I'm trying to composite Poser renders with another image. I tried rendering the Poser scene on a blue background, but Photoshop's magic wand tool leaves some blue behind. Then I tried to render the poser scene on a black background with the character in total white so I could create a mask, but I still got some residual color around some fine edges. Any suggestions on how I could do the compositing more effectively (ie, plugins, etc.)

Two suggestions: #1 Export as a TIF and use the alpha channel created to select the poser render. Use a background color similiar to the background color in the other image. #2 Import the other image into Poser as a background and then render your figure ontop of it... no edges then.

When you do your work in Photoshop and you create your mask, use the "minimal" function and decrease the masks size by 1 pixel. That will clear up the feathering on the outside.

Extensis has a plug in to make masks, but its cheaper to jsut use the alpha channel that poser generates. I export image as PSD ( photoshop format) go to the alpha channels, click the rgb channel, go to bottom of pallette, click make selection go back to layers- make sure layer one is selected ( that should be your subject) and ctrl c it into my new document. You can also use the select-> modify->contract selection to bring in your selection by one pixel, ensuring you get no fringes or edges. Check the tolerence on your tools,.. you may want to set them for zero.

On the side of "Blue Screen" style I find Cheryle's method of saving the Poser image as a PSD and then using the Load Alpha channel pretty good. You can select the tolerance and use any color background to help concel the 'bleeding' edges.

Just a bit of my 2 cents here. Just to stress what's already been said. Try to use a background color in Poser similar to what the end composite background will be. This just helps if some of the outlining pixels get in there (Alpha channels aren't perfect, but Poser does a very good job). NOTE: If you have other items behind/in front of your Poser figure (or object you're trying to render) these too will become part of the alpha channel. I have often done a Poser render with a "backdrop" behind the figure and when you look at the alpha channel it is completely white because it took into concideration the backdrop. So only place figures/objects in the Poser render that you want "cut-out" or masked. Yes! Save as a PSD (PhotoShop uncompressed) and Poser automatically saves an Alpha channel. And by "Condense"ing the selection in PhotoShop by 1 pixel will get rid on many of the outlining artifacts that may interfere with the composite. But you can further eliminate these pixels with a "Quick Mask" and get your hands dirty and paint out the unwanted pixels, and then resave this new selection to the Alpha/Channel. James

Another option is to change the backgrouns color in Poser to a color not in the character's textures at all, then go into Photoshop. Go to Select, then pick Color range. It is a little better than the magic wand at gaining clean edges, although the .TIFF or .PSD exports are still superior... This works in After Effects as well, and is more like a true blue screen than the magic wand technique.

If you have your 2D background element finished you could use it as a background or map it onto a square or cube.

Wow! Thank's for everyone's help! It's much appreciated. All of your suggestions produced nice results! I've also found a plugin for Photoshop called Cinematte that makes some nice masks as well. Since it seems there are many good compositiong techniques, I think I'll make a quick and dirty web page comparing images from different techniques. I'll post a message once it's up. Thanks again! David

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