16 Bit EXR

[Guest dialog]

This may be a bit of an amateur question, but when working in 16 bit exr mode, why does photoshop grey out a bunch of filters and such? How do you work around this issue?

 

Should images be saved out in 8, 16, 32 bit? Kind of foreign territory here. I always save out 8 bit because I know I can use the filters in photoshop, but I lose information this way correct?

[RyderSK]

Well, once in 16bit mode, PS allows almost all the features (with exception of some filters, but I would rather stay away from those). Are you sure you're not still in 32bit mode ? PS can by default open exr (wether it's 16 or 32) in 32bit mode.

 

I would just hop on train of MagicBullet Looks plugin ;- ) Integrates well into PS (even better into AE though) and allows full control over 32bit images. Once done, convert into 16 a do the necessary stuff you want with PS native tools.

[Francisco Penaloza]

Most of Photoshop tool have a very long and lasting legacy way before we started to use 16Bits or 32Bits images, plus considering that HDR photography really kick in a few years ago so yes several tools in Photoshop are not designed for 16Bits and less for 32Bits.

so how many artist recommend this file format, well there is newer tools that have the full functions on them, After Effects has several tools to work in 32Bits, and in the High leagues you have Fusion and NUKE also color correcting, composting and much more tools design for high end post work.

If you own 3dsMax the latest releases come with Autodesk composite (ex-combustion) you can do much of the same work you can do in Photoshop and everything at 16Bits or 32Bits, now since Autodesk does not have any interest in that software, is full of instability, crashes and what not, very sad.

[Guest dialog]

Well, once in 16bit mode, PS allows almost all the features (with exception of some filters, but I would rather stay away from those). Are you sure you're not still in 32bit mode ? PS can by default open exr (wether it's 16 or 32) in 32bit mode.

 

I would just hop on train of MagicBullet Looks plugin ;- ) Integrates well into PS (even better into AE though) and allows full control over 32bit images. Once done, convert into 16 a do the necessary stuff you want with PS native tools.

 

Ya I have MagicBullet Looks plugin for AE. Ya, I was in 16bit mode and noticed my Colour Selection, Colour Balance and a few others of my favorites were greyed out.

 

So you suggest MB Looks?

[Guest dialog]

Most of Photoshop tool have a very long and lasting legacy way before we started to use 16Bits or 32Bits images, plus considering that HDR photography really kick in a few years ago so yes several tools in Photoshop are not designed for 16Bits and less for 32Bits.

so how many artist recommend this file format, well there is newer tools that have the full functions on them, After Effects has several tools to work in 32Bits, and in the High leagues you have Fusion and NUKE also color correcting, composting and much more tools design for high end post work.

If you own 3dsMax the latest releases come with Autodesk composite (ex-combustion) you can do much of the same work you can do in Photoshop and everything at 16Bits or 32Bits, now since Autodesk does not have any interest in that software, is full of instability, crashes and what not, very sad.

 

 

Oh ok I see. I will have to learn and catch up with the times I think

[Francisco Penaloza]

Oh ok I see. I will have to learn and catch up with the times I think

well you need to be flexible I think is not that if everybody is using this or that software you should too. 16Bits and 32Bits are used in high end compositing because you get extra light and color information to do radical changes, let say shot in day and make it look night, or fake illuminated interiors when light is to low, create strong glows without banding and so on. Now most of the time in Archiz this is not necessary, but it happens, what you can do is, render at 32Bits, check your image, if not major changes are need it, compress to 8Bits and you are ready to go.

Magic bullet let you keep working at 32Bits, what I don't like about it that still need a single layer image to apply effect, whereas After effect you can keep all layers separated for individual control.

Now Photoshop 16Bits still is pretty good, you have most of the tool available only a few effects are missing that can be added at the end.

[Guest dialog]

well you need to be flexible I think is not that if everybody is using this or that software you should too. 16Bits and 32Bits are used in high end compositing because you get extra light and color information to do radical changes, let say shot in day and make it look night, or fake illuminated interiors when light is to low, create strong glows without banding and so on. Now most of the time in Archiz this is not necessary, but it happens, what you can do is, render at 32Bits, check your image, if not major changes are need it, compress to 8Bits and you are ready to go.

Magic bullet let you keep working at 32Bits, what I don't like about it that still need a single layer image to apply effect, whereas After effect you can keep all layers separated for individual control.

Now Photoshop 16Bits still is pretty good, you have most of the tool available only a few effects are missing that can be added at the end.

 

I will definitely start tweaking my workflow to get away from the 8 bit mode. I am trying to get onto a complete linear workflow as well.

[RyderSK]

I don't think you should have Colour balance greyed out in 16bit mode. Which version of CS are you on ? 99perc. tools are available in 16bit mode in CS6.

[Guest dialog]

I don't think you should have Colour balance greyed out in 16bit mode. Which version of CS are you on ? 99perc. tools are available in 16bit mode in CS6.

 

Ok...so I have the exr in 32 bit. Just tried it out in PS CS6. WHen I go to change to 16 Bit mode it asks to merge down. What is the best option? I see the filters all there in 16 Bit mode after I merge down.

 

Thanks for the tip!

[Francisco Penaloza]

When you try to change the bit depth Photoshop will prom a screen with different options for tone matting, here you can choose whatever you want to adjust you color intensity before you go to 8 Bitsor 16 Bits, for instance here you can fix over bright areas or burn out whites. Now if you think the image look fine the way it is you can select Exposure and Gamma and leave the default values.

Now take in consideration that working at 16Bits or 32Bits will exponentially increase your file size, it won't be estrange have 500 Megs or 1 GB files at the end, unless of course your workflow is about flattening all layers and effects.

[Guest dialog]

When you try to change the bit depth Photoshop will prom a screen with different options for tone matting, here you can choose whatever you want to adjust you color intensity before you go to 8 Bitsor 16 Bits, for instance here you can fix over bright areas or burn out whites. Now if you think the image look fine the way it is you can select Exposure and Gamma and leave the default values.

Now take in consideration that working at 16Bits or 32Bits will exponentially increase your file size, it won't be estrange have 500 Megs or 1 GB files at the end, unless of course your workflow is about flattening all layers and effects.

 

Ahhh ok makes sense. What is your workflow from Max and Vray into Photoshop? Is the standard 2.2 gamma in 3ds max with Vray Colour mapping to Linear with the 2.2 gamma exported to 16 bit?

 

How would I take the AE file with the Magic Bullet Looks applied and get it into PS correctly?

Edited June 19, 2013 by dialog

[Francisco Penaloza]

Yes I use Linear work flow, but your output has to be Gamma 1 if not is double gamma

I do export as 32 Bits multi-layer exr, then I select the beauty pass and transform to smart object and change the file bit depth to 16Bits, a ha, that a good trick right there this way I keep the beauty pass in 32Bits if any extreme change come at last minute, I work with Architects and they usually change theirs mind several time during projects so I try as much flexibility as possible.

 

All of the Photoshop work I do is done at 16Bits and 8 Bits, sometimes I mix After Effects and photoshop for one image, but usually I don't do that.

Magic bullets has the same plug in for After effects and Photoshop, but honestly I barely use it.

Now when is animation work yes I do everything within After Effects on 32Bits.

[Guest dialog]

Yes I use Linear work flow, but your output has to be Gamma 1 if not is double gamma

I do export as 32 Bits multi-layer exr, then I select the beauty pass and transform to smart object and change the file bit depth to 16Bits, a ha, that a good trick right there this way I keep the beauty pass in 32Bits if any extreme change come at last minute, I work with Architects and they usually change theirs mind several time during projects so I try as much flexibility as possible.

 

All of the Photoshop work I do is done at 16Bits and 8 Bits, sometimes I mix After Effects and photoshop for one image, but usually I don't do that.

Magic bullets has the same plug in for After effects and Photoshop, but honestly I barely use it.

Now when is animation work yes I do everything within After Effects on 32Bits.

 

Great thanks for the tips.