Save PSD
The Save PSD function saves rendered images (or Z-depth) as Adobe Photoshop (PSD format) files.
Colors are normally handled as 24-bit data (8 bits per RGB channel). When you correct colors in Adobe Photoshop using such data, some corrections may cause problems, such as "tone jumps" due to the lack of color depth.
If you make color corrections using 48-bit color data (16 bits per channel) and later drop it down to 24-bit color data, the tone jumps are smoother, even if the color corrections were extreme.
Allowing you to save images with 16 bits per channel, the PSD 16bpc serves as an essential tool for professionals and artists who require delicate control over color.
Each of the RGB channels, and the alpha channel, in a normal rendered image is displayed and saved using 8 bits per channel. We therefore refer to these images as 24-bit (or 32- bit if the Alpha channel is included).
If the Real Color option in the Rendering Settings is selected, you can keep the full 96-bit data (32 bits per RGB channel) computed by the Shade3D Renderer. Usually, the 96-bit data is rounded off to 24-bit data.
The Save PSD function accesses the 96-bit data before it's rounded off, and uses this data to save 48-bit files (16 bits for each RGB channel), which Adobe Photoshop can handle. As for the alpha channel, its original 8-bit depth is extended without change to 16 bits.
Therefore, you need to obtain the real colors from the render in order to save RGB channel data in PSD format, to take advantage of the 16 bit data.
When applying filters and effects using Z-depth data in Photoshop, colors can be corrected using tone curves as necessary. This may cause some problems, including "tone jumps," when 8-bit grayscale Z-depth data is used. The 16-bit gray-scale Zdepth data significantly reduces these problems.
If the Keep Z option in the Rendering Settings is selected, you can keep the full 32-bit Z-depth data computed by the Shade3D renderer.
The Save PSD function rounds off the 32-bit Zdepth data and saves it as a 16-bit gray-scale Adobe Photoshop file.
Note The "Extract Z" plugin bundled with Shade3D generates 8-bit Z-depth data. For details on the "ExtractZ" plugin, refer to the "ExtractZ" description in the Effectors section of this plug-in manual. You therefore need to set the rendering options to keep Z-depth values if you want to save the Z-depth data in 16-bit PSD format.
Manipulating 16-bit data in Adobe Photoshop has considerable limitations compared to normal 8-bit data. For details, please see the Adobe Photoshop documentation.