I ended up using the alpha plane approach - with object parametric selected - as advised and it seems to have worked! I need to work on things like lighting etc but this is a great start. At least the stripes have gone!!!!

When I loaded the picture into the alpha I didn't load a negative image alongside it and wondered if I should have, although this seems to work on it's own?

As for my other photo's I have made seemless tiles of the bark and grass pictures I took and they too seem to work although they all appear to be a little 'stretched' or not fine enough detail as materials at the moment. I know I need to spend more time tweeking and adjusting and will do that a little later.

I REALLY appreciate all the hints and tips you have given me - with a little more practice I can see my photo's becoming a feature of my Vue from now on!

Many Many thanks to everyone! x

Thanks, I thought it was an awesome picture which is why I am so desperate to use it.

I am using Vue 7 Xstream. And I can't find an 'ignore atmosphere' option anywhere!

Not tried a final render yet... will give it a go and see what happens. Maybe it is because I was trying to use the full size HD photo that I took? Any suggestions on how to scale such a large picture to suit Vue? I kind of assumed that if I used the full quality HD photo that it would be better.

Maybe that's the error?

so not sure on the quality now.

Ok so the file size was too big, the photo will definitley be too big too as it is still at full size at the moment.... will fiddle and post ....

Here's a very simple sample render. It also shows where I load the backdrop into the camera - no 'ignore atmosphere' setting??

Once I get this to work I will create a 'proper' scene.

Original photo to follow.....

Thank you I gave that a try and got loads of funky stripes instead of my clouds! :(

I know I am probably missing the obvious here but can you tell me how to find the 'ignore atmosphere' you mentioned? I looked everywhere ... but obviously missed it!

Thanks

Thank you very much for the help. 

I am not that confident in the material editor yet and it sounds pretty complicated to me but I will give it a try and let you know what happens.

I am expecting some problems like you say but appreciate your step by step guide. That really helps!

Thank you I will certainly give that a try later tonight when I have the time to concentrate fully.

Do you have any suggestions as to how I can use the cloud formation photo's for skies? I am assuming that if I tile that one it will look awful!

All I can think of at the moment is that I create my landscape without a sky (or just black sky) then take the finish rendered image into my paint program and layer the photograph onto it. That's a lot of work and I know it wouldn't look anywhere as good as it would if I could use it directly in Vue.

Sorry to be a pain but this is what happens when you try to combine two hobbies!!!

Thanks!

Thank you for your replies.

Firstly no, they are not individual blades of grass but more macro shots of sections of grass and bark on trees. I also have some lovely shots of cloud formations that I want to use for skies in Vue.

I can seemlessly tile my pictures in Paint Shop that is no problem but what format do you suggest I save them back out as? There are quite a few options with that program. Do they still need to be .jpg or .bmp maybe?

I am not very confident with the material editor yet but will certainly give it a go.

Thank you very much for the help.

Hello again.
Well I did get rid of daz from my machine, cleaned out all the odd files etc and then re-loaded fresh. I then followed the tip 3anson gave me above and that seems to have stopped the machine from crashing when looking for new files. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT ONE!

All I have to do now is sort all my goodies so they are where I can find them and use them.
That was the original problem all along....Will come back and let you know!

Oh and bigbearaaa - no I don't mind you borrowing my thread.. we are all learning here - me especially!
Many thanks

Hello. Thank you theschell I will give that a try. Hadn't posted back because I am still getting lost trying to place then locate any new content I add.

I did try getting daz to look for new content but everytime I do it gets so far and then the program just closes itself down completely without any warning. When I open it back up it hasn't found anything at all.

I have even uninstalled daz completely then reloaded twice now... still no luck.
Most frustrating!

Thanks!

Thank you FightingWolf, I never go on YouTube so hadn't even thought of looking there!
I will check it out and post back.
Many thanks.  :o)
p.s Is Poser different to Daz? I assume if it is that I can't use poser characters in my program?

RubyDancingmoon

Hello again.
I tried using the content manager first but it didn't work for some reason. I was following the instructions to add the python figure, as suggested dragged and dropped it to the 'animals>land' folder but it wasn't there!

Then I found the 'search for new content' setting and used that... it got to reading no.19 (file I think the popup box disappeared too fast to read) then the program simply closed itself down!!! On re-opening it hadn't found anything!

Then I followed Avros instructions. That took some doing but was really hopeful of stuff showing up.... nope! I have clothing in two different places, animals are.. god knows! And so on.

Maybe I should uninstal the program completley and start again?? I am getting so frustrated now. I was so looking forward to using this program.

I have a lot of stuff I have collected that I want to add and organise but am getting to the point where I don't know what is where anymore.

Further tips are most welcome.. whilst I still have some hair left! GRRRRRRRR.......
Thanks

Thank you all so much. I have read and taken all that in and also just downloaded that link to the content manager tutorial.
I will study it and then try organising my files. Hopefully once done I will be able to start learning how to create!
I will let you know what happens!
Many thanks for all your help.... it's appreciated.
Hugz!