exr + denoiser

[Vividus]

Hello everyone,

I am working on exr 16bits and I normally use 3d max 2017 + vray 3.40 + Photoshop latest version

I noticed that when I save the image as a vray raw image file and I do not add the denoiser render element then it only saves the layers that i added manually to my render elements and layers like alpga has the edges smooth like you would expect, however if I add the denoiser render element to my render elements then it saves all the layers to the render elements even tough I did not add them manually and another issue I noticed is that layers like alpha get the edges pixelated

Is that a common issue?

Thanks

[vlado]

It is normal for additional render elements to be saved (in case you want to re-denoise with different settings), but I have not seen the alpha issue so far. Will check it out.

Best regards,
Vlado

[Vividus]

Thanks for the quick answer Vlado,

By adding more render elements to the exr will increase the file size so I am wondering if there is a way to just save the elements that you want including the denoiser as well?

what I noticed is that the issue with the alpha layer only happens if I save exr. If I save it trough the option of separate render channel and I save it as a tiff for instance the alpha layer will be fine

[Vividus]

I added a test file I did so you can check it out

inside the folder you will find two versions, one for 2016 and other for 2017

We are currently using 2017

https://vividus.box.com/s/owxfrjw4ah...vf8rb1cpye1x4q

The hdri I used is not included in the file

[dans]

By adding more render elements to the exr will increase the file size so I am wondering if there is a way to just save the elements that you want including the denoiser as well?

psd-manager 4.0 has an option for that (affects only PSD/PSB).

what I noticed is that the issue with the alpha layer only happens if I save exr. If I save it trough the option of separate render channel and I save it as a tiff for instance the alpha layer will be fine

Have you looked at the EXR file in any another application/viewer? Maybe this is actually just the result of a pre-multiplied to straight alpha conversion within your Photoshop EXR import plugin? Just an idea.

Edit: EXR alpha rendered from your 2017 scene looks fine to me using 3ds max image viewer (V-Ray 3.50.01 Beta).

Daniel

[svetlozar.draganov]

By adding more render elements to the exr will increase the file size so I am wondering if there is a way to just save the elements that you want including the denoiser as well?

This is a known issue which is already addressed, future versions of the software will have an option to omit denoiser elements.

[svetlozar.draganov]

I added a test file I did so you can check it out

inside the folder you will find two versions, one for 2016 and other for 2017

We are currently using 2017

https://vividus.box.com/s/owxfrjw4ah...vf8rb1cpye1x4q

The hdri I used is not included in the file

Thanks for the scene, according to my tests everything is fine with the alpha so there might be a chance for something suspicious in Photoshop.
Here is how the alpha channel looks like when viewer trough PDPlayer:
Here is the outputted .exr file: http://ftp.chaosgroup.com/support/scenes/test.0000.exr

Would it be possible to also send us the .exr file saved from your environment so we could check it's alpha channel with other software like PDPLayer and Nuke?
Thank you very much in advance.

[Vividus]

I think you guys are correct, there is something going on in Photoshop however you can download the exr from the same link a previously provided

As a detail, I checked with after effects with the proexr free pluging http://www.fnordware.com/ProEXR and it seems to be fine but I have not had much time to check in deep but I will in the next day o two
For Photoshop I am using the exr free plugin that came out few months ago called exr-IO http://www.exr-io.com

[GLASS-CANVAS]

Hi Vividus,

Out of interest, what's the advantage of using exr-IO over the native Photoshop handling of exrs?

[Vividus]

As far as I know Photoshop cannot read the different render elements within the exr

[Vividus]

well after some test a few testings:

after effects does not show the alpha layer but It applies it to all the layers and even I tell AE to interpretate the exr as a straight still does not appear the alpha layer

I uploaded all the files so someone can help here because i am struggling with the exr business

For Photoshop for some reason does not matter what plugin i use if it is exr io or proexr from fnord i have in both an alpha layer but pixelated

On the other hand, I tried with arionfx and it works great the alpha comes the way it should be

please use the same link i already provided if you want to check it out

[Vividus]

Well I found the solution for both Photoshop and after effects both with the plugin from http://www.fnordware.com/ProEXR/

Photoshop: when you open the exr file on Photoshop hold shift and a message will appear and then chose alpha as separate layer then you will get a clean alpha layer

After effects:

load the exr file as a alpha ignore
go to file/create pro exr layer comp
grag your rgb composition and apply extractorR as the image attached and you get the alpha

[svetlozar.draganov]

I think you guys are correct, there is something going on in Photoshop however you can download the exr from the same link a previously provided

I missed that, the alpha in your .exr file also looks correct so as you already confirmed this is a Photoshop issue and the file is written with proper alpha channel.

[ripe]

Hi.
I'm using 3.5 and would like to 'omit' the denoiser elements from the EXR - can I do this, or is it future versions beyond 3.5 that will allow this?

[Neilg]

Your alpha issue is the same one I posted about here - https://forums.chaosgroup.com/showth...light=denoiser

in addition to those 2 passes, I realized it affects the alpha too.

edit: i guess it's not - looks similar though.