Using Bryce to make more Cosmographer Symbols
Jay_NOLA
Traveler
I started playing around a bit more with Bryce and figured to try and make some more Cosmographer symbols.
My first test symbol a small asteroid came out ok.
But I'm having trouble making the PNGs for planets and space craft. I used Bryce to make alpha channel files and rendered image files, but I can't seem to combine the two so they look good. The method I used for the asteroid isn't working with the spaceraft and planet images.
I think i spent aboutn 5 hours looking online for tutorials and help, but could find out anything what to do with any of the graphics programs i have.
Graphics program wise I have Gimp, Inkscape, Paint.Net,and Adobe Elements 8 installed.
Any help that can be given is greatly apreciated.
My files are in the zip.
My first test symbol a small asteroid came out ok.
But I'm having trouble making the PNGs for planets and space craft. I used Bryce to make alpha channel files and rendered image files, but I can't seem to combine the two so they look good. The method I used for the asteroid isn't working with the spaceraft and planet images.
I think i spent aboutn 5 hours looking online for tutorials and help, but could find out anything what to do with any of the graphics programs i have.
Graphics program wise I have Gimp, Inkscape, Paint.Net,and Adobe Elements 8 installed.
Any help that can be given is greatly apreciated.
My files are in the zip.
Comments
I'm not sure how your doing the Alpha Channels, but if your trying to do transparent .pngs - then first you will have to make your image in Bryce - then export it as a bitmap - then crop it to your desired specs and make it transparent in the Gimp by creating a new alpha channel(s), then save it again as a .png... There's a quick way to do it using the wand tool in Gimp.
http://www.fabiovisentin.com/tutorial/GIMP_transparent_image/gimp_how_to_make_transparent_image.asp
http://www.fergys.co.uk/Blogs/TransGimp.php
http://gimp-university.blogspot.com/2008/03/real-transparency-in-gimp.html
http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/The_Basics/
I was hoping to be able to do someyhing like in the link bellow where you can just load in your mask to a photo editor.
http://brycetech.daz3d.com/tutor/bryce/mask.html
I used to have on my old computer that got destroyed years ago due to Katrina a photo image program that could do the masking I wanted in a similar matter to the one in the tutorial example.
My alpha bitmaps were made using object mask render option.
Sorry to hear about the scary weather.
Anyway, my brain is mush at moment been having a highly stressful week.
My dream would be to use Bryce to create all the mountains and vegetation symbols for my entire world, but that might just be a bit over the top, lol.
Personally, I would say your work is looking pretty good!
http://free.daz3d.com/free_weekly/bryce_archive_list.php
The old DAZ sTudio archieve has some other models that are usefull.
http://free.daz3d.com/free_weekly/archive_list.php
I got Bryce last year and I'm having to relearn it again. Going to have to relearn Fractal Terrains too,as i haven' played with it in a few months. So Iknow the feelin about getting busy with stuff and forgeting.
Bill - Thanks again for all the helpful links.
It took me awhile but I figured out how to get GIMP to not cut off any part of my image. This was happening with all the tutorial techniques of making an alpha channel I was running into. I’ve reproduced my steps bellow. Give this a try with the Uranus & the Bug renders I made and let me know how clear the instructions are. The attched zip bellow has those files and several PNGs of symbols I made with Bryce.
1.) Make are render in Bryce of the object and export it as a bmp.
2.) Make a 2nd render in Bryce of the object, but have Object Mask on to make alpha channel mask. Make sure the object is selected and that the camera position hasn’t changed. Export as a bmp.
3.) In GIMP go to File and select Open as Layers and open the rendered image from step 1 as a layer
4.) Open the render image, the alpha channel mask, from step 2 in GIMP.
5.) Make the image from step 1 invisible by clicking the eye in the GIMP layer’s dock next to it. The layer with the alpha channel mask is the only layer you want visible. The Layer’s Dock is in the right hand box of items or can be opened by going to the Windows tab and selecting it from Dockable Dialogs. An eye shows if a layer is visible.
6.) In the GIMP tool box select the Fuzzy Select Tool. (It looks like a wand.)
7.) Click in the black area of in the alpha channel mask layer. You’ll see just white with some dotted lines, ant lines, at this point. In some cases this may not select every black area of the alpha channel mask. In those cases you have to go to Select and select By Colors before clicking on the black area so all of the black areas are selected .
8.) Go to Edit and select Clear. You’ll see just white the dotted lines, ant lines, at this point.
9.) Now make image from step 1 that you made invisible visible again, by click where the eye was to bring it back The “ant lines “or dotted lt will be visible around the image from step 1 that is showing. Make sure both layers are visible.
10.) In the Layer’s Dock right click on the alpha mask layer and select Merge Down. The image from step 1 ought to be the top layer before you do this. Use the arrows at the bottom in the Layer’s Dock to raise it up if it isn’t.
11.) You now have only one layer which is your old alpha channel. The white dots, ant line, will still be showing.
12.) Go to Edit and select Clear. Your image part that you wanted to keep will now be surrounded by a transparent background.
13.) If needed crop around the image.
14.) Go to File and select Save As.
15.) Type the name you want to save it as. Click the+ box next to the Select by File Type and select PNG.
Some observations and tips.
1.) Some Bryce models may look great to use, but when you view them at an angle you’d use to make a symbol out of it the detail and the attractiveness is lost. Examples, look at the mail box and the antique desk objects that are included with Bryce from several angles. If you were to make a CC3 symbol of them you’d use top views.
2.) Some Bryce models that have the problems mentioned in 1 can be modified to deal with this. Example, the antique desk could have some other models put on it so it doesn’t look like just a piece of wood. Example 2, the well model, also included with Bryce, looks great at a side but at a top view it has a problem as it has no well water. The fix, add a cylinder, resize the cylinder and make it negative and make the well positive, and add a water material that looks good to the cylinder.
Note: 1 & 2 applies to DAZ Studio, etc. models imported into Bryce also.
3.) Turn Shadows off in the Render Options in most cases.
4.) You may need to turn off lights, add lights, turn off atmosphere and use certain Sky and Fog Backdrops when making some symbol renders.
5.) Fractal Terrains world maps can be use to texture a sphere in Bryce so you can make a planet map symbol of your world or worlds for your Cosmo maps.
6.) If using a downloaded model be sure and read if any restrictions are in its' use.
Quick note I forgot to mention. If you don't have Bryce it has a free PLE version and if you are interested in buying Bryce or the Pro version, best to do so now as DAZ will be increasing the price of it by 30% in the near future.
It looks like you have this worked out, but I can help with any Photoshop / General format questions if you have any left
-Avotas