rendered pngs have no alpha

babel25babel25 Posts: 54
edited December 1969 in New Users

That is, sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. If I use default render settings I get pngs that save with an alpha in cartoon or default style with quality set at 2 or above. It's usually when I change the size of the window that it decides not to save with an alpha. This issue seems to be intermittent so cannot pin down a cause. Comments?
b

daz 4.5 on osx btw

Comments

  • TotteTotte Posts: 13,972
    edited April 2013

    Are you using some kind of light set with a skydome or visible light sphere? I know that will cause transparency to go away?
    I use render to .png a lot and the only time I've failed has been when I used a light set where the sphere was visible and was rendered.

    Or the sphere has "visible in render set"

    Another thing that sprung to my mind, where do you set .png? Do you render to disk or to a new window?

    Post edited by Totte on
  • babel25babel25 Posts: 54
    edited December 1969

    It seems to happen when I use non standard sizes, no lighting change. Even happens with the default daz scene. Render to disk or to a new window makes no difference.

  • TotteTotte Posts: 13,972
    edited December 1969

    babel25 said:
    It seems to happen when I use non standard sizes, no lighting change. Even happens with the default daz scene. Render to disk or to a new window makes no difference.

    I've tried several combinations, having the setting i the window set to .png and save through there or have the setting to .jpg and then do save last render selecting .png in the save dialog, testing different sizes, always get a transparent .png.

    Do you have a backdrop? Those will always block transparency.

  • Richard HaseltineRichard Haseltine Posts: 100,941
    edited December 1969

    Which version of DS are you using - Help>About DAZ Studio? 4.5.1.56 is the current build.

  • babel25babel25 Posts: 54
    edited December 1969

    Totte: Cheers for trying that out, but what's in the scene doesn't affect it. I tried the default daz scene, same issues. The same scene may or may not render with an alpha depending on window size.
    RH: Yep 4.5.1.6 Pro 64bit : osx 10.6.7

  • TotteTotte Posts: 13,972
    edited December 1969

    babel25 said:
    Totte: Cheers for trying that out, but what's in the scene doesn't affect it. I tried the default daz scene, same issues. The same scene may or may not render with an alpha depending on window size.
    RH: Yep 4.5.1.6 Pro 64bit : osx 10.6.7

    Are you using 3Delight or OpenGL renderer, can be an OpenGL issue maybe (I never use anything else than 3Delight.)

  • babel25babel25 Posts: 54
    edited December 1969

    Ah good point. I'd forgotten that 3Delight does not have the problem! I've been using the lower 2-3 quality renders nearly all the time because thats the look I wanted (and theyre fast!).

  • babel25babel25 Posts: 54
    edited December 1969

    Any thoughts about my OpenGL issue ?

  • TotteTotte Posts: 13,972
    edited December 1969

    babel25 said:
    Any thoughts about my OpenGL issue ?

    Checking, if you show your videocard settings I might find some answers.

  • babel25babel25 Posts: 54
    edited December 1969

    UR awesome, but i'm not sure how to to show videocard settings?

  • TotteTotte Posts: 13,972
    edited December 1969

    babel25 said:
    UR awesome, but i'm not sure how to to show videocard settings?

    Help->Troubleshooting->About your videocard

  • babel25babel25 Posts: 54
    edited December 1969

    OpenGL Provider:
    NVIDIA Corporation

    Hardware:
    NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT OpenGL Engine

    Features:

    MultiTexturing
    Supported
    Shadow Map
    Supported
    Hardware Antialiasing
    Supported
    OpenGL Shading Language
    Supported
    Pixel Buffer
    Supported

    Pixel Buffer Size
    Not Enabled

    Maximum Number of Lights
    8
    Number of Texture Units
    8
    Maximum Texture Size
    8192 x 8192

  • JaderailJaderail Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    babel25 said:
    OpenGL Provider:
    NVIDIA Corporation

    Hardware:
    NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT OpenGL Engine

    Features:

    MultiTexturing
    Supported
    Shadow Map
    Supported
    Hardware Antialiasing
    Supported
    OpenGL Shading Language


    The part I have Highlighted in red is why OpenGL will not produce a Alpha channel in a consistent manner. OpenGL is a Games engine codex that decides on each call which method of Rendering will be the fastest. If the Shaders decide that NO alpha channel is required for that render none will be produced. Thus saving Time for the render. Only a full render Engine that Supports Alpha channels as default (not on the fly if called) will produce a transparent alpha channel every render. Only the 3Delight Render engine in DS and the png and tiff save formats default to a Alpha channel for every render.
    Your OpenGL could be configured if you wished to do so, but that would effect all PRG's like games you have that would also call it.
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