[The Premiere of Dhar's first short.]

Dave, since I can only animate part time, usually a couple of hours after work, after I work on my TWO assignment, this project has taken me roughly six months.

 

That's about as often as I get to do my animation stuff It hasn't gone too well for me though. I just seem to have a hard time getting my hands around this software. I haven't given up yet but I have been close a few times.

 

Thanks for the follow-up...again, an excellent job.

[The Premiere of Dhar's first short.]

Great work...I loved it as well.

 

Just out of curiosity, how long did it take you to put it together?

[What is HA:MR]

http://wiki.hash.com/hamr/published/HomePage

 

Thank you!

[What is HA:MR]

I see HA:MR quite a bit on the forum and I am not sure what it is...anyone care to explain?

 

Thanks.

[How to Zoom Out?]

The zoom key is 'Z'. If you click and drag the mouse pointer left and right, it zooms in and out.

 

Also, shift-'Z' is zoom-to-fit.

Oh, I was doing up and down...not left to right.

 

Thanks for the help.

[How to Zoom Out?]

How do you zoom out? For example, the FW-190 Fighter tutorial says to: "Then zoom the Window out and size the rotoscope so that the wingspan is 34 feet in length." When I start a new model, the center on the screen is 0'. I cannot figure out how to zoom out.

 

Now which icon represents embarassed?

 

Thanks

 

Nevermind, I figured it out. The mouse wheel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[How to Zoom Out?]

How do you zoom out? For example, the FW-190 Fighter tutorial says to: "Then zoom the Window out and size the rotoscope so that the wingspan is 34 feet in length." When I start a new model, the center on the screen is 0'. I cannot figure out how to zoom out.

 

Now which icon represents embarassed?

 

Thanks

[Tutorial From Start to Finish]

Sounds like you are looking for a modeling tutorial only... Is that the case?

 

If so, one of the TAoA:M tutorials that comes with your book... either Exercise 10: FW-190 Fighter or Exercise 11: Giraffe will show you how to model and texture in A:M.

 

If this is not what you are looking for... please be specific about what 'steps' you are looking for tutorials on.

 

Is it Modeling, Texturing, Rigging, Posing, and creating actions... then putting it in a choreography and guides to lighting?

 

Just a simple 'Start to Finish' leaves a lot to the imagination and I have yet to really master reading minds...

 

Yes, all of the above

 

I guess part of my problem is I don't understand the steps that I need to go through. I think what I have tried to do is action in choreography and it isn't working out very well.

 

Is the process to build a model, in the model screen. Add all the looks, rigging, etc. to the model and then build actions for it in the action screen? Once you have them would you then go to choreography and "build" your movements through the actions that you have built, as opposed to using the choreography screen to design your movements...clear as mud?

 

So I guess a listed out process, as far as what you do where, as well as a good modeling tutotial and setting up everything for the model. And then showing how the actions were created and then finally how it is put together in choreography. That's not asking too much, is it?

 

I will check out the FW-190 fighter tutorial...I think I missed that one. I tried the giraffe one and got frustrated with it pretty quickly. I couldn't figure out how to grab both side of the object I created around the head so that when I was changing the CP's, they wouldn't change on both sides of the object.

 

Thanks for the comments.

[Tutorial From Start to Finish]

Can anyone direct me to a tutorial that shows much of the functionality within the same tutorial? I have gone through many of the online tutorials and have a lot of AM videos and books (that I bought off the forum). The problem is, they only take you through certain sections of things. No one really guides you from start o finish and all the steps in between. I am still struggling to get AM into a workable situation for me.

 

It doesn't have to be complicated...say maybe a football. If there was a tutorial from start to finish of a football with the texture, material, decals (I think that this the right terminology to put like an NFL logo on it), it would be so helpful. To see the steps, one after another would be very helpful for me.

 

Since there is so much information about AM out on the net, I thought someone might be able to direct me to a helpful area.

 

Thanks.

[Opening animation for "Astronomy 101" ...]

Was this all done using A:M?

[Help]

Don't forget that once started you can remove the A:M CD.

 

I don't know Rodney...if I do things like stretch the screen so I can see more of the timeline next to the Project Workspace, it won't adjust the screen until the CD boots up. I tried the option of installing to the hard drive but I ended up with 3 versions of everything in my library...that didn't work out too well.

 

Maybe a fresh post on how to do it effectively would be appropriate at this time...it sure would be appreciated.

 

Thanks.

[The Parameter is Incorrect]

Same with 13e, can't load that hero man mdl.

 

 

You might have to specify step by step what you are doing.

The model drags and drops okay on my end.

 

Try this to test a simple case.

 

Create new Choreography

Locate Hero model in the Library

Drag Hero model into the Choreography window

Hit Control Z just to make sure he didn't attach to something out of view

 

I assume all other models are dropping into a Chor window fine?

 

It happens on every model for me....well the ones I have tried (I usually drag the rabbit ot Keekat). Try dragging fast. It seems like if I drag slowly, I can eventually get it to work but there is definitely an issue on my end.

 

Thanks.

[Qualifying for Upgrade]

By the way, since A:M doesn't yet support dual processors, any dual-core machine can be both renderer and work machine at the same time.

 

How does one accomplish this?

 

Thanks.

[Scrubbing Not Going Well & Quick Preview of Video]

Do a shaded render - very fast - make sure multi pass is not on as well - select polys to be 4,

 

but before selecting render to file, switch to muscle mode or director mode (assuming you are in the choreography) - so as not to see the bones - unless of course you want to

 

Awesome...done in a few seconds as opposed to 1 1/2 hours. Thank you soooooooooooo much for the help.

[Qualifying for Upgrade]

I would like to have 2 versions of A:M so I am considering buying a used version and paying the $99 for the upgrade. Is this an acceptable approach? As long as I have a valid serial #, is there any issues?

 

I want to have a second machine that I can push my rendering over to while I am continuing to work on my main machine.

 

Thanks.

[Scrubbing Not Going Well & Quick Preview of Video]

I expect there is something amiss with your setup.

Not having enough memory can yield those realtime woes but that isn't your problem by the systems stats you've posted.

 

The first thing I'd do is install v13d.

 

Then you might start experinmenting, posting questions and testing to make sure you've got things optimized.

In short... I'd trade you my system for yours as yours is a better one. What is of course odd is that I'm not experiencing the problems you are. I was seeing some strange stuff though with v13c so I moved on to v13d as soon as it was released.

 

Rodney

 

Yepper...I just built this thing about a month ago and everything runs awesome on it accept for A:M. I get a lot of screen issues where I have to minimize the program and maximize it again to see the changes I made. Frequently when I do a bone movement and then scrub the frames, there is no change in the bone until I minimize the screen and go back or else close the program and reopen.

 

Again, everything is brand new including the boot drive on a RAID set with Raptor hard drives so it should be flying.

 

I am wondering about the nVidia graphics card. Could that be an issue with A:M? I have the latest drivers. Also, do you know what the ideal settings are in the options for a nVidia card with 256MB RAM (PCIe). Settings such as Open GL, Direct 3D v8, etc.

 

I will install 13d.

 

Thanks for all the help.

[Scrubbing Not Going Well & Quick Preview of Video]

I get some terrible results when scrubbing my video. The animation is not timed and it is difficult to see if you have an accurate layout. For example, when doing the "Can You Say That" tutorial, scrubbing to verify the lip sync is just about worthless.

 

So the solution is to render to see how it works. The problem is the render takes 1 1/2 hours to complete. Is there any kind of "quick render" that you can do that will do the entire 6 second video but quickly so you can just see how it looks.

 

I am using an Athlon 64 dual core 4200+ CPU with 2GB of matched RAm and v13C of A:M.

 

Thanks for the help.

[The Parameter is Incorrect]

Dave,

Did you ever find a resolution to this problem?

 

No I haven't...it continues to be an issue.

 

Thanks.

[What's the "Secret" to getting Keekat's Mouth to C]

I am working on this tutorial and one thing I notice is that the mouth doesn't close after talking (during the pauses of the sentence). I notice on a lot of the examples that it does close. Can some one please share the "secret" with me (I promise I can keep it ) on how to make the mouth close? It looks much more natural when his mouth closes when he is not talking.

 

Thank you.

[The Parameter is Incorrect]

I get an error probably 8 out of 10 times when I try to drag a model from the library to the Choreography window. The error simply says "The Parameter is Incorrect". I am using version 13c. Does anyone know why this is happening?

 

Thanks.

[Missing Fundamentals Here????]

here's how I would do it:

 

-I key my bone at 0:00

 

-then i advance the time to 0:05 and key the bone again (dont' move it yet!)

 

-then I advance the time to 0:10 , move the bone to where I want it, then key it again.

 

if you do it... that will do it... unless... you didn't do the curve editing Nancy mentioned at the top.

 

Curve editing is huge in computer animation, that's where the power is.

 

you need to use the channel editor:

 

[attachmentid=18225]

 

[attachmentid=18226]

 

[attachmentid=18227]

 

 

here's the project showing a bone that stays in place then move. Don't look at it without looking at the curves.

[attachmentid=18228]

Thank you so much for another excellent explanation...it is very helpful to "see" what you are talking about. I will have to wait until I get hopme to look at your zip file as I don't have my CD with me

 

Just a thought, if you didnt use the force-key-frame-in-all-channels-technique...

 

First: Move all the bones you want to animate at frame 0.

After that, go to frame 5 and animate the first arm like you want to.

Than, force a keyframe or just move the second arm very slightly.

After that, go to keyframe 10 and animate the second arm...

 

A:M will only save the keyframes, if there is a channel where it can save them... by moving the bone, you will automatically create such a channel for the bone... (there are several for the different motion-possibilities...)

 

So, if you just move your arms, legs etc. at keyframe 0 slightly (you can even after you moved the bone bring it exactly to the same position... the channel will be there...)

 

*Fuchur*

Thanks...I will try this as well.

[Missing Fundamentals Here????]

I was able to get some help on the community and the friendly user was very patient and helped tremendously. I will continue on with the tutorials and see what happens.

 

Thanks for all the help.

[Missing Fundamentals Here????]

Simple rule: if you want a bone to be in a place for a certain length of time, you need a key at the start of that time and at the end of that time.

 

 

want to force a key(s) without nudging?

 

 

[attachmentid=18215]

1- CTRL-select any bones you want to key

2- they will show up inthe PWS timeline

3- select the filters for the kind of keys you want. (probably just translate and rotate for now)

4-select the key bone filter (even though this was meant for single bones , it works for simultaneous selctions too)

5- SHIFT-press the Force Keyfram button (the shift part is important)

 

you get this dialog box

[attachmentid=18216]

6) select "In all filtered channels" (this is powerful, this is why you did the filter selection in step 3)

7- Hit OK

 

 

[attachmentid=18217]

 

8 keys are created in the PWS timeline for all the channel you wanted and no others.

 

Mission accomplished!

 

Nudging will create keys too, but only one parameter at a time. And there's no way to "nudge" for some of the other parameters that the other filters cover.

Robert,

 

I very much apprecite the very thorough explanation but it just doesn't work for me. I have followed your directions to the tee (and repeated it several times) and the bone still moves from frames 0-5 even though I have keyframed them.

 

Thanks for the help though.

[Missing Fundamentals Here????]

Dave, have you done the TaoA:M exercises? Please, do the exercises first so that we all know what your knowledge base is. Many, many people have done TaoA:M, (you can follow their threads here - that's what this area of the forum is for.) Plus, you get a snazzy "Certificate of Completion" when you're done!

 

Thank you for supporting Animation:Master. As you can tell, the people here want to help.

 

Martin

Hi Martin,

 

I have been going through several of them. I got part way through exercise 6 and this is where I started having issues with copying keyframes (I have a post out there about it). I thought I would double back and try to do the basic functionality of just creating a few frames of animation and have been having a very hard time just getting the basics down. I have been around long enough to know that it just takes time to learn all the ins and out and even the quirks about a software package but I seem to be having a hard time just getting the basics. As you might guess, my frustration is very high at the moment and I am looking for someway to get some successes from the things I have tried to do.

 

Thanks for takiing the time to respond.

[Missing Fundamentals Here????]

This may be a bit much - but:

 

after creating a key frame at frame 5 for your left arm (any value - doesn't matter) - go back to frame 0, copy the frame for the left arm (select left arm) and then go back to frame 5 and paste. Make sure you have the correct buttons at the very bottom of A:M big window pushed depending on what you want to copy (key bone, or branch or model, with translate, rotate, scale, etc)

 

You might also want to play with the curve editor (switch at bottom of timeline) for your channels for the left arm & set it to "hold" or linear or 0-spline, or for frames 0-5 (go to frame 0, select cps in channel editor, right click on channel select interpolation, select method)

 

not sure - but I suspect there is better explanation in TAOM (with pictures)

Seems like a lot to do to make this simple thing happen From what I have seen in the tutorials, they say you may have to move the left arm just barely and then back to create a keyframe at frame 5 so the computer knows when to begin animating it. I have tried that and it doesn't work.

 

Also, is there a technique for nudging a bone when you are just trying to get a keyframe? I thought I saw where you could use your arrow buttons on the keyboard but they don't work. If you use your mouse to nudge, it is almost impossible to get the bone back to the exact position.

 

Thanks for the comments.