I was wondering what file types (i.e. obj,dxf, 3ds,etc.) Animation Master 2000 was capable of exporting. I thought it looked fun being that it is in all my Bill Flemming tutorial books. Does it have metaballs? Thanx- Lance

You can go to www.hash.com and see for yourself all of its features as well as what it can export. No, it does not use metaballs or most of the stuff that other 3D software uses. It is a patch-based modeller, which means that you don't really need a lot of stuff that polygonal modellers use such as metaballs to create organic shapes.

I have been to the site, and know of it's patch modelling capabilities ( I myself use Max). All I have seen of export is the free plugs and DXF (which I believe retains UV info according to them). Do you use this proggie? Lance

I use AM:99 and AM:2000 to make organic shapes... but it's very limited for import (DXF only... I can't get the 3DS patch plugin to work) SturkWurk

Yes, I use it. It has a very high learning curve, but you can do character animation stuff on it like realistic muscle motion that you can't find in most modellers for the same price or even those far more expensive than it without expensive plug-ins. Plus it has a great rendering engine including radiosity.

It does seem to have VERY limited options for import and export... If not for that I would love to get a copy someday. But I find that be a severly crippling limitation.

It has export for obj built into the program now. I'm just learning it and I think it's going to be great. You might want to check out blender though, it's free. Haven't really looked at it yet, but it shows promise. Marque http://www.blender.nl/index.html

Oh, also the clothes wizard in Hash is amazing.

It is like MIMIC, you cannot take a backup of it and you need the CD to start the software. Claude

Claude, You're going to see a lot more of that type of protection. I don't see companies changing policy on that. Once you start the program you can take the CD out. For the price I'm willing to put up with having to put the CD in. =) Marque

I am in the process of learning this program. I am farely new to the 3D realm having used Bryce, Poser, and Cinema. AM has a difficult learning curve I think do to the fact it doesn't use primitives like polygon based modelers. With the limited export and/or import features aside, Animation Master appears to be a very powerful software package for the price. I purchased the training tapes from the website and was blown away by what was shown. Nimh

I am in the process of learning this program. I am farely new to the 3D realm having used Bryce, Poser, and Cinema. AM has a difficult learning curve I think do to the fact it doesn't use primitives like polygon based modelers. With the limited export and/or import features aside, Animation Master appears to be a very powerful software package for the price. I purchased the training tapes from the website and was blown away by what was shown. Nimh

I will still be using it just because to me the splines made more since, I know, nurbs are the thing, but I think there are some things I will do in Hash and then bring into lightwave or C4D to refine, at least that's what I'm hoping for. There is an obj plugin to export them so it will work fine. Marque

Despite its incredible $300 price the overall incompatibility between HASH and other 3d apps is not acceptable in my opinion i bought it and HATED it. if you want easily usable usable content you will HAVE to learn its proprietary Patch modeling system. its really a closed source application. I can not imagine why any cinema or lightwave owner would bother with hash AM . Poser, i understand , look at the lightwave and now cinema plugins that allow you to render your awesome zygote poser character animations in lightwave and cinema ( MAC Cinema version any day now). If you go to the HASH web site you will see some incredible character animation for sure but the Human Models tend to be on the Cartoonish side no where near the realism of a mike or vicky2 thats becuase they are all modeled from scratch, NOTa bad thing per say but a difficult thing to accompish with realism. And the official HASH user list does not allow you to openly discuss Bugs in the program with your fellow users and it has too many "Software Evangelists" that spend most of their time trashing Lightwave, MAX , and other apps. I have seen incredible work done with hash but you should be ready to Commit to an all HASH work flow to be really effective with it.

I bought it before I bought Lightwave and C4D, and so I am justifying my purchase by using it. 8^) I am not advocating in any way that anyone use it. Like I said, the only thing I will use it for is basic obj, at least until I get a handle on C4D and Lightwave. Marque

It will help you learn the fundamental aspects of modeling that are applicable to all 3d programs I just think it wiil bee a culture shock for poser users who are used to having alot of pre made content available to them like Here at renderosity (BTW I did a thorough search of my various hard drives and i have no PDF version of the latest Lifeforms manual.)

If I could get it from you that would be great. She hasn't gotten back to me on it. Marque acbts@cwo.com

Actually my problem is getting a handle on C4D, once I do that I will probably never even use Hash. Basically I wouldn't advise anyone to buy Hash. The customer support isn't that great, they act like they're doing you a favor if they answer a question, and I was thrown out of the mailing list long ago for asking if there was a workaround for my problem with the program crashing. I was told in an email not to use that word and they would probably let me back in. Not very professional in my opinion. Marque

Yeah that HASH user list was a little too extreme for me . too many users there have taken their loyalty to the program to the level of religious fanaticism. I once made the fatal error of mentioning that I was a bryce user and was viciously attacked and flamed by many list users. one guy embarked on an email campaign emploring me to immediately Stop using bryce and poser!! Stating that "its the endless flow of 3d crap from poser and bryce weenies that forces him to have to justify to his friends and family his chioce of a career in 3d art"!!! I am glad to have put that program and user base behind me.

lol, yup...same list. I know longer frequent it. Hash could be so could if they would just join the real world. 8^) Marque

I have found that Rhino neatly fills in any gaps Max had left for us and with the adition of Poser for human work the whole deal is a very nive little package. I looked at Lightwave and simply have no interest in going tot hat Model/Render split they seem to hold so dear. I >LOVE< Truespace but really have no need for it with Max so it sort of stays dormant.

I recieved a flyer in the mail the other day to upgrade my version of AM. After reading further comments here I think I may be changing my mind. I haven't been using the program because of the difficulty in learning. I was hoping to find some help within the mailing list that they have but it sounds have if it contains a lot of closed minded individuals. I guess I thought if I could get passed the learning curve it could be powerful, but with limited documentation I will stick to what I have.