hi markschum. thanks for your interest.

why do i want to do this? i am working on a graphics program for kids called collage. i am using poser to create a clip art library. i use the ground as a shadow catcher only and i don't really build any scenes as such in poser.

i have no documentation except for some basic preliminary pages that show a small portion of what collage can do. the link to it is: http://www.bestlogic.com/collage/default.asp. the pages only work on ie. there are tool tips for the commands for the image toolbar but that and the dialogue are the only documentation.

collage creates a composite of individual images that are moveable. various characteristics such as rotation and size can be changed. what i have shown is just a small peek at the full system. i achieve the illusion of rotation by rendering each base image in 14 rotations.

as you can see from the sample, each collage can be used on web pages or processed into a single jpeg image. the image library is online or can run from a local computer. each collage is described by a small text file and constructed dynamically so that those who share the same library could transmit a small file instead of a full image. i am providing a library but local images can be used and a link to an image on a webpage will display it in collage without even having a local copy.

i am processing a large amount of content and making lots or renders, so i can't afford the effort it takes to do each piece manually. there are other things i want to do that would use the same process but in the example i mentioned, i have about 50 props that need to be processed this way in order to be really usable. currently, i have more than more than 2000 base images and most get rendered in 54 variations.

i was looking at the syntax for moving vertices and perhaps i can move the ones i don't want up to the level where i want to have a visible object. i have hexagon and it appears to be able to do what i want but not in an automated way. i would like to do something like i have described but it is not essential. there is a vast amount of available content.

another possible use would require splitting a prop in two. since i am working in 2d, i have no way to create for example, fish in a fish bowl. all images in collage have a z-order. if i split the fish bowl, i can place half of it first, then the fish and then the front. i am not sure if i am making sense. i have been proceeding to the final product and thinking that seeing it in action will be obvious. when kids see me do it, they catch on right away so i am planning to use screen capture videos for documentation.