CompuServe Messages

Max, >> The doo dad is animated and will be superimposed by the client over the bottom right corner of hundreds of text slides. << this is certainly feasible within 3ds and video post. The settings are critical. For a full account of the technique which should help you get a hold of a copy of the book I mentioned (beg, borrow, steal … whatever). Can you give the client 2 layers? 1 of the doodad without shadow, 2 the shadow alone, for them to composite themselves. If so, I would render once with the doodad alone on black with alpha, then with the doodad as a matte object, but casting shadows (raytraced) on a "shadow catching" object (Stand-in for the background) with a pure white, 25% self illuminated material. Make the background pure white. Turn dither 24-bit off. Crank the spotlight to 255,255,255 multiplier 3. That should give you a clean edged shadow (if you positioned your spot appropriately) on a white background. The client or you should be able composite the slides, the shadow keying off the white (possibly making the shadow slightly transparent), and the doodad with alpha key.