Alpha Channel

[MrHooper]

I'm trying to get an alpha channel out with my image for compositing.

In a previous thread, I found this quote:

After your render is complete check Terragen image temp folder - there's a separate image with an alpha channel of your render (and your colour render also).

Sounds great, but call me stupid;)  Where is the terragen temp image folder?  It's not in the install dir.  not in my documents.  Any specifics?  Running win7 btw.

Andrew

[Zairyn Arsyn]

i had same problem... looked and looked but couldnt find them, then someone told me how on this forum,

start terragen 2-
then go to: File> Explore Temporary Files, that should open a window with all your renders individual folders.

[Henry Blewer]

You can also change the path the temp files are stored into. This input is located under the sequence/output tab of the render settings.

[Kadri]

The folder is hidden by default(?).
Yes we can change the place...I don't know if you think the same but changing this folders default place would be better i think.

Kadri.

[Marlin]

Would it cause problems to delete these old files?

[Kadri]

I deleted them just now. Nothing bad happened . But this is only me 

Kadri.

[Henry Blewer]

Eventually they just become old data. I clean them out about 4 times a year.

[Hetzen]

If your matte seems a couple of pixels out, check your antialiasing settings. Mattes seem to bloom too.

[Dune]

Actually you should empty the temp folder if you don't need the (old) files. I once had so many renders that my C: was completely full and the machine slowed down and crashed. Now I empty it after each session that I know wasn't interesting to keep. It's a good idea to change the location  to a more easy to reach place.

[jo]

Hi,

The temp folder is easily reachable from the File menu using the Explore Temporary Files (Windows) or Reveal Temporary Files (Mac) menu items. Actually on the Mac these files are cleaned up automatically, not on Windows it seems (while have to check on that again).

In a future release we will let you specify where these files are created, but I don't think it will be for the next release.

Regards,

Jo

[fxsculpt]

Any idea when we will be able to output alpha channel on the Mac? I could really use this.

[cyphyr]

...

In a future release we will let you specify where these files are created, but I don't think it will be for the next release.

...

Can I request also the ability to say what format these files are saved in, automatic saving of exr and jpg would be very useful
Richard

[Kadri]

...
Can I request also the ability to say what format these files are saved in, automatic saving of exr and jpg would be very useful
Richard

Good idea , Cyphyr . It seems basic but such things make life more comfortable  

Kadri.

[Matt]

In Terragen the alpha channel is saved as a separate image with RGB channels to represent different amount of alpha at different wavelengths, but the principle is the same. The alpha images can be found in your temporary files folder (File -> Explore/Reveal Temporary Files). Or if you render using the settings on the Sequence/Output tab in the render node, you can enable "extra output image" there. The Extra output images are just alpha images in current versions.

[fxsculpt]

Does this go for Mac OS as well?

Thanks