Hi all, I would like to create a poser image (single figure) and place it into a photograph I have so that only the poser figure and the hair from the photograph remains. Does anyone here know how to do this and can spare the time to give me the details of how this is done. Or, failing that tell me where I might find/purchase a tutorial on the subject. Your help is very much appreciated. Dannii.

Simple process of cut n paste. The hard part is doing it. Am I assuming that you want to cut the background out too or are you just wanting the poser figure in your entire photo under the hair. Either way you will need to cut something out of it's enviroment. The poser figure would probably be easiest if you do not have 3D software. Before I go further, do you have PhotoShop and are fairly familiar with it's goodies and interface?

Like Thelby says, It is a fairly simple thing to do... Truly, you will be using the methods involved often. However, it is important to know how well up you are with photoshop, before venturing advice. Lou.

Cuting hair from photograph could be tricky if the photograph have low resolution. You can find free hair layers in poser free stuff, its painted hair but very realistic :) Tihomir

Okay, you have Poser (a 3D Program) and want to put your poser figure into an existing photograph? I take it you have Photoshop as well.

The simplest way to do this would be to scan the photo - if it is not a digital photo already - then use it as a background image in your poser scene. BTW: Poser 6 (at least) is capable of using Photoshop images (psd).

Another way, especially if you want to do heavy post work, is to render your figure in Poser using a magenta background and ground plane. You want to cast your shadows according to the direction the shadows are cast in your photograph. True magenta (sort of pink) is a color seldom found in nature and will be well out of the range of most of your other colors in the photograph. Make sure when rendering you check the set up so that the background and ground plane do not reflect light back onto the Poser figure.. If you have a reflection, your Poser image will show magenta on the character and will really screw things up.

Now, once you have rendered your Poser figure, save the image and bring it into just about any version of Photoshop.

Once there, go to the drop down menu under 'SELECT" > "BY COLOR RANGE."

This will allow you to select all of the background and ground plane you don't want in your final image. Once you have selected the magenta color, go back to the drop down menu and SELECT > INVERT. This will select your poser figure, hair and all the shadows including those on your background and on your ground plane.

Go to EDIT > COPY, in the drop down menu, then go to your image or scene you want the Poser figure in, and then EDIT > PASTE.

BAM!

There you have it.

Now for REAL HAIR, look in the Poser Forum or a Google Search for "REAL HAIR" by: "Koz" or "Kozner" or a close facsimile thereof. Its free and it's terrific. It shows up on your poser figures and looks like a hairnet, but the results are fantastic. It will blow in the wind and it has a gravitational effect, so that the hair actually flows toward the ground plane even when the figure bends.

Message edited on: 03/30/2006 08:47