Is there a way to render my poser images in png so that the background is transparent?  Id save alota time and headache not to have to set up alpha channels in pgotoshop thanks.

If you export in PNG format does not that automatically include an alpha channel? For me it does. As does exporting in TIF and PSD.

I'm sure it does but how do you keep the background transparent?

As long as you have nothing visible in the background (like a backdrop) it should be transparent in the render. I usually use a coloured GROUND and a Skydome, but when I want a transparent background, I just make sure these are not visible and export the render to a PNG file. It should work.

In Photoshop select the Alpha Channel
Click the Load Channel as Selection option.
Edit / Copy
New Layer
Edit Paste
Select original layer
Delete selected layer.

You'll now have the scene contents on a transparent background.

Hope that helps.

PhilC.. I know this is not my thread, but I don't understand...  When I open my PNG renders in Photoshop they already have the scene contents on a transparent background, without me doing anything. I'm puzzled why those steps would be necessary...

PNG format yes, PSD and TIFF format you need to follow those steps.  My clients expect the final product in TIFF format.  Some print services want it in TIFF or PDS format.

Ahaa! :O)
Thank you.

I'm using Potoshop 5.5. Later versions may vary.

I just don't get it I render>preview
Export>png
open in Cs3
the background is black
I don; see anywhere how to select the alpha channel
so currentently I am doing this and it sux
load imag (blackbackground)
lasso the image
selct all
hit cont + shift +I
contr c
Contr v
hide background layer uggghhh I want instant transparency like isaoshi

Okay, I think the problem is with your render. You say Render --> Preview? That's not actually a render. You need to render using Poser 4 or Firefly to get the transparent background, I think.

Hope I understood your post correctly... :O)

When you save in Poser 6/7/Pro your render-result as PNG-File you have automatic a Alpha-channel.
In PS 6-CS3 your PNG-File ist 100% with a transparent background.

Phil I see what you are talking about however when I go to channels on my image theres only rgb green red blue no alpha channel

PNG Features

PNG has the capability for both binary transparency (like GIF) and variable transparency, more commonly referred to as alpha transparency or translucency. Stored as RGBA (Red, Green, Blue, Alpha), each pixel is assigned one extra byte of data (or palette entry for 8-bit images) that defines its transparency level from 0 (fully transparent) to 255 (fully opaque). What does all this mean? For one thing, anti-aliased images will look good on any background. Imagine, no more ugly image halos or fringing! You can even apply background-independent effects such as drop-shadows and glows.

In your render settings, is your 'render over' set to 'black' ?

No, its set to render over bg shader i rebooted the computer and rendered again the ff render is blank now and the preview render renders out grey exactly like the poser screen looks I open the image in cs3 and teh trill image has a grey background then i click on channels and it says
RGB
rEd
green
blue
is there some other way to find the alpha channel in cs3 that I am missing?

Ok all thanks I got it the edit preferences render tab was set to 4 threads speparate process I had read in the manual where if you have dual core you can change that from 1 to high to get fast renders but apparently mine doesn't work I reset my threads to one and unchecked the separate process npw it all works great THANKS