First of all, the file format does not matter for doing things to a render, once it is opened in Photoshop, but there are things called 'alpha channels' that require a file format that can hold more information than just R, G and B (in the 'channels' tab).
I don't think Elements 3 shows alpha channels, but maybe there is a command like 'load selection', where you can choose Alpha1, probably the name of the mask.
If you still have acces to PS7, use that.

Poser saves an alpha channel with your render, which is a mask (when you save in .psd or .tif file format) You can command-click (or another combination for Windows) on the alpha channel to make the selection.

If you have a Poser render with a textured background, save your Poser scene with another name (I tend to add MSK to the name, wondering how much time I save with not typing the 'A') and remove everything BUT the figure you want to cut out.
Render (you can use low settings, but anti-aliasing should be on) and that document will contain an alpha channel you can use to cut the figure from the background.

In the full version of Photoshop you can transfer alpha channels and/or layers from one document to another. Don't know how that is in Elements.
In PS you can, in the 'channels' tab, choose the menu item next to the triangle-in-a-circle of the tab 'duplicate channel', and choose your render with background as the destination (that should be openend too). With command clicking the alpha channel (or loading it via Selection -> Load Selection) choose the layer with your render (probably called 'Background') and do Command-J (or similar for Windows);

Mmm. Maybe this starts to look complicated. But it is worth trying. A hidden gem that can save you hours of work! Because Poser already has done it.
There might be 'free' cutting hidden somewhere in your Poser render. Maybe you can find more information regarding 'alpha channels Photoshop Elements' via Google or something.

One smart way to overcome any short commings (is that a word in English?) of Elements, might be to create an easy to color-select or magic-wand-select version of your Poser scene (like the .MKS) version, which you will import above the render that does contain the background. Without messing with alpha channels, you can make your figure shaded absolutely black (and remove anything that you do not want selected), choose white for the background color, remove the lights and hit 'render'.
Open op both the original render and this black and white thing. Shift-drag the 'mask render' to the original one. In Photoshop it wil be placed centered exactly above the other layer.

Then use the magic wand tool to select the white.
Invert the selection
Select the layer with the original render (you can hide the black and white layer)
Hit command-J or Layer -> New -> Layer by copying (or something that reads similar in English version)
There is a new layer with only the figure.

Good luck!
Maybe this is a bit too much information in one answer. Sorry for that :)

Message edited on: 11/02/2005 03:20