Supported 2D Bitmap Import/Export File Formats

This is a 64-color or 256-color video file format dating back to the late 1980's, associated with Autodesk's "Animator" program and then its "3D Studio" animation program. This is an Okino implemented FLIC/CEL file reader, with many tweaks added over its lifetime. Handles "old style" and "new style" files. Handles byte run compression.

Specific frames can also be captured and applied as texture maps within Okino's rendering software.

This reads in images in the Lightwave IFF/ILBM file format. Handles 24-bit RGB (in 24 separate image planes) or 8-bit colormapped. HAM (16 color), HAM-8 (256 color) and EHB (32 color) modes are supported. Files can be compressed or uncompressed.

This reads in images in the Alias compatible IFF file format (not to be confused with the Lightwave IFF file format). This file format is commonly used as the default bitmap file format for such Alias products as Maya, Explore and PowerAnimator. 32-bit images (24-bits of RGB and an 8-bit alpha channel), 24-bit images (8-bit red, green and blue channels) and 8-bit images containing only an alpha or grayscale channel are supported. RLE compression is handled.

This reads in images in the Electric Image bitmap file format. Handles 24-bit RGB and 32-bit RGBA files. Also handles color-mapped images from 1-bit to 8-bits (2 color B&W, to 256 colors). Compression is always used.

This reads in images in the JPEG file format. JPEG is a common image format that provides a variable image compression scheme which degrades the quality of an image as the image compression level increases. Relatively high levels of compression can be achieved before significant degradation occurs in the image. Note, however that JPEG is a lossy compression scheme which means that images saved to disk is of lower quality than the original rendered image. Handles either 24-bit RGB JPEG files, or 8-bit grayscale files.

This reads in images in the Softimage PIC file format. The file can be read as either a 24-bit image (8-bit red, green and blue channels), a 32-bit image (24-bits of RGB and 8-bits of alpha channel) or an 8-bit image containing only the alpha channel. RLE compression is handled.

This reads in images in the Alias PIX file format. This file format is commonly associated with such Alias products as Maya, Explore and PowerAnimator. The file can be read either as a 24-bit image (8-bit red, green and blue channels) or as an 8-bit image containing only the alpha channel. RLE compression is handled.

This reads in images in the PNG file format. PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a replacement for the GIF format. It is a full-featured (non-LZW) compressed format intended for widespread use. Reads from 1-bit to 32-bit PNG files, including PNG files with interlacing.

This reads in images in the Adobe Photoshop PSD file format. RLE compression is handled. Imports from 1-bit to 8-bit colormapped images, 8-bit grayscale images, 24-bit RGB images and 32-bit RGBA images. G-Buffer channels are ignored upon import (they are only exported by the Okino rendering software).

This reads in images in the Silicon Graphics RGB file format. It is a complete implementation of the RGB file format, allowing for 8-bit grayscale, 24-bit RGB and 32-bit RGBA input.

This reads in images in the TARGA file format. TARGA is a common bitmap file format, with good support for many different modes. Supported modes are 1-bit B&W, 8-bit colormapped, 8-bits grayscale, 24-bits RGB and 32-bits RGBA. Run-length compression is handled.

This reads in images in the TIFF format. This TIFF importer, and its equivalent TIFF exporter, are considered the "standard" bitmap import/export converters for Okino software. Handles 1-bit B&W, 5/5/5 colormapped, 8-bit or 16-bit colormapped, 24-bit RGB or 32-bit RGBA files.

This reads in images in the Microsoft Windows standard BMP file. The file be read as either a 24-bit image (8-bit red, green and blue channels) or as a 1-bit, 4-bit or 8-bit colormapped image.

This driver outputs the rendered image to the Lightwave IFF file format which is commonly used to store bitmap images for the Lightwave 3D software. The list of supported bitmap formats is the same as that described for the Photoshop PSD format, except for no G-Buffer support. RLE compression is optional.

This driver outputs the rendered image to a Alias compatible IFF file (not to be confused with the Lightwave IFF file format). This file format is commonly used as the default bitmap file format for such Alias products as Maya, Explore and PowerAnimator. The file can either be saved as a 24-bit image (8-bit red, green and blue channels), a 32-bit image (24-bits of RGB and 8-bits of alpha channel) or an 8-bit image containing only the alpha channel. Data is written to the file using a tile height of 1 and a tile width equal to the width of the image. RLE compression is optional but enabled by default.

This driver outputs the rendered image to the Electric Image bitmap file format. The list of supported bitmap formats is the same as that described for the Photoshop PSD format, except for no G-Buffer support. Compression is always enabled.

This driver outputs the rendered image to a JPEG disk file. JPEG is a common image format that provides a variable image compression scheme which degrades the quality of an image as the image compression level increases. Relatively high levels of compression can be achieved before significant degradation occurs in the image. Note, however that JPEG is a lossy compression scheme which means that the image saved to disk is of lower quality than the original rendered image.

The JPEG driver can output in the 24-bit RGB format and can also output the alpha channel as a Grayscale JPEG image.

This driver outputs the rendered image to a Softimage PIC file format. The file can either be saved as a 24-bit image (8-bit red, green and blue channels), a 32-bit image (24-bits of RGB and 8-bits of alpha channel) or an 8-bit image containing only the alpha channel. RLE compression is optional but enabled by default.

This driver outputs the rendered image to a Alias compatible PIX file format. This file format is commonly associated with such Alias products as Maya, Explore and PowerAnimator. The file can either be saved as a 24-bit image (8-bit red, green and blue channels) or as an 8-bit image containing only the alpha channel. RLE compression is always enabled.

PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a replacement for the GIF format. It is a full-featured (non-LZW) compressed format intended for widespread use.

The list of supported bitmap formats is the same as that described for the Photoshop PSD format, except for no G-Buffer support. RLE compression is optional.

This driver outputs the rendered image to a ‘Portable Pixmap’ (PPM) 24-bit disk file. PPM is a rather simplistic file format that only allows data to be stored in 24-bit (RGB) format without any compression. PPM is used by programs such as Microsoft’s Direct3D.

The PPM driver can output in the 24-bit RGB format and can also output the alpha channel as a RGB PPM image.

This driver outputs the rendered image to a subset of the Adobe Photoshop PSD file format. RLE compression is optional but enabled by default. The channels are output in the following order: R, G, B, Alpha. The following output formats are supported:

• 1-bit bitmap (B&W)
• 8-bit colormapped and/or quantized
• 24-bit RGB
• 32-bit RGBA
• 8-bit alpha channel (as grayscale image)

If the "Output G-Buffer Data" is enabled then the Photoshop PSD driver will also output "Geometry Buffer" data directly from the core renderer to the .psd file. See the section below which discusses this G-buffer common option. By outputting this data to a .psd file you can load it into Photoshop and perform unusual operations on the file, such as doing depth of field calculations based on the "Z" channel output to the .psd file.

NOTE: The only way to output G-Buffer data to a Photoshop PSD file is to use the "Render Scene To File…" menu entry. You must render directly to a file since the G-Buffer data must flow from the core renderer directly to the Photoshop PSD output driver. You cannot render to a window and then follow up by pressing the "Save" button on the render window to subsequently save the window's image to a Photoshop PSD file.

When the Photoshop PSD driver is selected, the G-Buffer data is output in this order and with these extents:

• Z depth. Range is 0 to 255. 0 is at the camera. 254 in the .psd file is mapped to the furthest non-infinity Z depth of the object. 255 in the .psd file is mapped to infinity values (such as the background).
• Vertex normal. For each X, Y or Z normalized component, a -1.0 normal component maps to 0 in the .psd file, a 0.0 normal component maps to 128 in the .psd file, and a 1.0 normal component maps to 255 in the .psd file.
• (u,v) texture coordinate (0.0 to 1.0 range). A value of 0.0 maps to 0 in the .psd file, and 1.0 maps to 255 in the .psd file. Values less than 0.0 or greater than 1.0 are first unitized to the 0.0 to 1.0 range.
• Object ID. At the moment the lower 8 bits of an object's 32-bit instance pointer is output, so there is no guarantee that this number is unique.

The most interesting aspect of outputting G-Buffer data to a .psd file is using the "Z Depth" information. For example, you can perform depth-of-field processing whereby pixels are blurred based on the value of "Z" in the .psd file. You can also do z-depth based compositing as a post-process operation, such as adding in lens flare effects (the Okino lens flare system uses the G-Buffer mechanism internally to perform z-depth based compositing).

This driver outputs the rendered image to a Silicon Graphics RGB disk file. It is a complete implementation of the RGB file format, allowing for 24-bit and 32-bit output, alpha channel output, and with optional compression.

This driver outputs the rendered image to a TIFF disk file. It is a complete implementation of the TIFF RGB file format, allowing for 8-bit, 24-bit and 32-bit output, and with optional compression. By default the image will be output as 24-bit data (8-bit red, green and blue channels) but you can choose from 1-bit to 32-bit output. If 256 or fewer colors are chosen (8-bits or less) then the output image will be stored in color-mapped form. If the 32- bit output mode is selected then the alpha channel will be output along with the image data in TIFF alpha channel format.

The TIFF image is not compressed by default. If you enable the "Compress" checkbox then you can select from 3 compression methods: Adobe Deflate (which is compatible with Adobe products), Deflate and PackBits.

This driver outputs the rendered image to a TARGA disk file. It is a complete implementation of the TARGA file format, allowing for 8-bit, 24-bit and 32-bit output, and with optional compression. By default the image will be output as 24-bit data (8-bit red, green and blue channels) but you can choose from 1-bit to 32-bit output. If 256 or fewer colors are chosen (8-bits or less) then the output image will be stored in color-mapped form. If the 32-bit output mode is selected then the alpha channel will be output along with the image data in TARGA alpha channel format.

This driver outputs the rendered image to a Microsoft Windows compatible BMP file. The file can either be saved as a 24-bit image (8-bit red, green and blue channels) or as an 8-bit colormapped image (if 256 or fewer colors are chosen).

This format is not a highly recommended format since no file compression is available, no information can be saved along with the file, and it takes up a considerable amount of memory while the image is being rendered to the file.