[A:M upgrade choices]

What version is the DVD version with manuals that can be purchased at the store?

[if I want to have a never-ending license of V. 16...]

I want to return for a moment to Granny's problem as there is a pretty good solution available at the cost of $79.

 

If you've already got a v15 CD use that while you are traveling.

Most of what you'll create in A:M (any version) will open and render with that.

Purchase a subscription now and you'll have access to v16 now and v17 upon release.

That will help you make an informed decision on staying current when you consider resubscribing with v17 and beyond.

 

For a custom solution I might recommend purchasing one subscription now for your primary computer and one 6 months later for your alternate. This leapfrogging of subscriptions will keep you up and running after each subscription runs out while saving you a few more dollars. Instead of spending $158 a year you'll be spending $118.50.... a savings that gets you half way toward purchasing your next subscription. Your v15 CD (assuming you have one) can again act as a backup.

Then why am I not excited to purchase version 17 at $79 as I would be to purchase the cd version 17 at $299? Because the $79 version is forever gone in a year. The $158.00 solution is gone in a year. The $118.50 provides a solution for 6 months and then is gone in a year. The $299 version is a solution and still there in a year. Kinda my bottom line, but I guess they aren't listening.

[if I want to have a never-ending license of V. 16...]

Jason @ Hash.com ought to be a working email address.

"support@hash.com" also works, presumably it currently goes to Jason but might be handed off to someone else when he's out of town or on vacation.

I just want to be able to have the cd on my "good" computer, but when we go on vacation be able to use the cd on my laptop! This has stopped me from buying for a long time. I have no idea what version I will be getting if I bought a cd. Right now I have version 15. We are such a mobile population, we are tethered with the subscription. I want to own that technology for that version. I am willing to pay $299. I want to be able to buy a better computer or travel and be able to use my purchase.

[resetting compensates?]

Sorry,

I think I was a whining rube....... I did find all the controls. I have set up poses before and should have remembered right away. I spent so much time in the pose window setting it up that I thought everything to be there! As for the 2001 skeleton, for some reason a few cps refused to be assigned! I will retry this, too. Thank you for the links. I should spend more time learning it before deciding how hard it is.

[resetting compensates?]

I finally tried the Squetch Rig on a new model. It was pretty straight-forward and I was able to export ok. I had trouble running the plugin, but followed others advice and saved my export under a new name and ran the plugin in a new project. My model looks a little flakey, especially in the face. I tried to follow the 'resetting the compensates', but I can't find most of the items that need to be reset! I open the folders mentioned like in the rig components and in the use'rs properties there is nothing like what is mentioned. Do I need to unhide the bones? I especially want to "unfold" the mess that the face is.

Running the set up isn't hard, but you may as well set it up from scratch to reset the compensates! I tried to use the 2001 skeleton, but it said

something about being an older thing and I could not get all the control points to assign to the bones for some reason??? ( I am running 13s). I just want a simple rig........ and I am not good enough at this to figure it out. Any help?

[Posable squetch rig]

Are you right clicking in the action window and selecting export?

Yes, I am following your instructions, right clicking on the model in the action window, save as.........and AM quits responding. Oz version 13s.

[Posable squetch rig]

Well it's a little early to release, but had a request to post it. The issues I had with this method will be in the next release of v13 (monday). V14 alpha 6 has the fix for the roll issue on export and importing model with materials, but a new issue has cropped up, images for decals do not import (decal and stamp are intact). This can be worked around by opening the model first bringing in the images into the project, then import the model into the installation rig.

 

You will need the install rig plug-in, there is a copy in the zip folder I posted. Just drag and drop it in the hxt folder of the version of AM you are using (v13 or v14)

 

This version contains the bone face rig......... A five finger foot gizmo version coming soon, four fingers if need and a quad version if it's worth the effort.

 

So to use the rig, open the "v13_Five_Finger_Squetch_Rig_Posable_Installation_03_05_2007" model. Import your model, SAVE AS "your models name_install" so you don't override the rig or your model. Open an action and follow the steps using the pose sliders. Once finished positioning the bones you can save the action, if you need to make changes (this will mean reassigning and recompensating).

 

Once you finished positioning, right click in the action window and export model (SAVE AS "model name_export"). Start a new project and open the model. You have to delete the installation poses from the user properties and the installation relationships from the relationship folder. SAVE model. (if you have trouble doing this, just let me know)

 

Open the "v13_Five_Finger_Squetch_Rig_03_05_2007_relationships_installation" model and import your saved model. Run the install rig plug-in and your ready to assign cps. Follow David Simmons' video tuts for recompensating the rig. I will at some point write up a check list for the order in which compensating needs to be done.

 

NOTE: you can use this in the current version of v13, if you have no materials or import your model as an action object. Just save the project or action and export when v13s comes out.

 

 

Removed attachment- updated rig on page 4

 

Ok, I've tried installing the rig in an actio pose in versions 13s Yeti and Oz. I can't save the model! AM quits responding.

What is everyone else doing that I am not doing?

[Posable squetch rig]

Well it's a little early to release, but had a request to post it. The issues I had with this method will be in the next release of v13 (monday). V14 alpha 6 has the fix for the roll issue on export and importing model with materials, but a new issue has cropped up, images for decals do not import (decal and stamp are intact). This can be worked around by opening the model first bringing in the images into the project, then import the model into the installation rig.

 

You will need the install rig plug-in, there is a copy in the zip folder I posted. Just drag and drop it in the hxt folder of the version of AM you are using (v13 or v14)

 

This version contains the bone face rig......... A five finger foot gizmo version coming soon, four fingers if need and a quad version if it's worth the effort.

 

So to use the rig, open the "v13_Five_Finger_Squetch_Rig_Posable_Installation_03_05_2007" model. Import your model, SAVE AS "your models name_install" so you don't override the rig or your model. Open an action and follow the steps using the pose sliders. Once finished positioning the bones you can save the action, if you need to make changes (this will mean reassigning and recompensating).

 

Once you finished positioning, right click in the action window and export model (SAVE AS "model name_export"). Start a new project and open the model. You have to delete the installation poses from the user properties and the installation relationships from the relationship folder. SAVE model. (if you have trouble doing this, just let me know)

 

Open the "v13_Five_Finger_Squetch_Rig_03_05_2007_relationships_installation" model and import your saved model. Run the install rig plug-in and your ready to assign cps. Follow David Simmons' video tuts for recompensating the rig. I will at some point write up a check list for the order in which compensating needs to be done.

 

NOTE: you can use this in the current version of v13, if you have no materials or import your model as an action object. Just save the project or action and export when v13s comes out.

 

 

Removed attachment- updated rig on page 4

 

oops see next reply

[electrocardiogram]

That's really nice. I'm going to work on it tonight. Thank you!

[electrocardiogram]

Thank you both. Al, I would like the tutorial if you get a chance.

[electrocardiogram]

I am trying to make an animated electrocardiogram with a darkish green background with the 'blip' animating a normal sinus rhythm. I want the blip to glow and leave a trail

that fades as the blip travels along the "path" just like you see in the movies. I have tried sprites constrained to a path placed in a tube shaped like a normal sinus

rhythm, but even with collision detection on I cannot keep them in the tube. I was thinking of applying a material that would travel along the length of the tube, but am at a

loss as to what or how. I remember John had something of this effect when he rendered a box as lines with something tracing the box lines and glowing. Could anyone give me any advice?