Effectively blending foreground object with background image

Support Basics & Interface
1

In the scene I am attempting to create I need to effectively merge a set of semi-transparent objects with a single background image set on a plane, this image [#1, below] is a simple matte painting of the globe.

http://www.matbray.com/images/arty/europe%200.1.png

I wish for the objects to look as if they wrap around the globe, heading off around the horizon on the left hand side of the image. What I have currently is not quite as effective as I would wish, [#2].

http://www.matbray.com/images/arty/europe%200.2.png

The blocks do not have a) any feel of depth b) a sense that they are on a spherical surface.

Does anyone with more experience than me have any suggestions on how to wrap these objects effectively to get the effect I want, perhaps armatures would be useful, though I suspect my objects are too squat and bulky for it to be effective.

Tychom

2

You can try the warp function. Put the cursor thingy (the thing that looks like crosshairs) at the center of what you wish to wrap around, go into edit mode with your object that you want to warp, and hit shift W. then move your mouse cursor until it has the correct ammount of warpage to it.

3

You can also change the focal length of the lense in F9.

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4

to get a feeling of depth the blocks should cast a shadow on the globe

Ad a sphere in the scene that lines up with the globe, and give it a material with “onlyshadow” turned on