How to export Z-depth channel??

[RSF]

Hello.
I trying to export z depth information but can't find the way.
In the Vray Render window I get this image:



But if I save it I get a black image.

Using only the max render window I can see the z channel but don't even know how to save it... it always saves the final image.

How is this Z depth thing supposed to work!??

Can someone give some directions!?

Thanks

[czoog]

What build are you using?


that is the way zdepth used to work in the older builds. the newer builds (1.46.15) prduce the greyscale image looking z depth you are used to.

[CCS]

Could someone post the method for rendering zdepth with vray? I've tried it to no avail. Ended up using scanline.

[czoog]

Could someone post the method for rendering zdepth with vray? I've tried it to no avail. Ended up using scanline.

Sure,

1. Enable the z-buffer channel under the gbuffer/color mapping rollout.
2. Set up the animation to render out to RPF, be sure to select z-buffer under optional channels in the RPF setup dialogue
3. Render

Easy as that. Though the antialising can be an issue, I have yet to solve that completely.

-Z

[percydaman]

Could someone post the method for rendering zdepth with vray? I've tried it to no avail. Ended up using scanline.

Sure,

1. Enable the z-buffer channel under the gbuffer/color mapping rollout.
2. Set up the animation to render out to RPF, be sure to select z-buffer under optional channels in the RPF setup dialogue
3. Render

Easy as that. Though the antialising can be an issue, I have yet to solve that completely.

-Z

right, and if your someone without the ability to open rpf's then what do you do?

[czoog]

right, and if your someone without the ability to open rpf's then what do you do?

it doesn't work to split the gbuffer channels? I've never tried it.... I always use RPF.

Anyway, don't most compositors read RPF/RLA? You could also try OpenEXR, it looks like that has the ability to store gbuffer channels.

[percydaman]

right, and if your someone without the ability to open rpf's then what do you do?

it doesn't work to split the gbuffer channels? I've never tried it.... I always use RPF.

Anyway, don't most compositors read RPF/RLA? You could also try OpenEXR, it looks like that has the ability to store gbuffer channels.

does photoshop? I guess my point is that not everyone uses vray for animation/compositing but still need gbuffer info.

[Trapezium]

You can open an RPF in Max. Once open maybe you can save out the Z while viewing it?

--Jon

[Morbid Angel]

this method causes combustion to crash...

[czoog]

does photoshop? I guess my point is that not everyone uses vray for animation/compositing but still need gbuffer info.

and I agree with your point, percy

No, as far as I know photoshop can't. I wish it could. Out of curiosity what format dos scanline put the zbuffer in that you can open it photoshop?

It would be great if we render out a to a multi-layer PSD with g-buffers, ala PSD manager.

-Z

[RErender]

this method causes combustion to crash...

works here

[Morbid Angel]

what version of comb are you on?

[RErender]

3.02.033

[Morbid Angel]

thanks...back when vray was 1.45 we used mental zdepth...also worked.

[RSF]

I'm using version 1.46.15. Why I'm I not getting the grayscale image?
If I use the max frame window (rendering with vray) the channel looks ok but even then I can't save this channel...it saves only the final image.
I only use photoshop so I can't really use RPF files.
Using the scanline is not an option in my particular case because I am using vrayproxies for the trees.
I can always do same "print screens" to get the image out but...
What's the matter with this stuff!??
With all the heavy programing and mathematics in vray how does one gets stucked in a simple "export the channel" situation like this!??
I can't use either scanline or RPF...Is there any other way arround this??
Thanks again