Calling all after effects gurus!

[jacksc02]

I need some help.

i am trying to comp some z depth information into a rendered animation. I already have the rpf files but I am having major problems trying to get it to work in after effects.

Does anyone have a tutorial or an idea on how to do this?

Many thanks in advance

Chris Jackson
cj@arcad.co.nz
www.arcad.co.nz

[rhino]

A bit more information, what exactly do you want to do with the Zdepth?

[jacksc02]

I would like to use the z depth as fake DOF in after effects.

I am having major troubles trying to work out how to create the files with Z depth from vray.

Chris Jackson

[yukon_cornelius_]

ok

You have to highlight ...Z-value in the Vray ::G-buffer/color mapping menue....

[trixian]

Optionaly you can use the "file output" effect in the effect dialogue.
Rendering this out to a sepparate file with the scanline renderer is extremely fast, and gives you a proper aliased z buffer (not the antialiased one the render elements outputs).
In addition to this, rendering it out at 2x resolution is usualy a good way to go, as the DOF plugin you will use in AE/Combustion gets more information to work with.

[dans]

You can also get a non-antialiased Z-Depth render element just by turning filtering of for the render element.

Daniel

[vance3d]

both methods of creating the z depth have their own advantages.

creating it as a render element through the scanline renderer will give antialised edges which may give you better results depending on the dof plugin you use.

save a z depth channel in an rpf file lets you use the extract 3d channel filter in ae and set the ranges for near and far. it is however unantialiased.


in ae tou can use the stock compound blur filter using the z depth as the source but the results are pretty bad

you can use a third party dof plugin like lenscare or true camera rack focus both of which give you better results and many ways to make the effect more realistic.

V Miller