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View Full Version : Reduce RPF file size?

sboyd
04-15-2010, 02:01 PM
When saving an RPF file, the default bit depth can either be 8 bits/channel or 16 bits/channel. This may be a ridiculous question, but: Is there a way to force the bit depth lower than 8? Say, 4, 2, or even 1? Maybe using COFFEE? Again, I apologize if this is just a totally absurd question -- I'm not too familiar with coding or COFFEE.

Thanks
Srek
04-15-2010, 02:08 PM
I would be very surprised if the RPF fileformat supports such a low depth. It makes the data rather useless.
If the fileformat allows it you would need to write your own exporter plugin to use this from within CINEMA 4D
Cheers
Björn
sboyd
04-15-2010, 02:25 PM
Do you think the Z-Depth buffer become useless if it was reduced to 4 bits/channel? (Assuming the format supports it. I can't seem to find any documentation on this format.) I am asking all of this because I like the flexibility that using RPF Z-buffers allows in post, but I am interested in being able to reduce the file size, if possible.
Srek
04-15-2010, 06:41 PM
4 bits means that you have only 16 different depth values (0-15).
I would call that useless for any kind of compositing or posteffect work.
Cheers
Björn
sboyd
04-15-2010, 06:58 PM
Good point. I would call that useless too...

Hmm... I was trying to reduce the file size of my RPFs by only including the z-depth channel in the RPF save Options. The number of channels saved (z-depth, normals, coverage, etc...) doesn't seem to affect the final file sizes. Wonder why that is (?). Any thoughts on reducing the file sizes?

EDIT: Actually I was thinking about how the bit depth worked in relation to extracting the data in AFX. If the z-buffer was a grayscale image, I can see how that would work (or not work very well with 4-bit), because an 8-bit image would store up to 256 values. But, doesn't it simply store a number for each pixel corresponding how far away that pixel is from the camera? What I mean to say is, isn't the grayscale value assigned to each pixel in AFX (3D channel extract filter) and not actually assigned in the RPF file itself?

EDIT #2: Nevermind about the bit depth thingy. I talked to my brother who is a programmer and he explained it. Basically yes the RPF would have significantly less values to work with, making it less precise, and would look much worse when extracted from AFX.
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04-15-2010, 06:58 PM
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