In case anyone is still interested in overlays, I've finally got it working - thanks to Karibou in the DAZ forums, who figured it out.

I was using a Color Math node to overlay multiple inages on a black page texture. Karibou discovered that only works with a white background. But it can be done using the basic image nodes, setting Image_Mapped to Alpha, and connecting the last (black page) texture to the background of the photos.

Using that system, I've successfully overlaid 3 images on the page, and I can add as many as I like.

I'm attaching a screen of the nodes, although I'm not sure if it will upload.

mac

Nope - As I thought, every time I try to upload a pic of the material room, I get the Amazon S3 error

I'll try to explain it verbally.

Image_Map1 (photo 1)> Diffuse Color

Image_Map2 (photo 2)> Image_Map1 Background - Image_Mapped = Alpha

Image_Map3 (photo3)> Image_Map2 Background - Image_Mapped = None

Image_Map4 (black page paper tex)> Image_Map3 Background

Obviously, each photo node needs to have UV Scale/Offset tweaked to get the position right. Image1 will be above Image2, etc, so you can actually set the order and have one photo partially cover another.

Thanks a lot for taking the trouble, BB. That should cover a lot of ground, and might solve a few other problems I've come across.

One thing I tried (unsuccessfully) to do recently was place 2 images on a blank page in this photo album.(It's an ERC-controlled album with 20 turning pages)

I have a base blank page texture (40/40/40 paper), and I was trying to find a way to place several photos on top of it. This is something that can be done in Daz Studio using LIE (the Layered Image Editor) and makes it easy for the user to fill a photo album with their own pics. I can scale and position pics on the page in Poser, but I'm getting a 'double-exposure' effect where the photos merge with the base page texture.

I'm one of the few PAs at DAZ who still makes a Poser version of every product, and if I can't get something to work in both DS and Poser, then I just don't include it. So I'm really trying hard to make the Poser versions do anything that can be done in DS. I know Poser is capable. It's me that lacks the know-how.

Off to check these threads.

mac

Thanks a lot for your help. I'll keep experimenting and see how it goes.

mac

Every time I try to post a pic of the material room, the forum gives me the same Amazon S3 account error, but not for other images.

Verbally

Blender - Attached to Diffuse Color

Leather texture (gray) - Attached to Blender Input 1

Overlay texture (Gold letters on white background) - Attached to Blender Input 2

Specular texture (White letters on dark gray background) - Attached to Specular Color (White)

Displacement texture (Dark gray letters on gray background) - Attached to Displacement

Well, I did get a result using the maps I had, and adding a Blender node. One reason for wanting to do it this way is so the user can change the Diffuse Color, thereby making the cover any color they like.

Thanks for the input.

Wow! This forum's weird. I tried to edit my 2nd post to describe the node setup and it told me I don't have permission to edit. I'll try in a new post.

Leather texture (gray) - Attached to Diffuse Color (Brown)

Overlay texture (Gold letters on white background) - Attached to Diffuse Strength

Specular texture (White letters on dark gray background) - Attached to Specular Color (White)

Displacement texture (Dark gray letters on gray background) - Attached to Displacement

I've tried various different combinations, but with no good results.

mac

I can't seem to upload a 3rd image. Is there some sort of limit to number of images? I keep getting an Amazon error (whatever that's supposed to be)

mac

Am I the only person on the planet who wants a simple, extremely basic function?

Saving a group of props to the library without using Subset Selection!

When I save a prop, I'd expect all the ones parented to it to be saved with it - unless I specifically exclude them.

Duh!

Yeah, and looking through lights with a proper (ie. non-fish-eye) view would be a step into the 21st century too.

Oh, and the ability to set my own kb shortcuts. I have at least half a dozen FREE programs I can think of off the top of my head that let ME decide what shortcuts I want to use.

mac

Thanks for the compliment, but these are pretty simple settings. I have a feeling that BB's would be a lot more impressive than mine.

I just bash away at it till I get something close. LOL.

mac

mac

Maybe not as good as BB would do, but the product's finished now and I need to upload it.

mac

Cool. Don't panic over it. I'm in absolutely no hurry. Btw, I also have P9, but I mostly test in P6 so I can take into account users who may not have the latest software. mac

Wow! That looks terrific, BB! Exactly what I'm after. The render time should be as short as possible, but since it's a product for sale, I can't say how it would be used. I imagine a lot of people would use pieces of the pack as background objects, but some might want to do product photography-style shots, especially with these being beauty products, which tend to look good in still lifes. A result like that justifies a longer render time, but 3' 38" is more than acceptable. Re Bar Italia - I honestly can't remember. I do know that I had a lot of trouble with it, and one member (The Retired Sailor) who was beta-testing it, helped out with settings. In fact, I think he was the one who came up with the mix of Anisotropic/Refract nodes that I still use. I bet he picked your brain though. LOL. Re nodes - You mentioned Fresnel. Every time I use that, I get really long render times, even dropping the quality down, (I generally use an RT bounce of 4 - 6). That's why I've tended to avoid it. Great work! mac

BB's going to take a look at it for me. When he's finished, (assuming it's ok with him), I'll post the setup here for anyone else who needs it. mac

Thanks, BB. Will PM you now. cheers mac