HI: I am creating (at least trying to...) a battle scene, and would like to use some alpha planes from the marketplace here at Rendo. Am I able to do that within C5, like Vue 5 inf? If so, how? I cannot find anything about it in the manual. Any help would be appreciated.

Hi Paul, You can do it in Carrara. While Carrara doesn't have an "alpha plane" menu option, the same thing can be accomplished by mapping your texture either an "Insert>Plane" in the Assembly room or "Insert>Vertex Object>Grid". Just make sure to select "Light throught transparency" in the render room or your plane will cast a rectangular shadow! Mark

Thanks Mark! I will give this a try asap. Just leaving to go on a vacation with the family. Won't have much time to play around with Carrara. Paul g

Now all I have to do is find out how to map a texture, that will definately have to wait until after vacation. Thanks Mark.

Hi, well I bought Jepes fire props and I don't remember doing anything special in carrara. I just imported them and put a light in front to illuminate them and they worked. Love esther

Thank you. I tried it out yesterday, and it worked great. What did you think about Jepes fire props? Paul g

Hi, I love those props!! they are great! Here's one of my early renders, I couldn't find a better one. The orange is Jepes, and the yellow is the fire that came with carrara. I was trying to get a glow around the fire. Love esther

Wow, Esther! That looks great. I guess I am going to have to try to pick the pack up. I have been looking at them. Nice render, too! Paul g

I definitely highly recommend his props, the only trouble I had was deciding which one to buy. Love esther ps aha I found a better one also rendered in carrara, and I didn't have to do anything to the props from memory, just imported them like any other poser thing

I used alpha planes for the trees in this (heavily postworked) render. A texture with an alpha channel and also a normal map, with the fabulous Deeper plug-in from Inagoni. The light coming from the right really lights the tree right, much better than ever possible with a bump map. And way faster rendering than with a real tree with GI and IL.

that looks great! I really like the lightening a lot. Love esther

OK, now I know I will have to buy the props. They look great.