robcat2075

OK, I got something like an expected result from the plugin, still using v15... It's not quite as functional as the AI wizard but it might be useful in some circumstances.

I've tried it in v15. It runs but it doesn't do anything like the pictures show. What version are you using?

thanks for the tip, Malo! Fortunately the page still exists via the Wayback machine at Archive.org http://web.archive.org/web/20050315082059/...structions.html It includes the download and the instruction page, minus a few jpgs. I'd say it's safe to post here since it was free anyway. It will probably only work in 32-bit PC versions of A:M if it still works. Brian Levine is the name on that. Anyone know him? How to contact him? He probably still has the source code.

So, let me see if I can wrap my head round this: you can make a silhouette of a shape in Illustrator like that and import it into AM and have it auto-extrude and cap it? And will bevel the edge if you want, too! It all started with the font wizard which did that same maneuver for standard outline fonts. I think I made feature request for what you are wondering but it hasn't been taken up yet.

I just found I also had a CD for FreeHand V9. That does work on Windows 7, and can export a proper AI file.

that's going well. You could use a force to blow the particles away if you need them gone but not disappearing. I presume you are going to do something more with the lighting?

A classic CG solution is to use an environment map. Fake reflections that render quickly

If you don't need the actual reflection effect, here's a simple approximation using specular reflection with the "Glossy" specular shader. Remember to turn "Plugin Shaders" ON in your render settings. The actual effect of the real glazed surface depends on it being slightly reflective AND the fact that the SKY is WAY brighter than any other surroundings. The sky gets a noticeable reflection but the ground and other environs are so dim that they don't obviously show.

Can you show a picture of a black ceramic you are trying to mimic? That would give us a starting point.

The installer for FH 7 on my original installation CD won't run under Win 7 or any compatibility settings i can apply to it. That's as far as i get.

I wish A:M could do with outlines made in A:M what it can do with outlines made in AI. OR expand the AI plugin to accept SVG plugins. I used an old version of Macromedia Freehand to make outlines and export them to AI but it stopped working under Windows 7. Someone on this forum said that an EPS file is almost the same as AI and you could make the change with a text editor, but I never found out how to do that.

that one is a bit hard for me to judge, it goes by so fast.

A:M is intended as a beginning-to-end animation workflow. Model>Rig>Animate>Render. If your client wants finished animation from you, A:M works great. If your client has some model that they got from some polygon program and want you to animate it for them... then it gets tougher. A:M works best with models made with A:M.

I've looked at metal shingles for a long time and haven't given up on doing that on the front of the house, but the installation for those is quite complicated.

Welcome to the A:M forum! Animation is a tough business no matter what program you use, but if you have questions about A:M we'll certainly try to answer them.

http://www.mcelroymetal.com/index.cfm Slate is very heavy and would require a substantial reinforcement of the structure of the house, and difficult to install.

the attribute you have set to black is only one part of a combiner. The other part would have to be black to to make every thing black. And if you just wanted black you wouldn't use a combiner at all, you would just make the material black.

Show a screencap of the properties. Of course, you don't have some other group that is overriding the color choice in this material.

It needs to have some thin thickness (so there is an "airspace" inside) or it will look water-filled

Like this? I don't think you do that anymore.

Does that cover have an inside and an outside or is just an outside?

Here's a simulation of what it might look like:

My 2nd Place Prize gift certificate arrived in the email today! Thank you, Jason, thank you Martin, thank you Hash, Inc. and thanks again to the voters!

I was just thinking about those things! They show up in old movies set in France.

I'm afraid I have yet to find a suitable free alternative to AI for making AI files. If anyone does, send up a flare. However those shapes are also doable with conventional modeling techniques, no AI required. Ask if you get stuck. Good news and bad news on that.... Good news: the movies are done. Bad news (for you): the movies are done. There was brief talk of a third one, but we all need to catch our breathe. You CAN do something for "Rear Window". Take a look at our previous BUS STOP project and you'll see some people did very brief segments which still worked great.