Making a Leaf

A very useful tool for creating objects from bitmaps to add to the scene of an animation, is to find an image of what is needed in the background. Once found, import the bitmap into Adobe Photoshop onto a layer. Then create a second layer in the hierarchy and using the magic wand tool, select the white space, fill this with black. The remaining white pixels should then be filled in black too.

The finished effect of the saved black and white image and the original image used as maps within the material editor in 3ds Max combines the images and eliminates the white space in the original bitmap. This gives the illusion that it is an object without a white background.

Added textures for example, a leaf can be used with the bump tool to make it seem less flat and two dimensional. Finally, by then bending the leaf, it then creates the representation of the characteristics of the leaf, and embodies the needs and aspirations of the leaf.

This will be very useful in creating realistic backgrounds in the final production if this technique is incorporated. This is what the leaf looks like once completed.