danb4026 Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 I have rarely used the exr format as an output format because of the lack of functionality in PS for post. I am trying to understand the benefits, other than initial exposure adjustments, for using this format. I cannot use my brush tool, adjustment layers, etc. I also then have to deal with the chore of converting to 16bit and screwing around with color spaces in order to continue with post processing. Is there a tried and true workflow for saving out open exr files from max and then composting them in photoshop that resolves or works around theses issues? I also find that saving as a 16bit half float exr has the same limitations as 32 bit. Not sure why. I would really like to know how to save exr's in max, open in photoshop and be able to do post work. Any advice greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christofferthulin Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 I've had the exact same issues when trying to improve my workflow. I found out it's either to move over to After Effects instead of PS or just render as TIF or something familiar. I would as well appreciate some great tips that concerns the workflow with EXR and PS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb4026 Posted March 17, 2013 Author Share Posted March 17, 2013 I have always rendered out to 16bit TIF's and cannot understand the 32bit real world benefits. Very large files, ultra limited tool set in PS, etc. etc. If someone can give me a good reason that they will enhance my images and workflow, I will love to explore it more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francisco Penaloza Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 (edited) Hi, EXR where born under High end production homes such IL&M and so on, it was to cover a necessity to transfer huge amount of data in a flexible way. The big advantage of EXR is the compression and capabilities of 32 bit multichannel. Now this type of file was designed thinking of tools like NUKE, FUSION, SHAKE and other a like, heavy compositing tools that are designed with 32bits in mind. Photoshop still can not handle this type of file at it full potential, There is a script that let you read multichannel exr but still 32bit tools are limited. if you are working in animations multichannel exr are a good way to manage all those frames with multiples passes, mask and so on. If you are rendering still images with no need to over or under expose your images, 16Bits will be more than you need. Many people do a pre-color correction with VRay buffer so after that, save as a simple JPG will be enough too. It all depend of your workflow. I do always render in EXR just because I do animations quite often and they are useful for my workflow but yes render as exr 32bits most of the time for simple still is just overdue unless you want to do dramatic changes such day to night image conversions, or bright the interior of a building from an exterior shot, or underexpose the exterior that you can see thru a window of a room. Edited March 18, 2013 by fco3d Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb4026 Posted March 18, 2013 Author Share Posted March 18, 2013 Thanks for the info. Then I guess the real question, when working in a truly linear workflow, is there an advantage of any one type of 16bit format over another? TIFF, TGA, or PNG? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Homeless Guy Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 If you are going to do any type of glares, glows, or light painting in post in PS then a floating point file will produce higher quality results than you will get with a 16 bit files. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb4026 Posted March 18, 2013 Author Share Posted March 18, 2013 How can you do any of those things when you can't even use the brush tool to paint? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francisco Penaloza Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 For what I know the compression of PNG and TGA are more video friendly formats where TIFF is more friendly with printing, you can keep layers. Now you can use paint brush on 32 bits, not the healing tool but you can use the clone and stamp instead. Most of the tool work fine on 16bits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb4026 Posted March 18, 2013 Author Share Posted March 18, 2013 Well, the brush tool is unavailable with 32bit exr images in my version of CS6. Is this an oddity? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francisco Penaloza Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Well, the brush tool is unavailable with 32bit exr images in my version of CS6. Is this an oddity? We have Photoshop CS6 extended here and brush, clone stamp and other tools work fine on 32Bits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Homeless Guy Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Yep. Roughly 40% of Photoshop tools work with 32bit color depth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb4026 Posted March 19, 2013 Author Share Posted March 19, 2013 Well, I upgraded to PS extended and now I have use of a number of more tools, as well as the brush. Thx guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M V Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 Extended is the key. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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