Alpha Channels

Every image contains a number of channels that store data about the makeup of the picture. For instance, channels can contain masks, colors, or bump information.

The Alpha Channel of an image is its first channel. The channel is like a grayscale map that accompanies an image that is used primarily as a "mask." Areas in the Alpha Channel that are black (appearing transparent) are ignored by the Bryce as it computes the picture. Bryce recognizes and computes areas that are white (appearing opaque).

The most common use for alpha channels is to mask the contours of a 2D object, separating it from any unwanted background information. For instance, you may import a picture of a dog. If you have created an Alpha Channel "mask" describing the area of the dog as white and the "non-dog" area as black, then unwanted cats and mail carriers in the original picture's background will not be seen in your rendered image. This example illustrates how the Alpha Channel mask (bottom) is used to eliminate the unwanted areas of an image.

In Bryce, Alpha Channels are also used when your picture is a component in a material. In this case the alpha channel can be used to determine everything from the bumps in a material to how a surface property is applied on an object.

If you want to use the picture in the library for multiple purposes, you'll need to make sure that all the pictures have an alpha channel.

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