Fuchur

There is no programm that can do that for you. The problem is not, that the CAD-files are less compatible but that all the programms capable of changing the format will convert them into polygones... and as soon as that has happend, we are talking often about millions of that. A:M isnt developed to handle millions of patches (because you wont need that many patches to create the same shape) and there is the problem. By the way: I had better results with STLs than IGES. Anyway not with A:M. It would be great if converting from an CAD-fileformat would be possible but till now I dont see a possibility to do that. The step-by-step if it could work would be this: - Use Polytrans, DeepExploration or any other converter-tool that can convert IGES into OBJ-files. - Try to import the obj-file into A:M. If it is an at least medium-detailled model it will take some time and I coubt that you will get great results. *Fuchur*

I would second that... that is the case for all the Autodesk-products if you ask me... powerful yes, but very hard to use too. Only people who are really deep into it ever come to the point where rigging and animating own characters will be done by themselfs. I am quite sure that with A:M you are at least in 60% of the time at the point where you are ready to do that... *Fuchur*

That is hard to answer, but it is newer and the author himself (mtpeak2) says, that the 2008 has an advantage over the a little bit older Squetch-Rig: First page of this thread, last entry... But in the end: It depends on what you like more. *Fuchur* Gerald, the SquetchRig is far superior than the 2008 rig. The only advantage the 2008 rig has over the SquetchRig is that it's easier to install, that doesn't mean it's more advanced. Okay, so SquetchRig more complex 2008 rig Thanks for the info. Anyway: These are the most important rigs available... *Fuchur*

That is hard to answer, but it is newer and the author himself (mtpeak2) says, that the 2008 has an advantage over the a little bit older Squetch-Rig: First page of this thread, last entry... But in the end: It depends on what you like more. *Fuchur*

There is no specific answer to that... it highly depends on the person who will see your tape... one may like one better than another rig and visversa. If you are looking for a more basic rig, try the 2001rig, if you want to use a mid-range rig the SetupMachine-Rig will be a good choice and if you need a very advanced one, the new SquetchRig or the very likely even a bit more advanced 2008 Rig. All of these rigs are freely available... all can do wonders. If you know someone from the industry, you should just ask him / her which is better suited. They wont know the names, but you may show them what they can do and they may tell you which they like the most. And if you are really after a minimalistic one, you can do it by yourself... I rig my characters often by myself and very rare with other rigs because I can do exactly what I want in the way I want it and I know my rig from the basics on... on the other site my rigs are not nearly that advanced as for example the 2008-Rig and I do them for each character again with only slight differences. So a premade one has its advantages too. *Fuchur* PS: Or arent you are talking about a rig but a whole character? This is a big difference... it is always wise to not use an overcomplicated character... for example the guys used at Animation Mentor are very simple, because you can better see how well the animation is planed, etc. if the character himself isnt stealing the attention away. If oyu are after a very simple guy: Use the once by Animation Mentor, or Thom, or shaggy or one of the other standard-characters. (Sir Nigel for example may be too complex...).

The question is what you really mean.. really "even" lightening would be possible with the ambiance-attribute, but it is very likely not what you are looking for. Ambient Occlusion, Radiosity and a Light-Bulb may be options for you. All can create very nice lightening. The easiest way is using AO. For a short info on the techniques have a look at this: Info on Renderingtechniques These explainations are a little old and some may not be totally correct, but they give you a first impression what is what. *Fuchur*

You can speak for me too there Rodney... Welcome to the forums! *Fuchur*

Two possibilities... Steffen has the Plugin "CutPlane" and you can of course just add it by stitching the spline in... Stitching will create the more reliable spline, but in the end it is working as that too. *Fuchur*

I would say you should buy A:M v15.0. Till now there is no v16, but v15 is different now than it was at the start of 2008. Bugfixing, a few new things like Baking Particles etc. were implemented too and so on. I started with v8.0, got after that v10 and since than every update. A:M v15 is a bit different, but Splines & Patches are still quite the same (of course with a few new features, but the basics didnt change too much). Today you can buy A:M in two different versions: For 79 Dollars as Websubscription (will work for one year on one computer) or as CD-version for 299 Dollars as you know it. Even so the Item was inserted 2007 you will nevertheless get the v15 (A:M 2008 / 2009). As it was in v8 you will have to update your version via the updates. They are nowadays available in the "Latest Info"-Area. See you *Fuchur*

I think there were some changes to the way imagesequenzes are handled in v14 with some bugs sorted out... But I can really say what was done there... *Fuchur

Have a look at this thread... he is making very very fine models with A:M: Thread "3d milled hash models" *Fuchur*

You are so right... money cant buy happiness... Hope it works out for you! Best luck! *Fuchur*

Of course I am doing them if someone has a problem and it is often just easier showing people what they can do than trying to explain it by words... I will have a page on my new webpage where I will point to all of these little tutorials here, so that these informations are not lost somehow. Bitte bitte Jake... immer wieder gern *Fuchur*

no Shaggy at all. nose and mouth yes are parts though. Maybe Nigel (the old fellow in the suit) for the nose? *Fuchur*

Is the light in the bulb? If so, try placing it a little bit under the bulb. It may help. You can although try to change the falloff and the coneangle a little bit (just a few degrees). This may help too. *Fuchur*

Be sure to buy a 3d connexion-product. Any other driver isnt supported. So an option would be the Space Pilot or Space Pilot Pro. The smallest possible 3d-mouse available for under 100 dollars is the space navigator. It is available in a personal and a commercial edition. Personal is only for personal use but other than that has the same functionallity like the commercial one. Commerical One 90 Dollars, Personal One 55 Dollars. (April, 18th 2009, http://www.novedge.com/brands/5) See you *Fuchur*

No Problem *Fuchur*

There are several different possibilities to archieve that depending on which version you own. You could do it with a baked texture which could than be animated like I showed you before. For that use "Surface-Baking" with your material applied, delete the material and blend the texture to the base-color. However this isnt the best way to archieve such a thing but it would work out. 3 other possibilities are discussed in this little tutorial-video I am doing here. Sorry for the bad english... and the bad audioquality sometimes. It is because my computer is old (10 min, about 24 MB, download is zipped, H264 mp4 - needs VLC or Quicktime to be viewed) See you *Fuchur*

Actually any 3dconnexion-product will be supported. Steffen implemented the driver if I am not wrong. These can be found here: http://www.3dconnexion.com/ *Fuchur*

No... materials can easily be changed. Just the surface-options "Diffuse Render Shader", "Ambiance Render Shader" and "Specular Render Shader" (last entries under any Surface-Properties) shouldnt be changed. At least not to another shader. Shader-attributes arent that critical, just the shader itself. I dont think there are many people who do use the shader-attributes at all so... Most seem to be happy with the Standard-Shader (I would say it is a special kind of Phong-Shader, but I dont know exactly). *Fuchur*

Totally easy, have a look at this little video... -> Tutorial: Animate Decal-Image or Color by Pose (about 4 MB, use Quicktime or VLC to view) Most important: Use the Relationship-Action and the Show More Than Driver-Button! If you want to blend different images, use the same technik as in the video to blend between both. See you *Fuchur* PS: Don't try to change shaders with this method... that will very likley result in a crash of A:M. Everything else should be changeable.

I really don't think there has been a change in porcelain material - but here it is anyway Thank you Nancy... yes you are right, it seems to be the same but one difference: Yours had 100% as normal weight and mine had default. (I think default is 0%). However I reduced the normal weight a bit and at 85% it isnt visible but it is a little bit smoother (most smoothness will be archieved by 0%). So it helped a bit... See you and thanks again *Fuchur*

Can be helpful as a base-texture, but I dont recommend it for final stuff. *Fuchur*

Hi Nancy, could you send me that one / give a link to the material? I think that is the one I am searching for... mine is a quite old one from the last CD-version I have before Websubscription. I think it is the one I am searching for but I dont have TWO / SO access. Thanks in advance! *Fuchur*