Does anyone know how to apply a transparency map in Bryce so that the results are anywhere near what they are when applied in Poser? I know the procedure for applying maps in Bryce... but I made a loincloth transparency/texture map for Poser4 conformable skirt. When the transparency map is applied in Poser, it looks fine. When applied in Bryce, the object looks as though the diffuse/ambience settings are about +200 - i.e. very washed out. I set the ambience/specularity, etc. to 0 to little effect. Reducing the diffusion slider to 50 or so reduces the washed out effect, but also makes the non-transparent areas translucent. The only thing I can think of (but I haven't tried it, yet) is to alter the texture map with darker colors to compensate. I'd rather not do this. Any suggestions? What's up with the differences in the handling of transparency maps? ...oh... here's another one... What do I do with a .BR3 file? I downloaded the bryce teepee from Zygote's site. Tried importing the file from the menu, and I tried importing into the preset objects window. The file isn't recognized. I downloaded twice, so I know it wasn't a corrupt transfer. I'm using the mac version of Bryce 4. Any takers??? -ScottK

Invert the transperancy map. Poser uses black as transperant, white as solid; and Bryce does just the opposite. The br3 file you should use the open command for. It's a Bryce 3 scene file.

"Invert the transparency map" -Thanks - I'll try it. As for the other one - must have had a brain cramp. Thanks. -ScottK

set to blend transparency. Spike

Sorry, i should go into more detail on the 'invert'. In the menu where you load the image maps, there are 3 circular buttons at the top right of each picture. The half-black, half-white button [invert button] will invert the image (make black white and white black). This button comes in handy for Poser transperancy maps. (If you already knew what i was refferring to, ignore, but i'm sure there are at least a few people who didn't know what i was talking about)

DD, About inverting the map, I'm not sure that's the answer. (Haven't tried it - been working 15hr days). The correct parts show up as visible/transparent on the figure. It's just that the texture map is all washed out. I think Spike's got the answer - blend transparency (and, gee, I think I've seen him post that answer a few times before, now that I think of it - you must be getting tired of that, Spike). Thanks, all. -ScottK

What do you mean "Blend Transparancy"? Is that a setting or a technique for when you make the map? Also let me see if I understand how a transparancy map and a texture work together. From what I understand the texture map is applied to the entire obj, then the transparancey map makes certain parts of that model "seethru", leaving the parts that are visible showing the texture? Correct? If that is the case, then where do you place the transparancy map in the Bryce material "dots", {ie columns A,B,C,D} Also Spike, I'm still trying to figure out how you made the makeup/powdery bump map for your skin in Bryce. I have tried making a bump map in Photoshop and using the noise filter at around 8, but when I apply it is looks more like a disease than skin. I have the bump height set to around 10 in Bryce.

Darkwolf, Blend Transparency is a setting in Bryce - I still haven't had a chance to even look... but it should be in the materials editor, I imagine. The columns in Bryce are interchangeable. If you click the "C" column next to transparency, it will go there. But you could just as easily put it in "A" and put your texture in "C." Since the texture map is usually the first and most important, it usually gets the "A" spot for me, with the "diffuse" and "ambient" circles selected in "A." Conceivably, you could use the same map for texture, bump, transparency, reflection, etc. (But why would you want to?) -ScottK

Look for my tut soon. Spike

As for a bump map for skin, it takes a large map: 2500x2500 or larger for medium to close shots. You've got to have the RAM to handle it, or Bryce will choke. This: (warning: nudity) http://www.classicimpressions-me.com/scott/afnude.jpg was done with a 2500x2500 texture and a 2500x2500 bump. The bump is essentially random noise. This particular bump/texture map is in the funstuff section. It fits the African American Nude Woman figure from Zygote, but the bump map could certainly be modified to fit any other template. -ScottK