thumperness

Should we also get into reducing the patch count?

Exercise #6 is going to be a large learning curve for me because not every step is spelled out (which is good) and I'm taking some liberties by adding my own touches to it. The oportunities for learning started when I couldn't figure out how to save the project w/ the model with out A:M squawking that it could not save the model back to the CD. Got that question answered and banged head 1st into the next issue. I knew there had to be a way to add a keyframe for a single bone with out keyframing everything on that frame. Every time I have tried to learn this software I always get jammed up about those buttons at the bottom left of the screen. (Forgive me when I use the wrong terms, I'm not looking at A:M right now) Part of those buttons have to do with setting keyframes for individual bones, as well as chains?.?. I guess I'll learn about all these later. I figured out though how to add the single keyframes I wanted. It's a very slow process, but this is how I learn this stuff. I says to myself, "I know there's a way to do this. I've read about it on the forums..." Then I go about seeing if I can find out how. I'm finding that timing is a huge part of this whole process. I guess it's just alot of trial and error. I'm very interested in hearing/reading comments from you guys about stuff. I can look and stuff I do and know that 'something' is not right with it. It's great to have you guys explain exactly what the issue is and how to fix it.

Seems like a good time to bring up the question about the "Make a Cool Dragon" button. Is this ever gonna be implemented?

Thanx man. Turns out that I had to restart anyway. Apparently it's a bad thing to close the Chor window and then save the project. When I loaded the project the next time, I could not figure out how to get the Chor back open. When I started over, for some reason it allowed me to save the project with the model and it's been working fine since. I'll remember this little tid-bit of info though for the next time this pops up.

I have set up my scene for Exercise #6 and have struck my 1st pose. When I try to save or do a save-as, it keeps squawking at me that it can't save the model back onto the CD. Is there something I can do to make it save the model to my hard disk or in my project WITHOUT having to redo everything?

From Arkaos in another thread: This is how I do it.

Sigh OK. This stuck door may take me some time. I have some good ideas for it.

I found as I was doing Exercise #5, having the rabbit walk on a path, that as I was making the walk cycle, his feet kept sinking below the ground line. I know this is because A:M defaults to using a curved, flowy arc between keyframes instead of the most direct route. Usually this is fine. How do I turn this off so I don't have to key every frame to keep my foot on the ground?

At the current speed of Certificate production, might as well start mine now.

Hey Duke, Here is a very good tutorial dealing with the manipulation of splines and CP's. Basic Splinemanship I It's for a much older version of A:M, but the concepts and rules are all pretty much the same. If you read through, there is a great explination of how to connect CP's Hope this helps. (Basiclly, if you left click and hold a CP and drag it on top of another CP, before you let go, right click. This joins the CP's.)

Ba Dum Bump. Clever

Rod, Would you rather we each had our own thread that we placed all out exercises in (Like in the ABC), or (Like I've been doing) putting exercise # 5 in the Exercise # 5 thread with everyone elses #5? I've read people saying to do it both ways. Which would you prefer?

Uhhhhhhhh, but I have to wash my hair and uhhhhhh...walk the dog. Besides, I don't know nothin' 'bout birth'n no splines. Let me get certificated 1st, then maybe I'll feel worthy of updating those early writings.

A couple of the most instructional tuts I've ever worked through were Jeff Canton's Basic Splinemanship I & II. I don't know if he's still a part of this community. If he is, see if he'll make an updated version for the recent upgrades. If he's not, could someone possibly redo his stuff in the current versions of A:M. I have noticed he gives some instructions that no longer work in the newer versions. His stuff can still be found on the A.R.M. It was/is invaluable information on beginning spline work. A good base of knowledge which can do nothing but make everyone a better modeler. Thanx.

Oops. Wrong Spot

I really want to find out if I have a knack for animation. I believe I have a good eye for bad animation, but the trick is to also be able to create some good stuff. If it turns into a money making ability then Great!!! A dream come true. If not, I'm gonna have fun trying. I have a couple of 1 minute shorts I really need to get out of my system. But I want to put in the time and go through all the training 1st. I'm quite excited about this training system you have created here. Let's Play...

Could also be a fast burping contest. I see, also, a take off of one of those music boxes. Instead of only one 'bump' on the spinning vase, make several different 'bumps' so when it spins, it will move the mouths through a series of mouth shapes for music or speech. Spinning at a slower speed may help this. Interesting.

Well, I'm gonna sound like a broken record here after reading through this whole section. I too am returning to A:M for the 4th ot 5th time. I've been 'playing' at using it since about 2000. It's great to see this fresh level of encouragement as well as this thing about the certificate. I have version 12.u loaded up and I guess I'll start through the tutorials again and start posting. I in no way claim to be an artist. Modeling and such is at the bottom of my list. I want to animate. So I'll quickly but conciensously(sp) burn through the tutorials and head into the bootcamp. Those will force me to take my time and learn the ins and outs finally. Things I have always become hung up on were/are: Ease (like a ball on an arc slowing and speeding up), Walk cycles (all aspects), etc... I seemed to always end up with the technical question no one could answer or figure out. Hopefully, we can work through these things together. Happy Hashing

I frequently drive past that 1/4 scale replica pictured above. I also live a couple miles from where they are working on preserving the actual sub. I've been to see it once. Cool Stuff!