• Adobe After Effects

  color bit depth

  Posted by Steven J casey on March 26, 2007 at 2:35 pm

  I read recently that it’s best to edit in 16 bit but render in 8 bit, but I don’t really know why this would be. I understand the basics of bit depth but don’t understand the part about working in 16 but rendering in 8. Is this a good rule of thumb? I couldn’t find an article or tutorial on the cow for AE bit depth. Is there one and can you point me to it?

  Thanks much!

  steven

  Steven J casey replied 19 years, 3 months ago 3 Members · 3 Replies
• 3 Replies

• 

  Danny Princz

  March 26, 2007 at 4:58 pm

  what this workflow does is allow after effects to do its calculations in 16 bit.

  now, if you are ultimately going to be going out 8 bit, then why does this matter you ask???

  ( i hope this makes sense)

  well, when AFX is doing its calculations, your composites, effects, etc are being done in 16 bits allowing for say smoother grads, glows, what have you.

  those calculated pixels received the benefit of a 16bit comp.

  then when you the 8 bit render comes out it has more information to start with.

  who is that masked man…
• 

  Barend Onneweer

  March 26, 2007 at 8:23 pm

  Not sure if you know anything about bookkeeping, but it’s all about rounding errors.

  Let’s say you had a pretty complex set of calculations. Add, subtract, divide, multiply. Loads of numbers being pushed around. Now in every calculation you decide not to use decimals, but round to integers after each calculation.

  The end result could be significantly different from the outcome if you had used decimals.

  So it’s all about preserving accuracy throughout all the calculations, to avoid rounding errors. Even if you decide to round off in the final stage.

  Hence 16-bit calculations are better, even if in the final stage you go back to 8-bit. Of course 32-bit float would be even better.

  The reality is that in some cases you won’t see the difference. And in some you’ll see dramatic differences.

  Bar3nd

  Raamw3rk – digital storytelling and visual effects
• 

  Steven J casey

  March 27, 2007 at 4:48 am

  Both answers stated in easy to understand terms. A follow up thought then, should I actually be in 32 bit? If I stay in 16 bit for final render .avi, will it be a problem bringing back into Vegas?

  Thanks again for the explanations and help.

  steven

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