Jwhitham, if I remember well Vue (at least Vue 4) can "read" a gray maps using 256 values only. ***Luca aka cinacchi

Thanks to all the people, for your kindness in helping me. Your suggestions were really worthwhile. Thanks again.

Thanks Sittingblue, I checked and I found some posts of Zoon, but unfortunatly his webisite where there were more info is disconnectes. By the way, I guess that Zoon was working more on how to recreate real data (elevation and so on). On my case the goal is different: realize images that look as they has been shooted by the airplane, with the ground that get interesting (by texture, colors, geomotetry of the fields and so on) like in real life. Thanks again. ***Luca aka cinacchi

DANGER: VIRUS ON webpage of FIRST LINK!!! I visited the link Attached Link: http://maruce2.tripod.com that is at the top page, and just after opened the page the antivirus claimed that the html code was infected with Win32.MS04-028 Also known as: Bloodhound.Exploit.13 (Symantec), Win32.MS04-028!exploit, Exploit-MS04-028.demo (McAfee), JPEG.MS04-028.exploit, JPEG.MS04-028.Exploit.Trojan, Exploit.Win32.MS04-028.gen (Kaspersky) It is a virus that in its last signature is recognizable only by signature released after october 19. Take care Luca aka cinacchi

Hellborn: for my dual xeon workstation I always used SuperMicro motherboards. They have a good price-quality relationship, and in my experience with them (8 years with different models) I never had any problems (maybe I'm lucky). The original case is hugly, but if you look for power and quality they can be a good choice (not easy to find, at least in Italy)

I'm trying to guess: if i want to isolate some elements -let's say in the foreground- from blur applying the z-dpht channel, maybe i can use the level (CTRL L) of photoshop (or After Effects). Using the sliders related to max output of black and white perhpas it is possible to isolate the exact amount of "gray" (and so depth where you want to apply the effect.

HellBorn, I think that the postprocessing procedure you used at first (blur added in After Effects using z-mpa) is the best solution to the blur on dept of field; indeed: * you avoid the software need to calculate the blur, getting a much faster rending * you have -at least i guess- more control on the amount of blur, and you can try and use different settings almost "at flight". I guess if there is somewhere some tutorial or resource with some good tips on how to use at the best z-map in video compositing packages like After Effects. Even though I know the general "workflow" of this tecnique, some good tips and tricks can help for sure...

That's a great image. The blur of deep of field it is still a little fuzzy, grainy: i guess what setting (and render time) must be used for a perfect blur.

Great Mike: you made a winderfull job! Maybe can you post the file (if not too big) in the freestuff area? I'm really interested to see how far each pther you placed your lights, etc. etc. Thnak you! ***Luca

Thanks... I was trying using volumetric spotlight BUT in volumetric atmosphere. Now I will try tu turn off this last one.

hmmm.... I'm not so sure about how Vue work with cob files. I had only one experience, with a medium complex object made in Truespace (a lap top made by David Farmer). When imported in vue, material were not assigned right, some were missed, and the meshes too were not always in the right position (only a little "slided", but I needed to work on them) ***Luca "cinacchi"

Just a question: are you using for the bump the same image with the same image mode (I means with full colors)? If yes, try using a copy of it, converted in grayscale on Photoshop and working there with contrast and brightness settings. Usually, fining tuning setting with the tolls that a paint program offer to you, you can reach the result you want. ***Luca "cinacchi"

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=97926&Start=1&Sectionid=0&Form.Search=cinacchi

I'm sorry I read this post too late to help you, Orio. In fact, I had the same problem, and I too tought to have the 4.02b installed, until when Steve insisted to download and install the 4.02B (in fact, the indication in the splash startup screen is the same). The problem occur (at least, at my experience, only when you map to Object and not to world, and not only with imported object, but with Vue simple object too (as a cube, i.e.). It is not so easy to see, because oft the ambient light "cover" the problem: I noted it only when a made a planet Heart rotating in the dark space, and I had the need to reduce all the value in the material editor effects tab: ambient, luminosity and (don't remember). In fact, standard settings luminosity material setting "hidden" a little the problem, but the 4.02 B patch fix everything. Ciao! ***Luca "cinacchi" (the real family name is "cinacchio", but when i got my email, in '94 on a Unix system, you could use only 8 characters... so "cinacchi" and not "cinacchio"... :) LOL

Megalodon, Vue have a good animation tool, good enought for the most part of puroposes that you can find (even for professional use: I just finished a short animation of planet Heart, with the heart totating in the space, the camera moving around and the surface animated (the client want that on the geographical surface "grow" with a fade the map of a particular country). BUT, there are some problems: sometimes seems that Vue just refuse to do what you (and the manual) say. i.e. now I cannot understand why in another animation Vue refuse to animate the camera!!!! Also, on my experience take care with quicktime format, specially if you use format bigger than 320x240. I cannot understand why (I use many video edting program such Premiere and After Effects, and of course all my video codec installed must be working well) why at 540x480 in .mov format really oft I obtain only jarked lines (as when you try to watch a "pay on demand" movie without the decoder). If you want to use quicktime and have problems, render in .avi and then convert in .mov using a video application. Let us know and good luck!