CompuServe Thread

Transparent map

5 messages in this thread
#158975From: James FranssenMar 14, 1995 8:03 PM
What is the way to place a texture map on an object, and have the black part of the map become transparent? For example, place a texture map of a spider web on a box, and when rendered, have ONLY the web visible and not the box as it moves through other objects. The web travels through a simi-transparent tube. Can this be done? Thanks. -James Franssen
#159051From: Don LandisMar 15, 1995 3:18 AM
Use an opacity map for this. Create the opacity map from your texture direct of convert to grayscale in a paint program like photoshop.
#159329From: James FranssenMar 16, 1995 12:38 PM
>> Use an opacity map for this. << Right on the nose. I could not remember the word "opacity" 🙂 I appreciate your quick replies, by the way, you're quite helpful every time! -James Franssen
#159186From: EDWARD HARVEYMar 15, 1995 7:26 PM
If I understand what you are trying to do, you could 1) either make a black and white opacity map by magic wand selecting (in photoshop or photostyler etc. ) the black areas of the web map, inverting the selection so the web is selected and filling the web with white and saving as a map to be used in the opacity slot. 2)create an alpha layer by selecting the web as above,using the same map of the web with alpha layer as an opacity map while using alpha not rgb in the opacity map dialog Ed
#162764From: Bob ProkoppApr 4, 1995 11:33 AM
Hi James, Opacity maps are the way to go, as mentioned by the other members up here. There is a document about opacity map concepts relating to building simple trees that might help you in your spider web animation. It's in the 3D Studio library, called 3DTREE.ZIP. I hope this helps, Bob