compositing Improve your renders with photoshop and save time

[kidlizard]

Hey thanks for the tips. I often laugh at the whole cheating theory, if thats the case were all cheating to some extent because none of its real.

[kidlizard]

OK im having some problems with the last tutorial here ( im not to bright with PS). I want to add a different backround, so if I understand correctly with this method Im going to need 3 layers right? My renedered image, alpha image and backround image. Now my question is how do i apply the mask so the backround comes thru my rendered image??

Thanks,

[greeney]

re render the model with a black background

open up the background image in photoshop

paste the render in as a new layer

use the magic selector tool on the black areas and delete it

or

As I see it masks are just opacity maps

render another Zdepth with a huge zdepth distance so all of the geometry within the scene is completely white

then open the background image in PS

paste your render of your geometry

apply a new mask

paste your new Zdepth as the mask, if this doesnt work you will have to invert the Zdepth colours (im not sure how to do this in PS I usually do it in Paint lol mspaint FTW! lol)

[kidlizard]

OK Im really struggling with this whole Zdepth map and how exactly to apply it in Photoshop. Could somebody explain it too me. I dont understand how to "paste" an image as a mask. Or how to edit a zdepth.

I appericiate all the replies so far

Thanx

[MrTom]

No problem....try this.

It's done slowly and deliberately so hopefully it's easier to follow, sorry there is no sound.

I'll add that at the beginning the Z-Depth image is 'SHIFT' and DRAGGED onto the actual image. Holding down shift when dragging will automatically centre the Image when you drop it.

Once you have the Z-depth image setup you can play around with the sliders till you get the result you're after, so don't follow me exactly when you get to that point.....but you'll see what I mean when you get there.

How To Apply Z-Depth Pass in PS.

(To download....right click the link and click 'save target as...')

Regards.

[Fisher]

Is there a way of achieving this in PS 6.0 where there is no Lens Blur option?

[MrTom]

Of course there is mate.

It's not as easy as the above, and you won't have a real time preview with different levels of blur and where the focal point is....but...it can be done yes.....as long as you have the option to blur the image.

Would ya like a video of that too?

Regards.

[greeney]

gah i made a vid for this last night lol ahh well

[kidlizard]

Any and all help would be very much apperciated. I actually still have version 6.0 here at work, but cs2 at home

P.S. Thanks for all the time and effort in helping me out here, MrTom and Greeney, much appericiated.

[Fisher]

Originally Posted by MrTom

Would ya like a video of that too?

Regards.

That would be great! What codec can I view your Z_Depth.avi tut with? Having troubles viewing it.

Originally Posted by greeney

gah i made a vid for this last night lol ahh well

Les'see it!