Okay, I have made my model spaceship in Wings3D and exported to 3ds. Then I have imported and textured in Bryce, and the rendered image is just right. The problem is I need an image of just the object, i.e. on a transparent background (or black). But I need the sky set to something other than black to get the right reflective colouring on my model.

So then I try exporting the rendered image and using Paint shop pro to select the image and not the background. This almost works, but because the colours on the spaceship are so close to the background around the edges I can't seem to get just the model selected.

I am sure there must be some simple way to do this, but I am really struggling with it. Any help would be really appreciated.

Many thanks,
Tim

Message edited on: 11/24/2005 16:46

Have you tried selecting the object and then clicking on mask render?

Er no, but that does do the trick. I can now apply the mask render as a mask layer on my original image in paint shop pro and - viola! Thanks so much exxe, I knew it was a dumb question, but I am just getting into this stuff and there's quite a lot to try and take in. Thanks again, Tim

Welcome to the Asylum!

No such thing as a dumb question. Well, maybe "Would you like some more turkey?" is a dumb question.

don't know paintshop pro that well, but I do know that there are some black skies in Bryce (Starfield, without the stars turned on, for example). There's even a white sky as well.
There's a Photoshop-like program (free) called the Gimp, that can do masks, layers, lassos, and whatever else you might be thinking of. It's googlabul..;)
It's also possibly to import a picture into the background as a 2d-plane, and render against that (cheat like a bandit; turn off the shadows from the sun, and from any lights you use..;) Just did it with my last pic. Hope this helps.

Yes Phil,.........I'd like some more turkey and some stuffing also please. Now,.........where's that stomach pump ? Urp. The only stupid question is the one not asked.

yeah, I agree with sackrat. Just ask Tom how many dumb questions I've asked him over the last three years...if it wasn't for Tom, I'd still probably doing spheres over water....now pass the turkey.

Thanks guys for all your help. I was a little worried about how a newbie question would be received, but you've all been really helpful. I'm really not very good at freehand art at all, but Bryce and wings3d mean that even I can make images that look pretty okay, and I am really enjoying using them.

Being from the UK I don't celebrate thanksgiving (I am a big Vikings fan though, if anyone is from the Minnesota area), so Turkey is not for another month or so. And apparently I have to cook "turdukin" for Christmas this year - whatever that is?

Message edited on: 11/25/2005 10:05

Turdukin is a turkey stuffed with a duck inside a chicken. Best when deep fried. Sorry to hear your a Vikings fan,......I myself am a Buffalo Bills fan,........come over to the dark side and become a Bills Backer !

ahhh, the dreaded Vikings. I'm originally from Wisconsin, which means I'm a "cheesehead" and a Packers fan, although, now I live in suburban Chicago, which means I like the Bears as well; as long as they aren't playing the Pack.....and hey, who do the Bills and Vikings have? At least the Packers have Brett Favre and the storied Lambeau Field, and their own Hall of Fame.....and the Super Bowl trophy is named for Vince Lombardi....sorry Tom, but folks from the UK gotta as they said in the 70's....."back the pack"....muwhahaha.....so what if they miss the playoffs this year.

Hey Tim.... Any questions you have about using Bryce...bring them on in here. The crew here has a huge collective knowledge of Bryce and everyone here likes to help each other out. Even those of us that have been using Bryce for 2, 3, 4, even 5 years have questions and ask for help... So don't consider yourself a noob. We are all still learning. Got a question? Bring it on. Someone here has an answer for ya. 8) Welcome to the forum. Wade

heh..only pack around here is the college Wolfpack (NC State)..we don't do football very well (US or rest-of-the-world..;), but basketball we have down to an art..;)