what the heck is going on with HASH

#101

@giantkiller

I know nothing about Electricimage, I’ve only actually seen it once, but I’ve recently seen some amazing work done with it…

http://www.cgchannel.com/forum/viewthread?thread=313

http://www.eridia.com/tbf/index.html

I haven’t actually watched the animation, I don’t have Quicktime, but the stills are stunning. I don’t know if you are on a Mac or PC, but if you are on a PC, and want to try out a software that has a small, but very very friendly community, made by a company the listens to and supports their users (even people who haven’t bought their software), check out Houdini Apprentice. Some links for you.

www.3dbuzz.com Free Houdini online class, training videos, and forums
www.sidefx.com The makers of Houdini, with forums and a mailist. They listen to everyone and are VERY supportive.
www.odforce.net the unofficial Houdini community site.

#102

giantkiller: Realsoft (www.realsoft.com) offers a competitive upgrade from any 3d software worth $200+ for only $450. I haven’t actually used it, but I’ve been hearing good things about it. I too am a disgruntled former A:M user, and I’ve been considering this option.

#103

I took a look at realsoft3D, and it seem to be a great modeler, but the skeletons for animation seem a bit weak. However did you happen to notice that the upgrade from other package was only $250 for linux? If I had a choice between linux or windows in a 3D program, I think I would of opt for the linux. Not to get into a platform war, but it is way cheaper!

I also had the chance to play with wings3D last nite and today, I am so impress with this infancy of a program, and I say this because so much more is in the works for developing it further.

#104

Yeah, I do like Linux, but I’m more familiar with Windows. As for Wings3d, I agree; it’s a great little (or medium sized;)) app. The only problem I have with it is that I don’t have a firm grasp of the workflow.

#105

Hash is a bunch of assholes period.

A few years back one of my co-workers was having a problem with hash and hash. inc. took issue with him posting to it to the list. He was given a warning that he’ll be banned if he did it again.

It degenerated into a flame war, then Hash Inc’s goons figured out where my friend worked and emailed our boss to try to get him fired.

Our boss wasn’t impressed with hash, since it didn’t involve the company in anyway, but he told us what happened.

**** hash and everyone who works there. If this is how they treat their customers they deserve to go out of business.

#106

Originally posted by Cararan
Well you get what you pay for. Lightwave all the way Baby.

Thats friggin right!!!

#107

I tell you a funny thing. AM v10 had been crashing out on me loads recently. When I closed an action - Bam!, when I saved a project bam!. But I persevered because I have projects that I am working on for an interview. This is the only reason why I downloaded the latest update (v 10c) and carried on (this was after all the hoohaa on this list and others). Now it all seems remarkably stable. I am working 12 hours per day and get only about 3 crashes in that time (yes, you can tell that I am used to more- much more). Has hash been listening?.. Naaah!.

But at the end of the day, my eye is realy roving for new software. I like the way that AM (Animation Master) is set up. Nice and simple and cozy. But the creases and the bugs are driving me mad.

I can’t wait for when all those software compenies that I am trying to choose between go bust and put thier programs on the front of magazines to spite the industry ang get back a bit of money.

#108

well, once again, that many grown-ups around here :stuck_out_tongue:

lamenting about stability

isn’t it quite obvious that most that are so furious about a software can’t be that stable themselves?

please, let’s get productive instead of wastin time with stuff like that

#109

Originally posted by no0ne
[B]well, once again, that many grown-ups around here :stuck_out_tongue:

lamenting about stability

isn’t it quite obvious that most that are so furious about a software can’t be that stable themselves?

please, let’s get productive instead of wastin time with stuff like that
[/B]

that’s some aliasing you got there. or is that the modelling / texturing?:hmm: :smiley:

(ignore me, just making trouble. )

#110

cool, you noticed (; it’s a special alias-material i got this x-mas

just kiddin of coz
should have rendered bigger ); me bad

but if it distracts people from… well (;

#111

[B]that’s some aliasing you got there. or is that the modelling / texturing?:hmm: :smiley:

(ignore me, just making trouble. ) [/B]

Actually that is a PERFECT example of what is frustrating about AM. That could be a really cool image. And I’ll bet it was relatively easy to set up. I doubt I could do it any faster or better in any other package. But the artist is going to have a very very hard time getting rid of those alias lines. He is going to have to render it 4 times bigger and shrink it down in order to achieve what Lightwave considers a “Low” setting for AA. And that is just the tip of the iceburg. If the artist wanted fur. . . or radiosity. . . or caustics. . . or instersecting transparent objects. . . they would come across a whole new world of frustrating things to have to work around.

#112

Originally posted by John Keates
I tell you a funny thing. AM v10 had been crashing out on me loads recently. When I closed an action - Bam!, when I saved a project bam!. But I persevered because I have projects that I am working on for an interview. This is the only reason why I downloaded the latest update (v 10c) and carried on (this was after all the hoohaa on this list and others). Now it all seems remarkably stable. I am working 12 hours per day and get only about 3 crashes in that time (yes, you can tell that I am used to more- much more). Has hash been listening?.. Naaah!.

Are you teasing me? :shame:

The latest version is v10b, right? I see no 10c on their site.

v10b is still a bit flakey for me, but I’ve just had no time to submit bug reports. I have in the past and I always get a reply (even when I stste that none is necessary), and usually those replies acknowledge that the bug exists and that they are working on it. It’s usually less than a week before it is fixed (and usually with someone else’s name next to the bug on the bug list :stuck_out_tongue: ).

So… is there a secret v10c download? :eek:

#113

Originally posted by faulknermano
[B]that’s some aliasing you got there. or is that the modelling / texturing?:hmm: :smiley:

(ignore me, just making trouble. ) [/B]

Ugh, when will Hash ever fix the aliasing issue? Their big solution is to have you render 2-4 times the normal size (humungo render times) and then shrink the image down. That is not a solution! If Nicholas can get his Renderman plug-in tip top it sure would fix most of Hash’s many rendering issues.

#114

Hi guys, the pic of noOne above is done because I have done this pic, then in the german A:M forum we talked about it and then some other users have done some stuff that looks alitle bit like my pic. It was rendered in this resolution, so I don’t see a antialiasing problem, the hole pic was done in ca 10to15 minutes began with the idea.

cheers

#115

[B]It was rendered in this resolution, so I don’t see a antialiasing problem, the hole pic was done in ca 10to15 minutes began with the idea.

Well if you can’t see it. . . then. . . good luck to you my friend. But I see jaggies all over the place. And if you were to move the camera in a slow pan. . . each of those jaggies would creap and crawl and shimmer and pop and wiggle and jiggle etc. etc.

#116

Hi, yes you are right, but not so bad antialiasing lik noOnes pic, a question to weggington, you work also with hash products, or not anymore? so you like the product you’re working with not?

#117

One of your reflected chrome spheres is missing its reflections . . . look at the middle reflected sphere. You probably need to set reflection levels higher.

#118

This thread was opened for opinions on everything related to Hash inc. Except, of course, their lingerie preferences :slight_smile:

I dont think of this discussion as a waste of time. In fact, it will do the opposite to those with open ears and minds, and I’m not referring particularly to those using or were using A:M

Even though it looks like a big flame war, Answers to many questions can be distilled from it, be you a developer, or an end user.

The features we asked for weren’t large ones. I figured since we know what we’re doing, and we know how the software works, You’d think That what we’d asked for would be necessary and helpful, and actually improve the product. it is, after all, the A:M user’s images that complete the sale online and at trade shows.

Anti-aliasing is not a peice of voodoo code. Neither is Radiosity, or Subdivision Surfaces, or UV-mapping, or any other features you can find in a programming student’s Graduate Thesis.

This code is practically free to hash, either online, or through colleagues. people have literally been offering Martin Hash their programming experience. Does it fall on deaf ears? who knows?
only by examining the track record can we find out if it worked in the past.

Oh, to have such a smorgasboard of data and assistance to build your work on, instead of inventing everything, all the time…

We have open discussions on the Messiah:Studio list all the time. Some people whine and complain, some defend, many sit back and tap the delete key. But in this industry(and you all know it) negative critisizm is still productive. Surrounding yourself with Yes-men and excluding everyone else will not make the end product better.

Knowing what people dont like is just as important.

if you thought Hash was a small company, take a look at PMG. The programmers frequent the list and join in the skirmishes just as much as anyone else. They built the software around the artists, literally. and while they can’t get all of the features implemented, they do have a good idea on what goes first.

it really helps to have artists in your team when you make these tools.

#119

I’ve used Hash’s product since Playmation in 1992. I stuck by them, like other’s have mentioned they did. I wrote plug-in’s and accessory applications back in 1995 (anyone remember the flocking system?). As others mentioned, after all of that, you’d expect a little gratitude and an acceptance as someone who may have “earned” a level of respect from the company.

Not so.

The same month I got second place in their image contest, Steve booted me from the list for trying to figure out a work around to the “GI” sky-dome setup that was causing crashes and other issues.

The interesting thing here is that I actually knew Steve personally. I’d drank beers with him at Siggraph years gone by. I knew Martin et all. In short, there was some semblance of a relationship there that was more than just company/consumer. I don’t mind saying there was more than a little feeling of betrayal.

On one hand it’s re-assuring to see that they are treating others as bad as they treated me, and in some cases worse. Misery loves company :hmm:.

As other’s have mentioned, if you’re interested in a 3D’ish tool for primarily still image production, or perhaps another 3D modeler for your tool box, I HIGHLY recommend you look at ZBrush (www.pixologic.com). Very nice software (a bit “odd” to learn but it’s worth the effort), very nice people, and an open forum to help you on your way.

There are good tools for free, there are tools from companies that seem to care a bit more that you can spend your money on, etc.

One day either Adam Smith or Karma will balance the scales and Hash will have to pay the piper.

#120

Originally posted by Monkeyfarm
One day either Adam Smith or Karma will balance the scales and Hash will have to pay the piper.

Haha, the Adam Smith comment had me spewing milk out of my nose! :stuck_out_tongue: