16 bit color depth from AE Compositions? at DVinfo.net

Daniel Raebiger · September 23rd, 2011, 07:26 PM

Hey Guys,

I have a 16 bit AE composition via dynamic link in an premire cs 5.5 timeline. for some reason it only seems to render in 8 bit, even with the "maximum bit depth" switch enabled.

am i missing something?

thanks!
-daniel

Dominik Krol · September 23rd, 2011, 10:48 PM

How would you render out with 16 bits? and using what?

H.264 is 8 bit only.

Uncompressed, Cineform, Blackmagic codecs have options for 10 bit

Normally 16/32 bits of latitude are used for effects within a project, and rendered out in 8/10 bits for delivery.

As far as I know DPX might be the only "codec" allowing 16 bit renders.

Sareesh Sudhakaran · September 23rd, 2011, 11:19 PM

Maybe this will help: Adobe Forums: import 16 bit tiff files in premiere pro cs5 ?

Personally, the best way is to finish in AE rather than take it back to premiere. This way, you can go all the way to 32 bit if you want to. Hope this helps.

Daniel Raebiger · September 24th, 2011, 08:24 AM

Thanks for the info!
So is there any way to prevent this strange pastel like results when exporting to WMV, MPEG or H264? (Old GIF Files hat those dither/diffusion options^^)

Even with Max Bit Depth enabled the Preview inside Premiere has this sort of 'fragmentation' (is there an official term?) which is kind of odd, because the Premiere CS 5.5 Help states "Maximizes the color bit depth, up to 32 bpc, to include in video played back in sequences."
I've also tried to export to mpeg2 4:2:2 without any luck :(

Sareesh Sudhakaran · September 24th, 2011, 10:53 PM

It's called banding, and it happens when you apply strong effects on 8-bit files that are already too 'compressed' to begin with.

You'll have to work in 16-bit to avoid these issues. Here's a start:

Edit native in premiere and lock
Transfer project to after effects and work in 32-bit float - apply all effects here
Grade in AE
Render video out of AE as master
Import in Premiere as new project (if specs have changed) to add/edit/mix sound and remaster as required with AME to container format (if that is your final delivery).

September 23rd, 2011, 07:26 PM	#1
Daniel Raebiger Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Landshut, Germany Posts: 143	16 bit color depth from AE Compositions? Hey Guys, I have a 16 bit AE composition via dynamic link in an premire cs 5.5 timeline. for some reason it only seems to render in 8 bit, even with the "maximum bit depth" switch enabled. am i missing something? thanks! -daniel __________________ Important notice: There's still soup left!

September 23rd, 2011, 10:48 PM	#2
Dominik Krol Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Copenhagen Denmark Posts: 70	Re: 16 bit color depth from AE Compositions? How would you render out with 16 bits? and using what? H.264 is 8 bit only. Uncompressed, Cineform, Blackmagic codecs have options for 10 bit Normally 16/32 bits of latitude are used for effects within a project, and rendered out in 8/10 bits for delivery. As far as I know DPX might be the only "codec" allowing 16 bit renders.

September 23rd, 2011, 11:19 PM	#3
Sareesh Sudhakaran Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 1,385	Re: 16 bit color depth from AE Compositions? Maybe this will help: Adobe Forums: import 16 bit tiff files in premiere pro cs5 ? Personally, the best way is to finish in AE rather than take it back to premiere. This way, you can go all the way to 32 bit if you want to. Hope this helps. __________________ Get the Free Comprehensive Guide to Rigging ANY Camera - one guide to rig them all - DSLRs to the Arri Alexa.

September 24th, 2011, 08:24 AM	#4
Daniel Raebiger Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Landshut, Germany Posts: 143	Re: 16 bit color depth from AE Compositions? Thanks for the info! So is there any way to prevent this strange pastel like results when exporting to WMV, MPEG or H264? (Old GIF Files hat those dither/diffusion options^^) Even with Max Bit Depth enabled the Preview inside Premiere has this sort of 'fragmentation' (is there an official term?) which is kind of odd, because the Premiere CS 5.5 Help states "Maximizes the color bit depth, up to 32 bpc, to include in video played back in sequences." I've also tried to export to mpeg2 4:2:2 without any luck :( Attached Thumbnails __________________ Important notice: There's still soup left!

September 24th, 2011, 10:53 PM	#5
Sareesh Sudhakaran Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 1,385	Re: 16 bit color depth from AE Compositions? It's called banding, and it happens when you apply strong effects on 8-bit files that are already too 'compressed' to begin with. You'll have to work in 16-bit to avoid these issues. Here's a start: Edit native in premiere and lock Transfer project to after effects and work in 32-bit float - apply all effects here Grade in AE Render video out of AE as master Import in Premiere as new project (if specs have changed) to add/edit/mix sound and remaster as required with AME to container format (if that is your final delivery). __________________ Get the Free Comprehensive Guide to Rigging ANY Camera - one guide to rig them all - DSLRs to the Arri Alexa.