z depth

[cristoforo]

How do I save this z-depth pass? I selected z-depth in the Vray G-buffer window. Once the view is rendered I can view the z-depth in the render window. Though, once I save the file I loose the z-depth. How must I save the file?

[studioDIM]

It has to do with the file format.
You can either set up a pass for the ZBuffer, and save that, or use a multi-pass format like RPF or EXR and that'll have the Zbuffer saved into it (provided you tick the box in the file format save dialog).

LEle

[Da_elf]

this format ca nbe accessed in your compositing software like AE and combustion just to name 2

[cristoforo]

The file .rpf cannot be opened in Photoshop....at least for me it can't. I did not see an option to save as .exr. When I try to save the z-depth pass from the render window, it saves as the normal image and not the z-depth pass. What am I doing wrong here? How can I save the save z-depth pass for an animation?

[cristoforo]

OH...just saw the above post. So, in Photoshop I can do nothing with the z-depth pass?

[themaxxer]

it's easy: http://www.onoff.ch/2006/04/11/channel-enforcer/

best regards
themaxxer

[studioDIM]

I think you should first and foremost take a look at the chm file that comes with your copy of max.

Under "Render elements" you will find what you need.
The issues you have have nothing to do with vray, but with general max/file format knowledge.

All the questions you have asked so far are easily answered in the max manual.

Regards,
Lele

[peakyfreak80]

I am also having the same issue as cristoforo. I can see the black and yellow z-buffer (although I don't know at all what I'm looking at), but it does not save out anywhere. Even when I do see it and try and save the image in the Frame Buffer, when I open it up in combustion I see a black frame.

studioDIM - Correct me if I'm wrong, but the "Render Elements" option is that it only available in scanline. Since V-ray object (proxies, planes, etc.) won't work in scanline, this is not always an option.

Is that yellow and black thing even a proper Z pass? I'm used to seeing the whole black to white image, but if that's what combustion understands, that will work for me...just as long as I can save it.

peakyfreak

[peakyfreak80]

Okay...retracting statement. we didn't have the most current version of Vray installed. I now see the Remder Elements tab, and the Zdepth works. Phew!! That's a relief

[cristoforo]

I only see the Render Elements tab when Scanline is set as the renderer. WHich version of Vray do you have installed?

[cristoforo]

Well, I'm only able to save the z pass with the channel-enforcer....thanks themaxxer! Though, how do I use this in photoshop to blur the foreground?

[Clifton Santiago]

I've found this plugin fantastic for doing DOF in photoshop with z-depth: http://www.dofpro.com/

You could just use the z-depth as mask, with one layer regular and the other gaussian blurred, but with the roseman plugin it supposedly calculates the correct blur based on aperature size and shape and also does bokeh effects.

[Da_elf]

i would love for someone to outline the use of the coverage channel for both DOF and motion blur within combustion. and dont some people use z-depth as well when doing motion blur to help with the blurring or something?

[peakyfreak80]

The version of vray that has the Render Elements tab is 1.49.58


Here's the steps for doing DOF with the zdepth in photoshop.

1. Make a copy of the layer
2. Drag the zdepth to into the workspace as the top layer
3. go to SELECT -> COLOR RANGE and choose one of the darker colors with the range all the way up
4. Click the LAYER MASK button at the bottom of the layers palate
5. Go to the Filter Pull Down and choose LENS BLUR
6. Click the point where you want to be in focus, then play with the settings.

Its very easy, and provides a lot of flexibility.

[Clifton Santiago]

Oh, yeah. I forgot now that Lens blur basically does what DOF pro does. My only additional comment is that I think its better to copy the z-depth map into an alpha channel and then Select: Load selection and select the channel. Then click Layer Mask. That way the selection and subsequent mask is correct based on the grey-scale information.