Working with 32bit images like HDR or EXR

[eugenio]

Hi guys,

 

I'm a 3D artist and quite interested in buying Affinity Photo. But I want to know how does it perform and work with 32 bit images like HDR and EXR. This is a huge weakness in PS and I hope AP can fulfill this gap for me.

 

So, here are my questions:

 

-Can AP create layers, blending modes, apply filters, masks and whatever I can do with standard 8bit images, so I can work non-destructively?

 

-Is there any tone mapping tool in AP? Something on the lines of Camera Raw in PS? Does it work non-destructively too?

 

-Does it have a Lens Blur so I can use ZDepth to apply DOF in post?

 

To me it's very important to have non-destructive workflows as much as possible.

 

Thanks in advance,

-Eugenio

[James Ritson]

Hey Eugenio, Photo has comprehensive 32-bit support and also has OpenColorIO integration. If you want to see some videos about OpenEXR and OCIO check out these playlists:

 

OpenEXR - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjZ7Y0kROWit_Nwo_XNn_Ii9j4_hKnDQp

 

Colour Management - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjZ7Y0kROWiuoA4y-63r-v3x9gHoPIq4e

 

Also, check out this video on using the 32-bit Preview panel to preview unbounded tonal ranges - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvJBR7dXT4I

 

 

To answer your questions:

 

-Can AP create layers, blending modes, apply filters, masks and whatever I can do with standard 8bit images, so I can work non-destructively?

 

Yes, pretty much anything you can do in 8-bit or 16-bit, you can do in 32-bit. Some blend modes behave slightly differently but they all work. With the exception of Median, Bilateral and Dust & Scratches, all other filters work in 32-bit and can be used as live filter layers. All adjustments work.

 

-Is there any tone mapping tool in AP? Something on the lines of Camera Raw in PS? Does it work non-destructively too?

 

Yes, there's a Tone Mapping persona. To work non-destructively you would have to duplicate the image layer (or Merge Visible on your work done so far) then move into the Tone Mapping persona.

 

-Does it have a Lens Blur so I can use ZDepth to apply DOF in post?

 

Unfortunately not quite yet. There was a Z-Blur filter in an early beta of Photo but it wasn't working correctly and didn't make the cut for release. You can use a Z depth layer as a mask (Layer > Rasterise to Mask) but it won't get you quite the same result. Watch this space..

 

 

Hope that's helped, please let us know if you have more questions!