Looking for tutorial on the best way to render layers in Bryce 5.5 example: Do you Turn off all the objects in the sceen, then render the background first, then turn off the BG, then render the objects in the sceen? I would like to have multiple layers to composite, like a color pass, shadow pass, Zdepth...ect. thanks!

o_O

This is a capture from Bryce 5. You can "Object Mask" render. Your Bryce manual will explain creating Layer mask images to import into your Image editor. This procedure is similar to Green or Blue screen work. Here are some WIPs from Rochr's Aztec scene. [Rochr's Aztec WIP](http://www.renderosity.com/messages.ez?Form.ShowMessage=1734673) Click on "Archive" at the top of the Threads, Then Search, String Search Rochr, then do a browser "Edit/Find/(WIP)". He has posted quite few WIPs of his Images. This will give you an Idea of the Object masks I created for "Fables" [Pieces of "Fables"](http://www.renderosity.com/messages.ez?Form.ShowMessage=1939716) [Fables](http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=766803) Shout if you have any more Q?'s. ICM

Object masks do not recognize transparent objects, so at times you have to get creative and rebuild in the 2D enviroment.

Sadicus, Bryce won't do a true Z-depth. You can get close with "Distance Mask". Are you using Photoshop? You cannot do a shadow pass, or a color pass. You can isolate objects for masking using "Object Mask". You can isolate the sky, or run Depth-of-Field filtering, using Distance Mask and in PS, the "Select by Color Range" option. Show us a screenshot of your project and it will help us help you!

Thanks for the quick replys! I was trying out the very cool Fake HDR setup from 3D world by Kirk Dunne. just a quick render, but i thought it might be cool to try for a more complex sceen. Thanks!

Dang - AgentSmith's secret identity has been blown! (grin)

uh...sorry it was posted in 3DW! :)

Attached Link: http://www.aprilgem.com/log/index.php?p=336

Yep, no shadow passes. The best way I've found to isolate shadows is to render everything untextured so you get the shadows on smooth gray surfaces. Then in Photoshop, you can sort of use what you've rendered as a "Multiply" layer -- with anything NOT the shadow(s) being masked out. So you know what I mean, I'm attaching a link to one of my WIP/tutorial pieces, where I rendered an untextured scene to help me add shadows to a scene. Hope it helps on the shadow part of your composite piece. Everyone else already answered the other parts.

Rofl....that shocked the heck outta me...scanning this thread just to see my full, real name... AgentSmith