Why is there color banding in 16bit mode?!

[Andrew Shanks]

Hmmm, you shouldn’t be getting banding in 16bit mode, unless maybe using an old 8bit filter. My first thought is what graphics card and monitor settings have you got. A way to check if banding is occuring is to throw a levels filter onto the layer you suspect (or even onto an adjustment layer on the top level of the comp, to see what the whole comp is like). look at the levels graph, if its choppy (i.e. vertical lines with gaps, then you’ve definitely got banding, ….if not, then maybe its okay and just a monitor/graphics card thing, …in which case render out an uncompressed still frame and look at it on another computer.
Sorry I have no other ideas.
Goodluck!

andrew

[Frank Weber]

I didn’t see this post regarding the Banding problem.
It’s the most advice I’ve heard on the topic yet.
Thanks!

[Filip Vandueren]

When you’re in 16bit mode, any filter that forces 8bit should have a warning sign next to it’s name in the effects-control window. So that should give you a clue.

The way I understand it though, the banding is a result of the 3D lighting model, and not any filter, and I don’t know if 16bit affects the 3D lighting engine (hopefully it does).

So try this:

Make a 3D grey layer and light it with a spot light. You should get some gradients in the resulting image: are they banded ?

Make a new 16bit comp, and create a 2D Solid with a ramp-filter
Does this have banding ?

Add a little tiny bit of noise that would cure even 8bit banding…
Does this have banding ?

If all of these three have banding: it probably has to do with your monitor and driver settings, or possibly he calibration of your coulour-management monitor-profile.

If only the first has banding: the 3D engine is the cause.

Can’t test for myself now, ’cause I’m rendering 😎

[Frank Weber]

Thanks!