I couldn't resist picking up the Animation Master software while at DragonCon, even though I was disappointed to learn figures couldn't be imported INTO the program. But the demo guy said many of the Poser figures were created in Animation Master. I found that hard to believe (especially since Cararra had a booth next door and displayed the DAZ Dragon), but I was sufficiently impressed with the software that I grabbed it anyway. So... does anyone know if the Poser figures were created in Animation Master, and if figures created there can be exported, then posed for static scenes?

Yes, Debra Ross uses AM for her stuff and does a nice job. I have AM and I like it because it's simple to use, sometimes I will do something in AM then bring the object into another program and finish it. Marque

Egad! Animation Master to Poser Ive tried unsuccesfully myself, is their any info about as to how to do this? None of the import / export for other formats ever seem to work it always crashes. DJM

The export utilities seem to work much better than the import utilities for A:M. I haven't tried it specifically for Poser yet, but I've gotten AM geometry into other applications that import 3DS.

If you can design a figure from the ground up in AM, you should be able to get it exported into 3DS or OBJ format without too much trouble. If its a complicated model, you may be stuck with some artifacts from the export process.

From my experience, you're SOL going the other direction. Except for some very simple DXF's, I haven't gotten any foreign models to import successfully into AM, so I don't think you'll be able to use existing Poser figures as starting points.

You'll have fun with AM if you want to learn the nuts and bolts of spline modeling, but it doesn't work well with other packages. As feature-rich as it is, I've always been frustrated with Hash's apparent attitude that its not worth the effort to help their package interact with other 3D apps. Unfortunately for them, Carrara, Caligari, and Maxon are starting to offer feature-rich competitors in the same price range that do work and play well with others, so maybe they'll change their tune.

I use Hamapatch to start off lots of props myself. Its a freebie product out of Japan. It helped me a LOT to bridge my skills with 2d illustration apps to 3d, when I was just starting out. Its very similar to A:M in its technology - it uses patch spline modeling. (it will also import and export A:M models and export to OBJ format) I can't see why you can't do poser figures with A:M just as easily as I make props with Hamapatch. ps. Personally, I finish my objects in Carrara ;-)

Well if anyone wants Carrara ver 1.0 with the manual and the two books I bought for it I will sell it for $75 plus whatever it costs me to ship it. I was really disappointed with it, and never saw a reason to upgrade to the newest version. It can be registered to whoever buys it. I think AM is a great product for the price, not everyone can afford C4D, although that is what I like the best. And I would not sell my copy of AM, I think if you got a good buy with it then don't be disappointed just jump in and learn it. You should pick up the Animation Handbook if you can, although the manual is pretty good compared to some. Marque

Den Beauvais created the DAZ Water Elemental and Sea Serpent figures in A:M and they're pretty excellent figures. Plus Mr. Beauvais does some pretty cool work in A:M. His site is at http://www.denbeauvais.com/.

Attached Link: hamapatch download

I have the Carrara 2.0 - no problems here with Carrara, the global illumination renderer is really solid and highly realistic(which is why I got it - that and having an old copy of Raydream which made it cheaper for me) yeah I think the interface for Carrara is hard to figure out. But I get along with it pretty well - and its got features that are rarely seen in products of its price. while I'm here, might as well give that hamapatch link for the download- I've noticed a lot of people use it with A:M. go here for resources - you can use a lot of this stuff in A:M by just exporting to its format. http://www.geocities.com/hamapatch/

Thanks for the replies! I asked up front about importing Poser figures, so I know AM won't do that. But like I said, I was really impressed with the program and bought it anyway. AND, I invested in the 3 video tape tutorial series because I know I'm aweful when it comes to learning from written tutorials. Seeing is better than reading for me.