Really a posting more of interest to newbies.
In the above below a fish texture was applied to the Cylinder Tool > H and V divide options of the Initialise function was set to maximum > the mesh was then subdivided. A fish shape alpha mask was then used to “cut out” the fish from the Cylinder by using the Hide Pt option - Modifiers > Selection.
(The mask is applied after importing it in to the Alpha tool by using the Modifiers > Selection >Alp - this transfers the live alpha in the alpha tool onto the mesh).
The texture map was then re-applied as an alpha this time using it as a height map to drive a deformation bump to the existing mesh by using the inflate function. Modifiers >Deformation > Inflate.
NB:After you have applied alpha masks to a mesh don’t forget to clear it.
Beneath are some further experiments using masks to punch out spheres into scallop shapes. The texture for the shapes was created by texturng a skinned alpha of a fish shape. I then rotated the fish to underview, revolved it so that it ran verticaly > then I snap shotted copies and using the move tool arranged the pattern horizontally across the canvas. This was then grabbed using the MRGBZ Grabber tool and saved out as a new texture.
Mapped to a Cube
I’d love to see other peoples alpha experiments and links here. It could make a nice reference resource for us all.
work 