What is best way to make one thing shade into another, as is done in 2d art programs, such that when they overlap there are no hard edges between them? Thanks, Jim

The Alpha channel set to vary visibilty on each item sounds the way to go for me. Lets know if you find that OK.

bwtr

Does not work with the body of a character, e.g., a character in profile with some alpha applied results in unwanted result of the left arm being visible through the body from the right side of the character. Apart from saving each 3d component individually, is possible to move a Carrara 2d render to photoshop or paintshop pro while retaining the different 3d componets as layers in the 2d ap? Best Thoughts, James

If I understand your question correctly, you can do a series of renders in Carrara with each render having various items "switched off" for a particular render. The end result being a series of images which can be made into layers in say Photoshop.And then you can go to town on each or parts of each layer. Limited by your imagination!

See the little Visible check box at the top of the General tab.

bwtr

Yes, that's what I was thinking, but also wondering if there were other ways or plugins or utilites to do the same thing. Also, what's the best 2d application for such postwork? And let's see, you would use the "visible" switch to switch off everything except the one thing you are rendering. What's the best save file format to use in Carrara to go to photoshop or similar program? Thanks! Jim

To me, it is pretty obvious that Photoshop is the best and the current version CS3Extended is WOW--but a LOT of money!

The "visible" switch relates to each individual item--ONLY.

File type arguments can differ but, for me. JPEG at top quality setting, or, if you need to save clear backgrounds use .png, seem to be about the least complicated--and most universally acceptable!

bwtr

Don't see a png file typle in my Carrara 5 Pro. What is your procedure here? How are you dealing with the background on saves from Carrara? Jim

Carrara will accept back in .png files when you are importing maps.

In relation to backgrounds--if you dont need them in any of your  various renders--you could set a ghastly  say blue colour which would make it easy for Photoshop to remove.

With general preplanning, what you can do with a set of render layers in photoshop is only limited by your imagination.

bwtr

Quote -
With general preplanning, what you can do with a set of render layers in photoshop is only limited by your imagination.

Occurs to me that the problem with rendering individual components so they can be worked on as layers in photoshop is that you would loose all the lighting effects among the objects that you get in a full carrara render. Right?? Jim

Mostly that would only be a problem with "complex" lighting I would think. Again, with preplanning you can have your lighting set for each render pass to suit that particular need.

Again in Photoshop later versions you can make lighting adjustment/effects to each layer anyway.

bwtr