the app, or it crashes (which is still quite frequent - very disappointing), the panels are always restored to their default location. Is there a way to get the software to remember which windows I want open and where? Thanks, Tommy

Thanks Rob!

One more question: What would you recommend for the best "Lighting" tutorial for A:M? - Overall, general, photo-realistic???

Right! I did work in 2000 for a while too, with the funky looking kid on the label, or was it Raf's dog... forget. Then there was the one with the aliens... too many CDs to many versions. But THANKS for the list of features! Some sound pretty exciting. Now, I'll have to refamiliarize myself and set up all my custom commands! Hope more stability is listed among those features! Thanks again Fuchar! See ya in the forums!

Familiar with??? Ha! Probably A:M 98 which was probably like v 7 or 8... I have had additional copies since then, like 13, then I worked a little bit in 17 (I think), but I really don't know what's new. I don't know what features have been added in years. I just use the same stuff I've always used for Char Anim.

Hi guys, I'm just getting back into A:M after a few years off. I'd like to review a list of updates, advancements and additions that have happened to this very organic software over the past few years. Is such a list available? If so, where can I find it? thanks, Tommy

Hi, I've installed the 2008 Skeletal Rig into one of my characters (as best as I could). However, it's a really complex rig with lots of constraints and other things going on with it. Other than the install instructions, are there any other instructions, or tutorials on how to use it properly? Other than that, is that the most up to date character rig publicly available for AM? Thanks! Tommy

Shelton, yes, the reset took care of it. I'll post a model test when I get home this evening, then I start the set up process, poses, and animating him. I'll post updates as I go.

Thanks Guys! Appreciate the help!!!

BTW. there were no materials - only colored groups, and the one decal.

Wow! That really, um... resets the settings, doesn't it! All my keyboard customizations, and everything else, all gone, but that did the trick! Thanks Rob! BTW, it fixed my decal issue as well

I seem to remember a setting so that I could see my decals in Shaded mode, but I can't for the life of me find it again. Isn't there a way to get your decals to show up in shaded mode instead of having to render them all the time? thanks, tommy

I'm having a problem. When I render in the modeling menu w/ the letter Q, everything is rendering dark. Isn't there typically a default source light? Why is it rendering black?

Good news! You can on the Choreography and do New>Folder Name it and drag other chor items into it as desired. Dang!!! I've really got to learn this stuff better! Thanks Rob!!!

This has all been really great stuff guys (and Rob, sorry I called you Rodney - just saw that as I was reading over the thread). I haven't been in the software enough lately, and I guess I was thinking poses were only related to actions and not the character themselves. What I had to do, I already had to get out yesterday, but I'm going to play with this for a bit. It definitely sounds useful. One thing I was noticing Rodney, when adding all of these characters and actions, is the PWS, namiely the Choreography section, really gets out of hand. It'd be nice if you could add a "folder" so that you could tuck away items you're not using, or actively adjusting - kinda like the "groups" folders in Photoshop. Just a thought for future versions.

Thanks Rodney. I did figure out the multiple copies and that worked for me! However adding the actions (just a pose) to each character was very tedious. Is there a way to either bring the character in with the action (or pose), or add to multiple at once? thanks,

I've got another one for you guys... I search these forums but just can't come up with the right answers... I need to put about 20 to 40 Thoms on my stage, each at about 20% scale. I tried using the "duplicator" plugin wizard, but doesn't seem to work. It scales relative to the last copy each time. Also need to add the same action to them all. Can I add the action to them before I bring them in??? Please help. Running late!!! Thanks!

Thanks Mark. Seems to be a more detailed explanation of what Robcat said. Works,but as I said, it's a bit tedious. I"ve got a highway with a different label on each brick and they have to come on at different times. Drilling down to that property to turn on or off each one - though possible - will take a bit of time. I may, for more flexibility, use that same process but set up an action, so that I can just have sliders or switches available to me to toggle each as needed. Thanks again guys!

Thanks Rob! Tedius, but it will work.

Description says it all... Just not sure how to do it. How can I have a decal turned off on one frame, then turned on on the next - or even just turn it off once it's been applied without deleting it? Thanks tommy

Thanks Rodney!

You can see a quick test on YouTube... http://youtu.be/5OeWDRmdTqw I've got Woody entering a scene from behind the bar, and walking through the bar. He cast his reflections on the floor, but there are no shadows. If I turn on Shadow Buffers, it renders the shadows, but no characters. My Setup: Camera: Background image set to Camera Roto Shadows ON Reflections ON Alpha buffer OFF Shadow Buffer OFF Ground: Active: ON Ambience: 50% Front Projection: ON Flat Shaded: OFF Cast Reflections: ON Cast Shadows: ON Receive Shadows: ON Shadows Only: OFF Woody: Active: ON Ambience: not set Front Projection: OFF Flat Shaded: OFF Cast Reflections: ON Cast Shadows: ON Receive Shadows: ON Shadows Only: OFF Any ideas?

Ok, now I'm a bit confused. If I have Shadow Buffers checked, it renders the shadows on the projection mask, but won't render the character. If I uncheck Shadow Buffer, it renders the character, but no shadows. How do I get it to render the scene w/ the character and the shadows in one pass??? Thanks,

Yep! That was it! Thanks! Now, for some reason, the character isn't showing up, but I'm sure I can figure out what's going on with that.