Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=213

July challenge page is up. I'll get the logo in there tomorrow. The theme is quite interesting this month. We all have to use a photograph for a backdrop and blend our figures in so they match!!! ******************* Here's what NightHawkRN says: For next months theme, lets call it "The Heat is On". Images should be associated with some sort of activity that represents summer. The goal is to have the viewer feel they are there in the image so any 2D background can be used. The main idea is to see how well the artist can blend and meld poser into a background and make it look like one image. I think that this would make for some really creative images. I would also add that the background has to be a real photo not one rendered in any of the landscape programs then imported into Poser as a background picture. Its harder to take an actual photograph and use it in poser and make it look like one image. The lighting etc has to match. Postwork will definitely be allowed on this one. Judging will be based two ways 1)Artistically (creation of some sort of feeling for the viewer, and 2) Technically (being able to blend Poser into a background and have it look seamless and not a cut an past job. I think not only will this really push the creative envelop and produce some outstanding images but to the newbies like myself and other, a very good exercise in learning how to blend foregrounds and backgrounds to make a seamless image. I had thought of using one background and having everyone use the same background but that would cut down on a lot of creativity. Let the artist pick what ever background they wish as long as they are able to blend poser into it. Thanks Pedro. ********************** Ok, any questions, ask in this thread and I'm sure NightHawkRN will drop in to clarify from time to time. Sounds like a real challenge! Oh, and notice that there is a voting goal. Voting will be for the image that is both artistic and technical so think about that when you work on your image. I for one definitely need practice putting in shadows postwork and whatnot to make the scene work out so this is great timing!

This sounds like fun, but can anyone point me to a tutorial for putting in shadows? I know there is one floating around out there, but can't remember where.

Attached Link: http://www.robinwood.com/

Robin Wood has a great tutorial for compositing images, just click on tutorials and Poser. Check out the gallery while you're there too - amazing art!

Thanks Jon...going there now. :-)

Can we use something like cyclo-rama/Infinity Cove, to place the background picture on? Placing the pic as a background pixelats real bad. At lest it will on P4, don't know about P5. I know a flat square works.

There's a tutorial at DAZ called Compositing Rendered Stills Over Photographs by Richard Strand. Here is the link:
http://arcana.daz3d.com/tutorial.php?id=98
:)

I must have missread the import background part. Now I think I know what is needed. I don't have to import the background, I need to layer poser over the background. That's easyier. Thanks for the tip Terrielee.

beryld, you need to import the photo as a backdrop into poser and put your figures in the scene with the lighting to match the backdrop. Then if you want to postwork the image to blend it more or add more shadows, that's ok. If you get your scene done without postwork, that's ok too.

Just a dazed and confused day for me. I think I understand now. Thanks EricofSD

Eric, could the other way around do? I mean render the figures in Poser then export to Photoshop to merge with the BG?

As for the cove and cyclorama, I'll let NightHawkRN answer that. I realize that those props do a better job with backrops, and I realize cove is free from www.rdna.com, but I think the idea is to work with a simple 2d backdrop.

dv8 fx, well, not everyone has PS or PSP. Granted GIMP and Dogwaffle are free, I'm not sure they are cross platform. So I'm thinking that the idea is not to render in Poser and composite from an alpha channel in PS (which is kewl at times), but rather, the idea is to bring your photo into Poser as a backdrop and work in Poser to blend it in. If you need to do any final blending in a paint program as postwork, then ok, but the goal seems to be to manage this in Poser.

All in Poser. Roger that, eric.

Sorry for taking so long to get back with all of you about the challenge (been working in the ER the last 6 days). To clear things up a bit, a photograph needs to be imported into Poser then create your image. Any photo can be used except for using cyclorama (that would be cheating a little..LOL). Use a 2D photo that you really like an let it be your background. Postwork can be done in Photoshop, Painter, Dogwaffle, etc. Keep in mind that during your creation of your image, it all has to be done in Poser. The challenge this month is one that is both artistic and technical. Artistic because you have freedom to create any mood within the theme of a summer activity and technical because you really have to work at blending a 2D picture with poser to make seamless image. Hope this clears things up a bit. Good look to all!!!

Hello, I have a question about the July Challenge :) Can I use a picture my friend took for the background? He has given me permission, and I would give him credit for the image, of course. I just want to make sure it's allowed before I get started on my image. Thank you :) Mercy