#bit depth
6 messages in this thread
I'm rendering TGA file output for animation, and I notice that I have a
fair amount of contouring among colors in my TGA files. This is
particularly so on specular hi-lights, and perhaps on shaded faces as well
(I'm not sure). I fiddled with the specular settings in 3ds.set, and no
noticeable change.
If I'm rendering TGA files, will they always be true 24-bit colors (except
for the Alpha channel, which I'm not using)? It's not possible to have
something set so that the color pallette is limited to less than that, is
it? Eg, the pallette settings don't affect TGA files, do they?
Assuming I'm rendering real 24-bit files, is there just a fair amount of
contouring on specular hi-lights that you just have to put up with?
Additionally, I'm setting up to do animation this weekend on a Diaquest
controller. There's nothing wrong with calling compressed TGA files with
the VTR controller, is there?
Thanks for the help. (My dealer has the flu!)
–Noah
Noah,
No problem with Diaquest with compressed .TGA files. All 3D Studio
TGA files without alpha channel are 24-bit.
Kevin Krell – Computer Support Associates
Noah,
I'm not sure what you mean by contouring. Are you using a 16-bit or 24-bit
display? What kind of frame buffer and what mode are you using?
Regarding the Diaquest with compressed TGA files… no problem.
– G
Gary-
"contouring" is a term I've heard referring to continuous-tine images
rendered so that there is a distinct line between even-colored areas. A
clear sky scanned at 256 colors, for example, would show severe contouring.
I am looking at my images with a 16-bit display, but the images are more
heavily contoured than I would have expected. I'm installing a 24-bi
display today and will take another look. But I think you and Kevin have
answered my question: if I render a TGA file with 3DS, I can't help but
have real 24 bit color. In other words, I can't accidentally make a 15-bit
or 8-bit TGA file in terms of color depth. (I know the files I made are
24-bit files, I was wondering if there was any way that they were
arbitrarily leaving out colors.)
So I guess I'm OK. Thanks
–Noah
Noah,
You'll be fine once you put in the 24-bit display. While 3D Studio
outputs a 24-bit file, it dithers the image when on a 16-bit display
(presumably Targa?) through its drivers, so that the image looks pretty
smooth. Unfortunately, that same image file, loaded into TIPS, for
instance, @ 16-bits, will not dither and drops off to the nearest color
"plateau" (which can be 7 values away for each RG & B). Other image
loaders have the same effect when loading a 24- or 32-bit file. For best
results, I have to leave the rendering on the Targa 16, Quit, load TIPS,
Save the image as a 16-bit .TGA. I have separate utilities that will just
save the file from the Targa screen, so it could probably be done as a
SHELL or PROGRAM operation.
Kevin Krell – Computer Support Associates
I thought that was Posterization??