Here are some of the components & detailed previews.

Will keep ya posted.

Interesting!
Keep us posted!

Looks promising Rod.

I see that you also get those annoying black "contours" from the mask render. :)

Actually the black edges are a layer I used "find edges" filter on.....closer to the end of the comp, I'll illiminate those on the outside edges where they contrast lighter colors.

HUH? SO you painted the other image from the mask after the render? You know how easily I confuse!

I use my vast collection of textures & personal photos to use as overlay layers in photoshop. You can apply different settings to the layers to acheive different effects. I also create objects & materials from scratch, using a combination of painting, filters & effects. I still haven't quite figured out how to get Photoshop or Bryce to fetch coffee, but it's comin,  and I can get them to do everything else imaginable.

The trick to using gray rendered objects is that it's a neutral canvas with enviroment effects already added, IE: shadow, highlight, reflection, etc. ........and you can alter the depth of the grayscale to accomodate desired manipulation.

If anyone's interested I can post some basic "How to" scenes, there are different styles & approaches.

Let me know

....it's mostly just knowing your software inside & out. (and then respecting it in the morning)

Rod

I guess I am still a little confused so Yes please show me a little step by step as I am very curious as this is fantastic effect and seems like it would take much less time...

How would you rate yourself with PhotoShop?

Beginner, intermediate, expert? just so I know how much detail to include, make it easy to follow, and once you've tried the methods a few times, it'll just come natural.

The basics,

Render out the scene, then select all the objects and render out an alpha mask as well.
Once it´s done, bring both scenes into photoshop, and use the alpha mask and the magic wand to delete all the background. The background will be transparent.
Use a layer with a sky photo, and place it behind the object layer.

Of course there´s more to it to make it look good, but i think Rod will be more precise. :)

intermediate with amateurish leanings and ambitions!

I'm intermediate with photoshop to. I'de like to see some basic "How to" scenes
thanks

Fairly solid with PhotoPaint (I do all my compositing/postwork and digital darkrooom work), which in a lot of ways is analogous to PhotoShop. Looking forward to this!

I'd be interested in a how-to as well Rod. I'm 'bout intermediate in PS knowledge. Just enough to be dangerous.

Starting with a larger scene gives you a better pallet to work in.

2000-W X 1400-H is minimum. This allows you to zoom in on the scene and effectively manipulate small details that would become a problem later.

RENDER

Render your scene in Bryce, selecting a basic flat gray material from presets.

Alter the gray value slightly for different items in the scene. Depending on the design and nature of the scene, contrast background and backdrop (sky etc) from foreground objects. This will keep them distinct in the scene, also keep in mind their individual value in the scene itself, for example: an object that is going to be in the background in a dark corner, you can make it closer in color to a dark SPACE BG color, where as with a lighter BLUE SKY, keep it similar to the sky.

Reflective materials work well with gray also.

Note: Not everything in your scene has to be gray, you can render one item in your scene with flat gray, blue, red or whatever color you want depending on the result you’re looking for. Once you’re familiar with how layers and layer effects react with each other, the possibilities are endless. Try rendering an object with a few different materials, then layer these separate pieces together with different layer effects vary all kinds of great results. I’ll show you one of these later.

Once the scene is rendered in gray, Save the file, and now select an object for alpha mask rendering. Go to “render options”, choose render mask.

When the mask render is finished, DO NOT “save the file”. Choose “ Save Image As”. Repeat this process until all the components have alpha mask renders. Finally, close Bryce and DO NOT save. If you save, it will replace your grayscale BMP image with your last mask render.

Next: Building your scene layer by layer…

bm

Ok I am ready for part two!

It's comin, sorry guys, rough couple of days.

Where's part 2?!?  We were promised it hours ago!!!  Other sites have got a look, but not the official place, oh no!!! 

Sorry Rod, take your time :biggrin:

Open your first mask render, I typically start with the object furthest in the background and work my way out to the foremost object.

Using your magic wand tool, select the white area (see selection footnote), go to Select on the menu and choose “Save Selection”.

Switch to your gray-render (do not close the mask render yet), go to Select menu and choose “Load Selection”.  If the name of the mask isn’t in the first box, open and select it. Click OK. Once the area is selected over your gray-render, Hit CRTL-C and then CTRL-V(CMD key for MACS). (Copy & Paste) Now your grayscale will no longer have the selection dots, and you’ll have a new layer. Rename this layer appropriately.(double click on the name, type it, hit ENTER)

Now you can close your mask render. Repeat this process for the remaining Mask Layers.  Don’t forget to save your PSD file after each addition.

NOTE: Remember when a selection is made, switch to your "Grey Layer" to copy from, then switch back to a new layer or the proceeding one. (hitting CTRL-V will paste a new layer if none is created).

On it's way soon: SETs  & Materials

Oooh nice stuff, tell us more!

Still working on the next phase, Sorry for the delay, a small medical operation hindered my ability to focus on anything serious.

Stay tuned!!

Dear ICM,

I hope your medical problem is doing well and your mind becoming less focused upon it...

Very much enjoying and appreciate the info on your Matte painting method here.

And look forward to more - but only when you're ready.

Interesting so far Rod.

Let me know when you finish this and get better!