32, 16 bit or 8bit comps?

[Studev]

For TV and broadcast work 8 bits is fine. May i know which source that your digital files come from ? Is it CGI file or Video/Film file ? If it's CGI, it's understandable. You may get that somehow, i assume that u render in 8 bit format. But no way u can get banding from higher bit depth file like exr.

For Film / HD work, always work with higher bit depth mode.

Regards

[mackdadd]

you should check out the DV Rebels Guide, a book by Stu Maschwitz. You'll rarely use 8 bit after that. He explains it all in perfect detail.

[Mylenium]

Does it really slow everything down horribly?

32 bpc is a tad slower, but 16 bpc is pretty much as fast as 8 bpc.

Mylenium

[Paradyce]

hi,

I composite 3D footage that is a PNG sequence with alpha. Everything we do is 720p or larger. I build motion graphics comps and was getting banding on gradient backgrounds and some 3D elements when I re-light them. We usually output high quality WMV9 files for client samples, and QT animation codec for the final. When I see the final product up on a high quality plasma monitor I want it to be pristine - at the quality of Discover channel/MTV/CBS motion graphics. It never feels like the footage quality level is there - I always see banding, little crunchies, crushed down colors, etc.

Until now, I have been using 3D footage as PNG's due to their small size and ease of AE to load them up and play them. My machine can play a 720p png sequence almost real time...and it can RAM preview a long duration of footage.

I have not tried the EXR format. It seems like that may be the way to go. I will also bump up to 16bit as well. I'm so used to quick feedback in my workflow, I'm hoping that these adjustments don't drag my system to the point where I lose the "feel" - the ability to experence the real motion and timing of the piece at full resolution.


Thanks for the feedback fellas!

B

[Mylenium]

I'm so used to quick feedback in my workflow, I'm hoping that these adjustments don't drag my system to the point where I lose the "feel" - the ability to experence the real motion and timing of the piece at full resolution.


Well, you'll have to adjust to things getting mildly slower in general, but while you are working, you may consider using Proxies. this way you can still have a fast PNG sequence and do the fianl render with the higher-fidelity files. Be warned though, colors will look differently and some things work completely on another level when using 32 bpc files like EXR, so you will regularly have to switch between your proxy and the real footage.

Mylenium

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