[Sidefx-houdini-list] Image File Formats
Simon Barrick
simon at primalpictures.com
Tue Mar 7 09:17:39 EST 2006
We work entirely in 8 bit and I find that .sgi is a remarkably portable
format and compresses better than .tga.
There are plugins for photoshop to read .sgi and after effects can
handle it, plus many other packages.
Tiff is handy for importing into photoshop if you want proper decent
transparency, this is because Houdini correctly saves an "associated"
alpha in the true technical use of the word assiocated. Photoshop then
treats the alpha as transparent correctly just as it does with its own
native format. Sgi format just loads up with a black background and an
extra channel, so you then have to remove the background manually using
the alpha channel.
-----Original Message-----
From: John Coldrick [mailto:jc at axyzfx.com]
Sent: 07 March 2006 14:10
To: sidefx-houdini-list at sidefx.com
Subject: Re: [Sidefx-houdini-list] Image File Formats
On Monday 06 March 2006 22:08, Johnson, Dave (Space Technology) wrote:
> I don't mean for this to be a religious debate about formats, I
> realize there are different formats for many reasons--I'm just
> interested in WHY you use what you use.
I don't think there's any liklihood of religious format wars
here - too many
level-headed people. :P
It's a tough one - I'll admit that as a smaller shop, we tend
not to have
strictly controlled formats, and most people use whatever they want.
This
inevitably makes for having to regurgitate at the last minute in another
format, so I guess it's evolution at work. :)
For us, the advantages and disadvantages:
OExr - my personal fav, since I like to mock up(or actually
complete)
compositing and I want the depth and headroom without as much weight as
full
float. Disadvantages: Larger image and our Discreet systems can't use
them(yet). As a personal workflow, I'll typically render in OExr, and
precomp layers and spit out to 8 or 16 integer for the comp systems...
...Tiff - the ol' warhorse. Good thing - handles a wide range
of flavours,
many packages support it. Bad thing - the format has fragmented
significantly and we've had trouble with some other systems, especially
Mac
based applications, supporting it. Sometimes, changing the compression
to
none will help, sometimes not, depending on the app. It's a pain
regardless
- often forget to turn compression off, chaos ensues.
tga - not bad if you're only sticking to 8 bit integer. Rarely
use it myself
*unless* it's going to a Mac, in which case it seems to be a no-headache
solution. Unfortunately, our Discreet systems take *forever* to import
tga -
it's a problem their end - so it's a hassle for us.
Cineon - haven't gone this route yet - so far if we're working
in film we've
worked in linear space our end with OExr, and converted if need be.
Compositing in log space has it's own hassles, so typically it's used
here as
an input/output path, although your needs may vary.
SESI pic/rat - works great if you're doing an all-Houdini job, a
hassle
otherwise for obvious reasons.
What a pain! :( In my little fantasy world, everyone will
adopt OExr and it
will become the de-facto standard, but I'm not holding my breath. Until
it's
adopted by worlds that still think in 8 bit(like video editing), it's
success
will be limited IMHO. No standard is perfect - tiff is wonderful, but
corporate haggling over ownership has caused a problem.
Cheers,
J.C.
--
John Coldrick www.axyzfx.com Axyz Animation
416-504-0425 425 Adelaide St W
Toronto, ON Canada
jc at axyzfx.com M5V 1S4
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
For every credibility gap, there is a gullibility fill.
-- R. Clopton
_______________________________________________
Sidefx-houdini-list mailing list
Sidefx-houdini-list at sidefx.com
https://lists.sidefx.com:443/mailman/listinfo/sidefx-houdini-list
______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned for Primal Pictures by the MessageLabs Email
Security System.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned for Primal Pictures by the MessageLabs Email Security System.
______________________________________________________________________
More information about the Sidefx-houdini-list
mailing list