[Render to Photoshop layers?]

Thanks for the great tip!

[Render to Photoshop layers?]

Hello,

 

Is there any way to render an image so that the background is transparent in Photoshop. For example, say I have a character, but I don't want the background to be rendered. When I render the image the background shows up as transparent after I bring the image into Photoshop. Or do you have to render the image and then clip out the character like any normal photo.

 

I was just wondering because I see cut out (clipped) 3D images and type used everywhere in graphic design layouts, but I don't know how they get those images into the layouts. I know Photoshop can simulate some 3D type effects, but the stuff I see seems more complicated than Photoshop simulated 3D.

 

Thanks for any ideas.

[Sneaking guy]

Thanks. Yeah, I'm still fooling around with the lighting. I did a bunch of versions with different light set ups. This was the dark creepy version.

 

For the logs I took a piece of flat clay and made the texture in the clay. Then I scanned it and colored it in Photoshop then applied it as a color and bump map. It's not really "realistic" but since the figure isn't either it seems to work well.

 

Of course the render time is about 1.5 min.. Any suggestions on cutting that down or is that reasonable?

[Sneaking guy]

Here is something that I did recently. Let me know what you think.

[The Clay Model Look]

I looked into Skylights and Photon mapping. Photon mapping looked like it would take too long to render and I don't want to get too complicated. Yves' skylights worked nicely.

 

I think for now I will just use the standard three light source set up along with accent lights and light lists. That still gives nice results even if it isn't "real".

 

If I want clay models I'll just get out my Super 8 and do it the old fashioned way. Ha ha.

[The Clay Model Look]

Thanks. I will look into all these suggestions.

[The Clay Model Look]

My main goal is not photorealism, but to get my models to look like clay models. I guess on some level that is a form of photorealism.

 

But does anyone have any good techniques to achieve this look? I've tried gradient edge materials and the subsurface scattering technique of using toon with falloff. They helped a little, but really didn't achieve the look completely. Maybe I'm just chasing after something that can't be achieved? Maybe just scanning some clay and decaling them onto the model would do it.

[Kapsules]

Okay, that worked. Thanks for sharing your work. It's really amazing stuff.

[Kapsules]

Hey, I'm trying to download the sample project but all I get is a browser window with text in it. What am I doing wrong? I guess I don't know how to use this internet thing...

[Kapsules]

Could you divulge how you created the "soft plastic" material? Maybe? Please?

[Edge Gradient Materials]

Hello.

 

I've seen "edge gradient materials" mentioned in some posts as a way to create a soft backlit affect on the outer edge of models by using ambience in the material. It seems to make the models look more like clay models instead of plastic. Can someone explain how to set these up. Do you use "edge threshold" on the gradient material?

 

Thanks

[Dragonfly soft glow]

Sometimes its hard to tell what was done in A:M and what was done in post. I will have to try out some post effects.

 

How can you do "bloom" effects within A:M?

[Dragonfly soft glow]

Does anyone know who did the dragonfly image on page 13 of the Hash gallery? I really like the lighting effect. It looks like a soft glow on the image. How can you achieve this effect?