How to render smoke?

[quote=Kirluu]Hey guys, was just wondering about this issue, since I would like to make a render of this Shaco picture: [spoiler][img]http://oi43.tinypic.com/210xdmt.jpg[/img][/spoiler] Is there some trick to it, or is it just impossible? The point is, to be able to make the smoke kind of transparent I suppose, and somehow be able to have that smoke be appliable on a white background, without the dark colours that are essentially a part of the smoke, to "go away". Does anyone know how, and if it is even possible? I use Photoshop CS5. Thanks guys, Kirluu~[/quote]

[quote=JEFFY40HANDS]....I'm sure there is either a very difficult technique/rather unrefined way to getting it to do what you're thinking of.... But overall the image is initially a JPEG. Which means layers are not supported. Because layers are not supported it's a "flat" image. This means that the smoke coming off the blades is on the same level as the blades themselves. Meaning you can't separate them through normal means. At best you could render Shaco, and then render the EXACT shape and flow of the smoke with the pen tool. And then basically attempt to recreate the smokey effect using the shapes of the smoke as a "canvas" of sorts...[/quote]

[quote=B-Wong]Get a similar-looking brush + blend tool. ez. In terms of rendering it's probably possible but really really fucking hard.[/quote]

[quote=Kirluu]Thanks for the replies, guys. A friend of mine suggested cutting all the way in to the knifes themselves, and then somehow, through magic means, applying the smoke afterwards, even though that seems impossible as well. In any case, I have created a render of another Shaco image. Please give feedback =D It's my first "big" render. [img]http://oi42.tinypic.com/2chnkeg.jpg[/img][/quote]

[quote=jhoijhoi]That looks pretty good to me, I'd use it :)[/quote]

[quote=Kirluu]Thanks :) Took me a while, since my mouse has started doubleclicking randomly, which messes up my selectioningness. :/ Actually, does anyone have a fix for this issue? Is there something you can do by opening the mouse perhaps? I have the Razer Imperator. I guess a clean would be nice, but I'm not sure if it will fix the issues.[/quote]

[quote=B-Wong][quote=Kirluu] Thanks :) Took me a while, since my mouse has started doubleclicking randomly, which messes up my selectioningness. :/ Actually, does anyone have a fix for this issue? Is there something you can do by opening the mouse perhaps? I have the Razer Imperator. I guess a clean would be nice, but I'm not sure if it will fix the issues. [/quote] It wouldn't hurt to try. Although, you might need to get new mouse feet afterwards. Also, if that doesn't solve it it's probably something in the hardware or the razer drivers (they're known to be pretty whacky).[/quote]

[quote=Kirluu]It almost has to be something with the hardware, tbh. I've had the mouse for at least over a year now, and it has worked fine. It only started doubleclicking around 3-4 days ago. I searched le net, and found out that it [i]should[/i] help to slow/speed up the "Double-clicking speed" of the mouse, but it makes no difference whether I make it faster or slower.[/quote]

[quote=B-Wong][quote=Kirluu] It almost has to be something with the hardware, tbh. I've had the mouse for at least over a year now, and it has worked fine. It only started doubleclicking around 3-4 days ago. I searched le net, and found out that it [i]should[/i] help to slow/speed up the "Double-clicking speed" of the mouse, but it makes no difference whether I make it faster or slower. [/quote] If cleaning it doesn't work then it looks like it's time for a new mouse.[/quote]

[quote=Protocol]Color Range 5 pixels the color of the smoke. Should grab most of it, then use the selection tool to grab the stuff you missed.[/quote]