BILLBOARDS IN ARTLANTIS

Billboards for Artlantis a step by step guide

by Paul Beston

Tools used
Digital camera and tripod Mac Photoshop CS4 BB Builder Artlantis Render 3

Procedures
1.

Take photo of object at best resolution, even light conditions, with the most contrasting background available and use a tripod. Shoot photo square on object, billboards face camera in artlantis so perspective images look skewed with some images like cars etc. Load your images into iphoto When ready to make billboard, drag your image out of iphoto over the PS icon in the dock....image opens in PS. Crop image to remove excess background around object. see g 1 Select IMAGE, image size. Make note of width/ height, pixels click OK Select FILE, New, name le, change width/ height to image pixels size noted previously. Background Contents select transparent, click OK. Select FILE, Open Recent, select image ( i.e. top item ) In the layers panel, double click the background layer to unlock, click OK Zoom on object for best editing size. (mac alt option and scroll )

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

10. Select Magnetic lasso tool from toolbar ( right click lasso tool ) 11. Trace out object, when complete trace lights up . note use delete key to backtrack tracing if

mistakes made during process. see g 2 ( rene edge in options bar, some CS versions )

12. Select SELECT, inverse, then delete key.... see g 3

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13. Select FILE save ( now with transparent background ) and close image window. 14. Select FILE, Open Recent, select image just saved ( ie top item ) 15. At bottom of layers panel select new ll or adjustment layer/solid color

see g 4

16. In window, move color pickers to achieve a solid color that blends with your object color ( this

will remove the white ring around billboard for all practical purposes ) click OK. see g 5

17. Move layer 0 above newly created solid ll layer see g 6 18. Select SELECT, load selection, invert, OK 19. Select EDIT, cut. see g 7 20. Select FILE save image as ( .psd ) on desktop 21. Doubleclick BBBuilder icon in dock and open image saved on desktop 22. With image open in BB, select cutout color, then click on background color in left window.

see g 8

23. Select create billboard and three les, .bb, .tga, .prw.tga will appear on desktop or nominated le.

see g 9

24. Move the three les into a new folder. 25. Open an Artlantis le, select catalog, + and open folder. Alternatively, open Applications, Artlantis

Render 3, media, drag folder into appropriate location. quit and restart Artlantis to use see g 11

26. Select objects inspector, then drag BB into preview window, re size, contrast, brightness to suit,

Select 2d window, click on billboard to tag it and then move the associated blue dot in 2d window to position BB as required. see g 10

g 1 cropped to remove unnecessary background

g 2 highlighted after traced out with magnetic lasso selection tool

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g 3

rock with transparent white background

g 4

g 5

g 6

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g 7

rock with transparent blending color background

g 8

When background cutout by BB edge pixels will blend with rock and there will be no white outline around Billboard

g 9

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g 10

g 11

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No white outline around the plants and rocks by using blending background colors when creating the billboards. Plant images already with alpha backgrounds sourced from www.cadplants.com and converted to Artlantis billboards using this simple technique.

BILLBOARDS IN ARTLANTIS