Copy From VFB WITHOUT Alpha?

[Joelaff]

Is there some way to copy the VFB without an alpha? Since a lot of people work with Slack and Slack shows images with alpha with the alpha transparent it makes it a pain to copy and paste out of the VFB. Anyone have a good workaround for this?

Right now I save the file in a format without an alpha and then post that via Slack, but I would much rather copy and paste.

Thanks.

[vladimir_krastev]

Hi, thanks for posting. This behaviour is like so in other image editing software as well, for example Photoshop. Just to be clear - you want to copy an image and when you paste it in Slack it should have transparent background?

[Joelaff]

Sorry. I want to copy the VFB, without the alpha. I want it to appear exactly as it does in the VFB, against whatever background I have in the VFB.

If I save the VFB to a png file with alpha disabled that is the result I want.

Yes, Photoshop does this as well, but there I can include a solid background and copy merged. Then I don’t get an alpha in the paste buffer.

I’m not saying I never want an alpha, just that I would like a way to copy the VFB without the alpha. Makes sense?


Thanks.

[vladimir_krastev]

Hi, you can not have a JPEG with transparent background (alpha). When you copy/paste the buffer uses JPEGs.

[Vizioen]

Yeah there's something weird going on with the VFB and copy-paste, I've been meaning to write a post about it but haven't got the time yet. This is also directly related to this thread: https://forums.chaos.com/forum/v-ray...e-icon-buttons Where the copy paste doesn't always work. When it sometimes work, there's a weird state that it copies and pastes (even without using the shortcut) but it leaves the background white.

[vladimir_krastev]

The Copy (CTRL+C) command not working every time is a bit different question. Here the only way to have transparent background is to copy the image in PNG for instance. I am not sure if this is supported but will check.

[Vizioen]

The Copy (CTRL+C) command not working every time is a bit different question. Here the only way to have transparent background is to copy the image in PNG for instance. I am not sure if this is supported but will check.

I think OP meant to not have a transparent background (which is the default state). But like I said, it happens that when you copy paste, the background is ignored and he pastes with a white background instead.

[vladimir_krastev]

pastes with a white background instead

Thanks for the clarification. I was not able to reproduce this in my test. Are you using anything special, for instance a background image from external file?

[Vizioen]

Thanks for the clarification. I was not able to reproduce this in my test. Are you using anything special, for instance a background image from external file?

Yeah if I want to trigger it, it doesn't work, next time it happens I will make a video recording. Nothing special only some composition layers, with some cryptomatte masks, sometimes not even that.

[Joelaff]

Hi, you can not have a JPEG with transparent background (alpha). When you copy/paste the buffer uses JPEGs.

It seems to use PNG, as it definitely copies the alpha.

EDIT: Interetsingly enough it does NOT paste the alpha in Photoshop, but it definitely does in Slack.So the alpha data is on the clipboard somehow, even if it is ignored by Photoshop.

[Vizioen]

It seems to use PNG, as it definitely copies the alpha.

EDIT: Interetsingly enough it does NOT paste the alpha in Photoshop, but it definitely does in Slack.So the alpha data is on the clipboard somehow, even if it is ignored by Photoshop.

I just tried this myself, i can copy paste to slack as I see it in the VFB. That's why I'm thinking a similar problem as I have that once in a while, the alpha is applied. If you are using copy paste on which layer of the VFB are you? I have the impression that has an influence on the copy-paste process.

[Joelaff]

I just tried selecting the base Source:RGB layer, and then I tried selecting the Display Correction layer before I chose copy (from the menu). I both cases I got the image paste with the alpha knocked out in Slack.

[Vizioen]

Maybe make a video to show us so we can see if anything else is wrong.

[vladimir_krastev]

Hi this is what I got in Photoshop:


Could be a random occurring bug but not reproducing on my setup so far.

[Joelaff]

Please see my post above. It works as you describe in Photoshop-- the alpha is ignored. But the alpha is in the paste buffer, and Slack picks it up.

Make sure you background plane is set to NOT affect alpha, or that you use a VRaySky in the Environment background map slot, for instance. Your scene needs to have alpha data to begin with when you click on the show alpha button in the VFB.

This is 100% reproducible with every scene for many months, and through all the VRay6 hotfixes.