This is a really well explanation of the Alpha Channel. Finally. I have so much to learn, but you give to information simply and so understandable. Thank you.
You actually can save an alpha channel using the save as option. You just have to manually type .png, .tif, or .exr at the end. It's a little convoluted though.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe you have an error in the video? You said that when u save an image from the render window it only renders jpeg but all you have to do is put the extension of the file you want and it'll be any other format. I always save stuff from the render window and just put a .tiff after.
Hey Maximilian, I wondered if you could give me a hand with an issue in my scene relating to alphas. I can't view the alpha channel on my cg in Arnold's renderview but once rendered and opened in Nuke, the alpha channel is visible there as normal. Seems to be a Maya issue, any ideas as I have almost run out of things to try? :S thanks in advance.
that‘s very well possible. i create the videos ad hoc and don‘t earn a cent. so, i guess, often things are missing. sorry for that. the video is quite a while back.
what i understand png have a alpha transparency only. but with other files format tif and exr, the alpha channel can have different information into it as well as transparency. here a link to some understanding of the difference. hope that can help. stackoverflow.com/questions/41916988/whats-the-difference-between-alpha-channel-and-tranparency-channel
PNG does have an alpha channel. If you open Maya's Hypershade, put a PNG texture in it (using File node), and then connect that texture's Alpha output to some material's Base Color -> you're gonna see a black and white texture. When Photoshop decodes a PNG format, it uses alpha to blend image pixels with the background (by default). www.libpng.org/pub/png/spec/1.2/PNG-Decoders.html#D.Alpha-channel-processing However, when it opens OpenExr, it allows you to choose between rendering an alpha channel as a color channel, or use it to blend pixels. Some applications, when decoding PNG, do the other thing by default -> sometimes mobile apps show PNG's supposed-to-be-transparent pixels as black.
you are right. i read somewhere in the autodesk maya forum that png is not recommended for alpha rendering, and actually i had problems seeing an alpha channel in photoshop after importing a png image. maybe it's a matter of AOV tweaking. thanks for the input!
@@Uhr24 No problem 😊 yeah i have been struggling with transparency of pngs in unity but adding an empty layer under the main layer in photoshop and convert mode rgb to index can helps
Why in the hell is rendering a png with an alpha channel in Maya via Arnold so dang difficult?!? How often does anyone render and NOT want an alpha channel?!? Me? NEVER!!! Make it easy, you big dumb jerks!!! Never once ever had this problem with Mental Ray!!! FIX IT!!! Don't make us find or write the code to fix it ourselves. YOU FIX IT!!! NOW!!! GAH!
![Maya: The Alpha Channel [for Compositing]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/VpwwnsH36p8/mqdefault.jpg)
![Maya: The Alpha Channel [for Compositing]](/img/tr.png)
Visibility -> Camera -> 0 => Saved my life today to get the alpha with Arnold in a Tiff. Thx Max.
my pleasure!
This is a really well explanation of the Alpha Channel. Finally. I have so much to learn, but you give to information simply and so understandable. Thank you.
Been looking for this exact info for a while. Life-saver!
Perfect and straight to the point. Your videos are always a treat aside from being a great learning experience : )
Thank you so much for the nice tutorial! very easy to follow!
You actually can save an alpha channel using the save as option. You just have to manually type .png, .tif, or .exr at the end. It's a little convoluted though.
thanks, john!
Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe you have an error in the video?
You said that when u save an image from the render window it only renders jpeg but all you have to do is put the extension of the file you want and it'll be any other format. I always save stuff from the render window and just put a .tiff after.
oh, good comment. i was not aware of that hack.
thank you so much for this thorough walkthrough
Very helpful, thank you.
glad i could help.
Than you for detailed explanation. sir.
hey, i am getting colored images without background, is there any way to get WHITE IMAGES with a sequence
maybe someone else can check this? i'm currently doing other things.
Hey Maximilian, I wondered if you could give me a hand with an issue in my scene relating to alphas. I can't view the alpha channel on my cg in Arnold's renderview but once rendered and opened in Nuke, the alpha channel is visible there as normal. Seems to be a Maya issue, any ideas as I have almost run out of things to try? :S thanks in advance.
hi joan, i cannot help you with this issue. could consult the (free) autodesk maya AREA?
Awesome Tutorial
i can't find the option to save as multi layer exr....
once your arnold rendering is finished, use the render window to save the file, either as jpg or png, or as exr.
how would you go about doing this in redshift?
i have no idea.
Nicely explained. Thanks.
you‘re welcome!
You forgot something? I follow everything you do but my exr file doesn't show shadows when I open it in photoshop. Something escaped your explanation.
that‘s very well possible. i create the videos ad hoc and don‘t earn a cent. so, i guess, often things are missing. sorry for that. the video is quite a while back.
Great video 👍 please upload more stuff on maya......
every tuesday. with a summer break.
Can you do a video on the whole "straight" vs "premultiplied" hell?
sorry, i don't do videos on demand. i do tutorials in my free time, with things which are crossing MY mind.
why png dont carry alpha channel
what i understand png have a alpha transparency only. but with other files format tif and exr, the alpha channel can have different information into it as well as transparency. here a link to some understanding of the difference. hope that can help. stackoverflow.com/questions/41916988/whats-the-difference-between-alpha-channel-and-tranparency-channel
PNG does have an alpha channel. If you open Maya's Hypershade, put a PNG texture in it (using File node), and then connect that texture's Alpha output to some material's Base Color -> you're gonna see a black and white texture.
When Photoshop decodes a PNG format, it uses alpha to blend image pixels with the background (by default).
www.libpng.org/pub/png/spec/1.2/PNG-Decoders.html#D.Alpha-channel-processing
However, when it opens OpenExr, it allows you to choose between rendering an alpha channel as a color channel, or use it to blend pixels.
Some applications, when decoding PNG, do the other thing by default -> sometimes mobile apps show PNG's supposed-to-be-transparent pixels as black.
Yeah im so confused by that. PNGs are known for having transparency but for some reason when u render a PNG from maya it skips the alpha channel.
@@mjparent222 thanks marie
@@neji1641 I didn't know that !!
Thanks for the video it was helpful!
Well explained but i disagree with you about png, it has alpha chanel too
you are right. i read somewhere in the autodesk maya forum that png is not recommended for alpha rendering, and actually i had problems seeing an alpha channel in photoshop after importing a png image. maybe it's a matter of AOV tweaking. thanks for the input!
@@Uhr24 No problem 😊 yeah i have been struggling with transparency of pngs in unity but adding an empty layer under the main layer in photoshop and convert mode rgb to index can helps
@@yushin7391 do you have any video explaining how to convert rgb to index
@@MLS.22 in the image settings menu where you can choose between 8 to 32 bits
@@yushin7391 once i converted it to 32 it will work? and 16 bit >? does it work ?
i think PNG files have an alpha channel. i like your videos though
i already corrected that in the video description. png alpha is a bit tricky, but possible. thanks.
My heroe
;-)
My alpha channel is still white
Why in the hell is rendering a png with an alpha channel in Maya via Arnold so dang difficult?!? How often does anyone render and NOT want an alpha channel?!? Me? NEVER!!! Make it easy, you big dumb jerks!!! Never once ever had this problem with Mental Ray!!! FIX IT!!! Don't make us find or write the code to fix it ourselves. YOU FIX IT!!! NOW!!! GAH!
i wish if you was my grandpa
...
what?