Export just shadows

[Dave R]

I've done a tutorial on this here on SCF somewhere. I use shadow only exports frequently to create soft shadows and the appearance of multiple light sources.

[suSteve]

still struggling with this one. If I export to png or tiff for a transparent background then I end up with the box again as this is not transparent. Is it possible to export with a transparent background?

thanks

---

[driven]

hi
export without trans...
open in Preview. magic wand the background...
john

[suSteve]

thanks John,

can do but wondered if there was a way of managing it in SU

[Box]

With 2015 you can export ,png with transparent background.
Like this.

[suSteve]

Do you have a copy of the skp you have used for the .png? I have exported to png (transparency) which is where the object was visible.

thanks

[driven]

I don't know if you can exclude a 3d shape shadows, on a mac...

have a look at tig's Shadow Projectorhttp://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=323%26amp;t=41885
you can hide everything else than export a png/tiff of just the shape of a shadow...

john

[jeff hammond]

some rendering apps can render only shadows with transparent everything else.
the upside is you get very clean shadows which render relatively quick.. the downside is it's maybe overkill for what you're trying to accomplish in the end.

so what, exactly, are you trying to accomplish?

[suSteve]

Thanks. I am on a Mac.

I wanted to just export shadows only with a transparent background.

[jeff hammond]

@susteve said:

Thanks. I am on a Mac.

I wanted to just export shadows only with a transparent background.

like that's it? that's the final goal?

my point is that there may be other ways to reach your goal

[driven]

Jeff, Dave and I also use mac...

I think tig's plugin or a renderer are the options...

how are you wanting to use the results?

john

[suSteve]

I am following this http://www.ronenbekerman.com/making-of-urban-plaza/

[driven]

he is doing what you started with, the shadows are on all faces as well as the ground...

john

[suSteve]

Thank you. At least I know that it is not possible to export shadows only with a transparent background on a Mac without a plugin

Thanks again

[jeff hammond]

@susteve said:

Thank you. At least I know that it is not possible to export shadows only with a transparent background on a Mac without a plugin

Thanks again

just a fwiw..
you've been able to do this forever on Mac (natively).. Windows has just gained the capability in su2015

edit-- oh wait.. I misread what you wrote.. I'll look at it again later when I'm at a computer.

[pbacot]

Is that what he did in the tutorial (great link--fine artist BTW)? No he just used a hidden line, white background, no-edges shadows export to png, and set the layer in PS to multiply.

If you want you can set png to transparent background (in the export dialog "Options"). The objects will still be white but you can set the color to alpha in PS (works with white background as well anyway).

[jeff hammond]

@box said:

With 2015 you can export ,png with transparent background.
Like this.

ha.. i see what you did there

(moved the geometry up and out of the view.. had me confused for a bit though)

[pilou]

I believe that Renderiza has make a such plugin!

[SU]Ch by Renderiza
and find "shadow"

[Box]

Sorry I'm not near a computer. The geometry in mine is in full view but painted with a transparent png texture. And it's windows hence the transparent background.

[jeff hammond]

@pilou said:

I believe that Renderiza has make a such plugin!

that looks like it might do the trick.. i tried it in 2015 despite it not being listed as supported and yeah, doesn't work.. (says su8 & 2013).. i'll try it in 8 a little later.

@box said:

Sorry I'm not near a computer. The geometry in mine is in full view but painted with a transparent png texture. And it's windows hence the transparent background.

ok, i see.

re: transparent background.. the reason su2015 release notes say "transparent background upon export is available in windows" (or whatever) is because it's already been in mac since the beginning.. those type of abilities are built into OS X itself which made it easy for the devs to implement on mac..