Creating a Pict Object

---

A Pict Object is a 2D picture that is applied to a 2D finite plane. The object is basically a picture on a frame. The Frame is a 2D plane, meaning that it has no depth. If you view it from the side, it disappears.

Using a Pict Object is a quick way of creating very complex-looking objects. The only limitation is that you can view them from only one angle, so the front of the Pict Object must always be facing the camera.

The Alpha channel of the object can be used to create transparencies in the Pict Object.

A good way of ensuring that your 2D Pict Object never appears distorted is to have it track the camera. Refer to "Tracking Objects" for more on tracking.

Alpha Channels and Pict Objects

The picture you use as a Pict Object must have an Alpha channel. Refer to "Alpha Channels" for more on Alpha channels.

The alpha channel of your Pict images will allow you to specify visible and invisible portions of your picture texture.

For example, you can clip out a picture's background so that only the main object in the picture is visible.

The shadow cast by the image will be in the shape of the picture's alpha channel, which gives a more realistic look.

To create a Pict object:

1 Click the Pict Object tool or any empty square to open up the Pictures dialog.

The Pictures dialog appears.

2 Click an image square to load an image.

3 If the image you want is not in the library:

• Click the Combination Load button. The load image dialog appears.
• Use the dialog controls to locate the picture you want to use and click Open.

or

• In another application, copy the picture you want to use to the clipboard.
• Access the Pictures dialog and click the Paste button.

The picture is loaded into the first image box and its alpha channels are loaded into the second box.

When you load a new picture into the Pictures dialog, the main image is loaded into the first box, its alpha channel is loaded into the second box, and the combination is loaded into the third.

You can invert the alpha channel by clicking the invert button

4 Click the OK icon to exit the dialog.

Bryce creates a 2D plane and maps the image onto it as a texture. The Pict Object is created with the same aspect ratio as the original picture.

When you exit the picture dialog, the image is mapped onto a 2D plane and placed in your scene.

Corel Corporation http://www.corel.com Voice: (800) 772-6735 Fax: (716) 447-7366 www.corel.com/support