All,
This is something of a 'pardon our dust' post.
We are about to enter Phase II in the effort to bring more documentation on Animation:Master to users everywhere.
First, many thanks to all those that have contributed tutorials already! Some great information is being presented and it is most appreciated. I know I've learned a lot.
As soon as the Extra CD project gets finished I hope to focus on putting together some basic tutorials on the functions and features in A:M. These would be of the variety of answering those "How do I...?" questions that everyone runs into sooner or later; "How do I Embed All?", "How do I model <insert basic shape/object/ here>?", "How do I render with an transparent background/alpha channel?"... and other basic functions many take for granted.
As such I want to solicit your help with these tutorials.
The software of choice for this mission (should you choose to accept it) will be Wink. With Wink we have the capability of creating SWF (Flash), HTML and PDF tutorials all from the same basic information.
One need not know how to screen capture with Wink as the plan is to work together and refine Wink project files that are available for anyone to edit.
For those that would only like to screen capture mouse clicks once the project file is made avialable to others it can be edited and posted for all to enjoy.
So, everyone who clicks a mouse in Animation:Master can play a part.
Advanced tutorials are always welcome but there is a compeling need to get some of the basic functions and features of Animation:Master documented and available online for new users. Old users benefit too as they'll have catalogued resources they can point others to that will help to solve reoccuring problems.
If you are interested in contributing to this project please let us know.
Thanks in advance!
Rodney
Full Version: Basic Functions and Features
Hash, Inc. Forums > Technical Direction and Development (Learning Animation:Master) > A:M Tutorials and Demonstrations
Don't forget "Step by Step". I realise have have not been active in its development lately. But it is still on my list of priorities. I have the character made for the series. I just need to rig him, than start collecting the information to make the tutes. I was also hoping to wait until Version 12 in January, so that the tutes would be with the latest version on AM.
Start writing down all the info you would like to see covered in part one which will cover the interface, and post it here, or email me.
Start writing down all the info you would like to see covered in part one which will cover the interface, and post it here, or email me.
Tri,
I haven't forgotten Step-by-Step.
I imagine that project will be pretty slick when it finally gets going.
For now though it seems to be on the backburner.
Not to worry though, we can hone our skills as we prepare other tutorials.
Rodney
I haven't forgotten Step-by-Step.
I imagine that project will be pretty slick when it finally gets going.
For now though it seems to be on the backburner.
Not to worry though, we can hone our skills as we prepare other tutorials.
Rodney
Hmmm.... according to www.sharbor.com these might be the basic functions and features. We'll have to study and compare this list with Hash Inc's own and see what we can see.
Animation:Master 2005
Animation:Master 2005
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| Professional Power Even an Artist Can Afford — Digital Character Animation Made Easy — Model, Render, & Animate in One Powerful Package! Now anyone can create 3D pictures and animation at home or in the studio with Animation:Master. This remarkable program includes everything you need to create fabulous computer graphics; including complete sculpting features, powerful animation tools, superb rendering, and all this is compatible with the most popular computers. You have cross platform compatibility with: Power Macintosh Windows 95/98/00/ NT 4.0/ME/XP "Animation:Master" gives both beginning and advanced animators the ability to tell their stories. Remarkably, wrapped into one interface are advanced features like inverse kinematics, ray-tracing, image mapping, and modeling of complex organic and mechanical objects. The revolutionary patch-based technology makes it easy to create natural, fluid-moving characters, scenery, and props. "Animation:Master", the 3D motion picture studio is the most powerful and affordable spline based modeling and animation program available. Specifically designed for classic character animation, the drag and drop, customizable interface and powerful motion tools give you the control that is required to tell your story. Since A:M is geared toward character animation, it gives you the ability to build libraries of actions and characters that can be reused over and over. Its cross platform compatibility makes A:M an excellent choice for studios with multiple types of systems. Make a movie, Design any character you can imagine, Enhance business presentations, Create 3D story boards, Build your own virtual reality! The incredible list of Animation Master Features: Interface: Integrated, User Friendly interface, with easy turning, zooming, and navigation features D3D or OpenGL accelerated for a smooth tactile feel in all areas of the interface MFC based interface allows for completely customizable options including color schemes, tool bar placement and customizable keyboard shortcuts Drag and drop interface technology fully implemented for easy object manipulation Create scenes with as many characters, lights, cameras, and props on the stage as you like Modeling , creation of Actions and choreography can all be done in the same window from any view Proportional Zoom; finer zoom control in choreography Centered Turn; turn about the local coordinate system Global Axis Translates; option to move control points in world space instead of screen space Multiple, re sizable Windows; have two action windows, or set up three modeling windows in a traditional tri- view layout Drag able, dock able panels; put the panels anywhere you want on the screen or hide them completely Simplified Operation; tools operate in a more "standard" fashion Save Interface State; projects maintain their window's layout for next use Interrupt drawing to increase drawing speed Specify automatic reload of last project at startup Limit memory usage User controllable rotate snap angle Object Instancing Intuitive Object Manipulators; uniform for lights, cameras, characters, props, etc Markers/Rulers Fully editable Timeline Window Customizable Folders in the Project Workspace Multi-Select in the Project Workspace Previews of most files in file dialog Interactive tutorials using MS agent technology A:M Community chat window Modeling: No more inefficient polygons! Model with flexible Hash patches Start from a Library of example characters Curved lines move easily to allow for quick manipulation Complete selection of real-time tools combined with point-and-click sculpting makes object creation easy Model over a Rotoscope image As many Rotoscopes as you like can be loaded into any view Seamlessly integrates "bones" into low-density, unibody models Characters (or objects) are built as a single model, then bones are inserted any way you like to for the "skeletal" IK basis for your character Un attach; disconnect "attached" points while modeling Insert Control Points; automatically adds control points to those hard to get to splines Perspective Modeling; option to model while viewing the object in perspective Nested Hide; hide more points when some already hidden "Lasso" or free form group tool included with standard group tool for easy selection of multiple control points D3D or OpenGL shaded real-time mode when modeling instead of wire frame Patch Hooks to reduce resolution and eliminate creasing Bias Handles for easy control of spline curvature Optimized Polygon export Unique object manipulators for translating scaling and rotating Specific grid sizing for use in creating precise scale objects Grid can also be toggled on and off variable lathe cross sections User definable Undo and Redo Uniform Normal Face Control for Polygonal output Paste and Extrude offsets Cut, copy and Paste Flip or Mirror a selected group of points around any axis True Type Font and AI Import Locked Control Points Copy/Flip/Attach Polygon Import Lock Control Points "Distortion Mode" Deformation Tool Animation: Patch-based animation allows smooth, flexible movement Complex movements are simplified; unique bones motion offers lifelike bouncing and twisting Complete skeletal and muscle control features Inverse Kinematics (IK) for creating skeletal based motion Character animation with lip-synch made easier Stride length to prevent a character's feet or tires from slipping as they move Action Overloading; applying layers of Actions to a character so that it can "walk", "talk", and "clench" its fists simultaneously Action Range; choose only a range of frames, Hold, or Wait from an Action Rotoscope facial movement in Muscle with sequenced backgrounds Poses Lock Bones Sophisticated Key frame controls Many different kinds of real-time constraints for perfect anchoring, picking up objects, and animated paths; Including: Aim At, Kinematic, Path, Translate To, Orient like, Aim Roll At, Spherical Limits, Surface, Scale Like and Scale to Reach Flocks, Crowds and Swarms Powerful Channel Based motion control Scrub Bar Action Undo Action Objects;for animating props, even other characters seamlessly within an action Force Objects;apply dynamic forces any way you like Rotoscoping Action Blending Copy/Paste Mirrored Action Pose Sliders (frame ranges can be saved in a pose) Kinematic Rotational Stiffness "Continuous Play" Scrubbing Animated Camera Rotoscopes Onion Skinning Kuper camera motion data import Hard and Soft Body Dyanmics; including cloth, springs, masses and collision detection between objects Automatic assignment of geometry to bones Smartskin for perfect joints Relationships for creating smart characters Weighted CP blending Animated distortion boxes Rendering: Ray tracing of transparency, reflections and shadows for visually realistic results D3D or OpenGL real-time previews can be saved as output Super fast, High quality hybrid renderer Selectable Specular Color Mirrors with adjustable settings Alpha buffer rendering for combining computer animation with live action Antialiasing 32-bit, variable, unlimited resolution rendering AVI animation playback within the software Bound Rendering; Quick Render or Ray Trace only a portion of the screen TV Safe and Title Safe indication Transparency Averaging Antialiased Image Maps Shadow Maps Gamma Correction Show or hide render in progress User selectable reflection limit Motion Blur Extensive render status meters NTSC safe color Photon Mapping Soft Shadows Film Grain Bloom Soften Dither Dynamic Range (gamma correction) Field Rendering Line Geometry No "anti-alias" option (Game Sprites) Film Tint; presets like "black and white" or "sepia tones" Stereo Rendering Shadow Buffers and "Shadow Only" Buffers Exportable lighting maps, vertex colors for game engines Selectable Soft Shadow Color Fully Customizable Toon or Anime Style Shader/Render Materials and Object Attributes: Ability to apply custom textures, images and object Attributes to individual patches Image Maps Locked to the surface through use of UV coordinate system UV Editor for interactively adjusting how a map lies on geometry Glass with Refraction and Caustics Image types include color, bump, transparency, reflectivity, diffuse, specular, ambiance, mirror, gradient and cookie-cut maps Textures you define, modify, save and reuse Integrated Algorithmic Perlin Materials Editor Flatten; unroll a segment before applying Decals System Color Dialog uses your platform's standard 24-bit color dialog to choose and change colors Displacement and Fractal Maps Edge Transparency Environment Maps Gamma correction can be applied to Image Maps Supports 32 bit Image Maps Frame Control of Animated Maps; so that image maps can cycle, skip frames, hold, wait, or "ping pong" Unique Decal (image map) manipulator allows you to scale, reverse and position an image in real-time See through Decaling Maps automatically cached for interactive map editing though use of any third party paint program Tile able Image Maps Spherical, Cylindrical and Planar Projection Mapping Animatable Material Attributes Material Effector Objects ATX class 3rd party Material plugin support JPEG and TIFF support Trasparent Density Translucency Reflection Falloff Material "Bump" attribute" FX: Volumetric Lights "Dust" objects for animatable smoke, fog and steam Glows Lens Flares Depth of Field Turbulence Light Projection Gels Hair Particles; streaks and blobbies Particle "Sprites" for stunning special effects Object Weathering Misc: Motion capture input from a number of different sources Controllable, targetable, colored lights with colored shadows Multiple Cameras Non-perspective camera for scrolling game screens You can perform most functions, such as modeling, animating, and texturing from the camera's point of view Audio load/save for synching Complete Game and Export SDK including real-time model and map export, action export, viewer and source code Multiplane style layer compositing and cameras Lipsync Dopesheet and Phoneme creation tools Image Formats Supported: Load: TARGA, JPEG, TIFF, PICT(mac only), AVI(pc only), Quicktime Save: TARGA, PICT(mac only), AVI(pc only), Quicktime Requirements: Any PC (WIN98SE, WIN2K or XP) or Powermac (OS9, OSX) with: 450MHZ or faster processor 128 MB ram Local CD-Rom Drive |
thats a long list....
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| thats a long list.... |
...and it isn't complete (or entirely accurate) either.
That should give us a starting place though.
well I guess I'll Start writing. I was hoping to wait till i get the latest release to start the tut so that till its finished it wont be too far behind in technology. Although I guess if it's made in pieces, we could continually, just make changes to the updated parts.
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