Hi
Ok things are working very well now and i think im pretty much there with your help im now compositing 3 layers, looks tons better , renders tons quicker. But I got just a couple of more questions, im confused on
FYI:rendered 3 layers seperately - file attached
Shadows =render to element tab shadow added only , rendered with mr, with H&F set to Active but composite mode - off) 1mn-50
Environment =,mr, NO SHADOWS (turned off in light lister)and H&F not active, 7secs
H&F layer = scanline, buffer mode composite set to None, and H&F added to render elements. 50secs
(render times are now super fast with increase quality as i have headroom to ramp H&F mod params up, only the shadows as mr used pushes times up slightly. This is still better than mr prim the whole lot together at over 5mins30!
Q1 its still not the most stable, is there an equivalent in scanline to increase memory usage like u mentioned in mr prim before?
Q2 the environment layer i am rendering as a jpeg as this is what seems to render the full blue background, as when i render to RPF and TARGA it doesnt include the mr lighting like the blue sky and blured horizon its kinda just the character and a black sky and grey ground plane. I am checking all channels and alpha split but it doesnt make any difference. This can also get confusing as im not sure what specific channels i should be using and there are loads files being rendered, and of course RPF are big files which i dont really want with all chanels selected
as long as i render a jpeg it works fine but of course i cant add effects or what not if its jpeg or similar image file.
What should i be rendering the environement out as?
Q3u mentioned in the prior msge if i render shadows layer seperately i need to add the objects it comes into contact with, as well. just a bit confused by this, as am i doing it right as per my method above in shadows?
do you know of any tuts on rendering matt objects for shadows , i really dont have a clue about this still at all, or can you elaborate for a dummie:P
Anyways cheers with your help again
Cheers
Ben
by the way i bought that allan mckay tutorial you suggested, its incredible!