White edges around imported png files

straffax · Post by **straffax** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 11:34 am

Hi!

I have seen similar questions on this forum, but no real solution.
Whenever I render scenes with png images, bright edges appear. Not just where the alpha channels are, but also around high contrast places (see the black buttons in the image - they are on the same layer as the clothes under and have no bright edges in the original).

The effect is small but makes the software unusable for production, unfortunatlely.

Is there any solution to this or something that I have just missed?

Please note:
1. It is NOT a compression issue. It is the same even in uncompressed rendering.
2. It is NOT some mistake I have done in Photoshop, the layers are exactly as they should and checked against dark background etc

slowtiger · Post by **slowtiger** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 12:41 pm

I've noticed this only with PNGs with no transparency so far, means, the straight edges of the rectangle became visible in AS. After reading your post I did a test with a PNG from Photoshop:

You're right, the edges are clearly visible. (The image bottom right is the same at top left on green bg.)

I changed that test image in TVPaint so I had the option of pre-multiplying alpha:

Left is pre-multiplied, right is non-multiplied. Does get worse than better.

Last try, shapes created witha 1 pixel smooth border:

This is the way I cut out images for AS in general. To my surprise a faint black outline shows up when I place the same colour onto itself, I hadn't noticed before! Now in most cases my cut out pieces have different colours than the background they're placed on, so this isn't a problem for me. Additionally I create these images bigger than I use them in AS, so if someting i 200 px high in AS, I create it at least 400 px high. This will also reduce that edge error to half its size. See:

Everything reduced to about 50%. All the straight lines or line segments are still visible, but the error of the 1px fuzzy outline is neglectable.

I like your style BTW, but it's something you could create in AS as well easily, avoiding all those bitmap problems.

straffax · Post by **straffax** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 1:17 pm

Thanks slowtiger for doing the research!
I also made the original much bigger than it's used, that's probably why the edges are quite small.

But the conclusion is still that you can't get rid of these edges, I'm afraid...

This must be an error in the software, there is no technical reason why this shouldn't work (importing to After Effects for example looks great), or?

This was done in the trial version, and graphics is converted to png first. How about the pro version, can it import native psd-format? Perhaps that would solve it?

Thanks again!

Post by **Víctor Paredes** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 1:23 pm

straffax wrote:How about the pro version, can it import native psd-format? Perhaps that would solve it?

ASpro 8 can import layered psd files. But I don't know if that solves your problem.

straffax · Post by **straffax** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 1:27 pm

Perhaps I can send the psd-file and you (slowtiger or selgin) can import and render an image?
That would be extremely helpful, and I'd appreciate it a lot!

Post by **Víctor Paredes** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 1:29 pm

straffax wrote:Perhaps I can send the psd-file and you (slowtiger or selgin) can import and render an image?
That would be extremely helpful, and I'd appreciate it a lot!

Sure, my e-mail is on my profile info.

straffax · Post by **straffax** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 1:41 pm

Thanks selgin, the file is on it's way!

Post by **Víctor Paredes** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 1:52 pm

Hi, bad news, I see darker edges.
Check this render:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/54411/imagenes/ ... enshot.png

straffax · Post by **straffax** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:01 pm

Ok, thanks for your quick support!

The darker edges are a little bit less annoying (for example the black buttons look good in this one), but still they shouldn't be there at all.

So, a wish for the developers: please look into this for the next update....

By the way I just looked at your reel, it's awesome! Great animation!

Post by **Víctor Paredes** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:13 pm

straffax wrote:Ok, thanks for your quick support!
The darker edges are a little bit less annoying (for example the black buttons look good in this one), but still they shouldn't be there at all.

You are welcome. Yeah, they shouldn't be there. Anyway, I think it could easily corrected in AfterEffects (if your final composition is there). I know it's not the best solution, but at least there is a chance to solve it.

straffax wrote:By the way I just looked at your reel, it's awesome! Great animation!

Thanks, I also looked yours, it's fantastic

straffax · Post by **straffax** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:36 pm

Slowtiger, you mentioned re-creating this in AS instead.
I wouldn't mind that, but I find it extremely difficult to do. I'm very much a bitmap person and not very used to vectors...

What approach would you use to keep the style of the design? Import and trace?

It's important to keep the style of the lines, please see the close up of the hat here. This is not how it would look if it was originally drawn with vectors.

Grateful for any tips on this!

Post by **Víctor Paredes** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:53 pm

You can use variable linewidth to give it a more natural feeling. You can even go to Draw>random line width.
I recommend you to draw with the add point tool, adding all sharp corners points first, then modify the curvature when needed.
Also, that arms would work fantastic if you use an adaptation of mandcon arm setup (check for "luggage guy" on library).

jahnocli · Post by **jahnocli** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:54 pm

Try here: Vector Magic. Very good (if a little pricey) bitmap to vector tracer.

straffax · Post by **straffax** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 4:12 pm

I'm continuing my testing here...

How about importing from Illustrator?
Would the variable line widhts (lines drawn with the brush tool) follow into AS?
I'm pretty familiar with AI, so that could be an option.

And the result from Vector Magic was great!
Does eps import well to AS?

(Can not try this on the trial)

jahnocli · Post by **jahnocli** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 4:36 pm

straffax wrote:Does eps import well to AS?

Like AI files, they need a lot of tinkering about to work well. It really all depends on your preferred work flow, as you are adding another stage into the process. If it's a simple image (like the hat) it's usually easier to trace it directly in AS. For more complicated images, some trace program followed by cleanup may be better...you usually want to break them down anyway.