hi all! i want to know how to set a background image i can render over.....in Poser what you would do is simply import a background pic you can render over....in carrara i've tried the background and backdrop options in the Assemble Room....the problem is when i use Background, the picture gets stretched like crazy, and so i end up with huge pixels.....if i use Backdrop, the pic is squished (resized) to about 80% its size, and so I end up with jagged edges..... also, the background or backdrop image is not seen in the background....in Poser you see it.....in Carrara the only time i see the background is when I render the scene....is there a way i can make the background pic visible while working in the assemble room? i know i am doing something wrong.....please help.... thanks very much for reading and for any help!! =)

"Background" is for environment maps, like HDRI that wrap all around a sphere which encircles the scene. A "backdrop" is just that, a flat backdrop always straight behind the scene facing the camera. It will render at the size of the production frame. You can go in the render room and set the size of the production frame to match the pixel height and width of your backdrop image. I think you are out of luck in seeing the backdrop until you test render, at least in the latest version. It would be a nice feature to aid in compositing on a backdrop or background. Patrick Tuten

thanks Patrick!! i'll do that....much appreciated!!! =)

Not true! You can see it in the background as you compsite your scene. There is a little arrow next to the buttons that set the quality level of the frame. (Wireframe, flat shaded, etc...) That arrow brings up the preferences for the viewframes. In there is an option for seeing the background. Click on the box and say OK and it will appear. Good luck, and happy rendering!

Hey thanks bluetone, I apologize for posting incorrect info. I now remember knowing this a couple of years ago and lost it somewhere not using backdrops very often. I do think they should put that check box in the tray where you load the backdrops, would be more convenient. Patrick Tuten

thanks bluetone!

Patrick 210 - I agree that the option should be placed in a more reasonable location. I had forgotten myself, and there was a comment here on R'Osity about something else in that dialog box. Then I noticed that little box while I was there. Yeah! biggert - You're welcome! Glad to help. :>

And one other thing, Biggert -- you should probably resize your image for the backdrop to the size you'll be rendering your final output. That way, Carrara won't have to do the resizing, and it'll increase your render speed. (Maybe not hugely, but for an animation or something, every fraction of a second saved on a frame helps!) - Dex

thanks Dex