I was just wondering if it's possible to create a glass effect, for example in a window. I've got UV Mapper, and I use Ulead PhotoImpact 3.

UVMapper is just used to create how the texture map will be applyed to the object. You need to create a Transparancy Map for a transparant effect. This can be done in any image editor program that saves jpeg or gif images. Black is completely transparent while white is completely solid/opaque. And various shades of grey determine how transparent an area is. You may also combine a bump map to the object to get a textured glass effect. I hope this makes some sense. James

There's a demo download, fully functional, for 30 days, for Ulead PhotoImpact 6. I think you might enjoy it.

How exactly do you create a transmap? Do I load a jpeg but load it in the "Transparency map" box, thereby converting it? I've used transmaps, but I haven't yet created my own.

Oh, and where is this Ulead PhotoImpact 6 download? I can't find it anywhere on Renderosity.

A Trans map is just a greyscale image. No conversion needed. Really basic. Look at a couple of maps made by other people and learn from those. Any image editor should read them. James

Ulead PhotoImpact demo: http://www.ulead.com/pi/trial.htm A Texture Map is the color design of the object - logos, strips, pictures, etc. A Transparency Map is a grayscale image that determines how much shows and where it shows. White (in Poser) means opaque, Black (in Poser) means transparent. Example: If you wanted a t-shirt to cut off just below the breasts, then the texture map would be colored as usual (logo, etc.) while the trans map would have everything above the breasts white, while everything below the breasts would be blacked out. If you wanted a negligee see-through effect, you could take a dress and color the entire transmap a gray color. The darker the gray, the more see-through the material would look. Here's an image of a box with a texture that has a trans map applied to it. (It's from another program, but the concept is the same.) Hope this helps.

Maybe I'm a a bit dim, but I still don't know HOW they are made. How would I make one from scratch? You say it's a grayscale image - an image of what, created how? What do I create it from? A texture map? This is a strange concept I apparently can't get my head around :( I've tried looking for transmap tutorials but I can't seem to locate any.

Yes....use the texture maps that you have. Just open your photo editor..your ulead..Open the texture map...copy it. Paste it as a new image. Add a new layer, opacicty..50-75%. Now, in this new layer...paint the places on the transmap that you want to show, white. Paint the parts you don't black. Anything that you want to show up, maybe a little bit, you paint a shade of gray. When you have painted over the whole texture map in in black and white...You adjust the transparency on the last layer to 100%, merge them, and, "Save As"...what you want.jpg, .tiff, etc. Now you can load this from where you stored it, in the trans box, just, like a texture.

Oh, shoot...I left out...first thing...turn it into a grayscale image....then, do negative image to make it black and white....Doh...Then add the layer. Sorry about that.

What is it you wish to make a transmap of? You mention wanting a transmap for a glass object. What's the object? A beer mug, a window? You need the object first. You decide. UV mapper gives you the template you need to locate where a map (texture, bump, or transparency) will cover your object. Once you've got your template, decide to what part of your object you'd like to apply a degree of transparency. Create a greyscale image that covers those areas in a image editing program (i.e. Photoshop) using the template as a placement guide. As you can see from the example above, black areas appear transparent, white opaque. Use the materials editor to apply the transparency map to your object. (The option to do so is in the lower right corner of the editor) You can then decide the level of transparency using the sliders in the materials editor. Experiment. Good luck...

I think I'm almost there, but my transmaps just don't appear, even when I set it to 100% max/min. I get a bit confused with converting it to grayscale/invert, and then setting its opacity. I want to create a cutoff effect for the female shortskirt. Coud you give a step-by-step guide on how to do it? I really aprreciate your input :) BTW: I managed to create a "glass ball" just by creating a texture, and then reducing its transparency/falloff accordingly, without needing a transmap (no transmap was loaded). Cheers JoeBlack