Is there a way to store the depth/range of each pixel - i.e. its
distance from the camera - into an output file? This can be done in, at
least, older versions of Alias/Wavefront software and the .rla format is
set up to retain pixel depths.

If not in POVRay then does anyone know another low cost product that can
do this?

Ian Bishop

Post a reply to this message

Ian Bishop <i.b### [at] engunimelbeduau> wrote:
> Is there a way to store the depth/range of each pixel - i.e. its
> distance from the camera - into an output file? This can be done in, at
> least, older versions of Alias/Wavefront software and the .rla format is
> set up to retain pixel depths.

This isn't available in the official version, though you can fake it
by using all white textures and black fog, or by applying a black and
white gradient texture to everything (use ambient 1 on the textures
when using these techniques, and remove all lights).

Or you could use MegaPOV, which has a "depth" post process filter that
outputs the depth information into a separate grayscale image.
MegaPOV is available here: http://nathan.kopp.com/patched.htm


-- 
Christopher James Huff - chr### [at] maccom
Home Page: http://homepage.mac.com/chrishuff/
POV-Ray TAG e-mail: chr### [at] povrayorg
POV-Ray TAG web site: http://tag.povray.org/

Post a reply to this message

Ian Bishop wrote:
> 
> Is there a way to store the depth/range of each pixel - i.e. its
> distance from the camera - into an output file?

Why do people keep asking this question ?

-- 
Ken Tyler

Post a reply to this message

"Ken" <tyl### [at] pacbellnet> wrote in message
news:3AFF3192.5C3EC857@pacbell.net...
>
> Ian Bishop wrote:
> >
> > Is there a way to store the depth/range of each pixel - i.e. its
> > distance from the camera - into an output file?
>
> Why do people keep asking this question ?

SIRDS is one reason perhaps, single image random dot stereograms.  Polyray
could do that and I used it mostly just so I could try it with a program I
bought for that purpose.  Something like 7 years ago.
At least maybe for some layering in Z-buffer fashion for some 3D application
I suppose.

Bob H.

Post a reply to this message

Ken <tyl### [at] pacbellnet> wrote:
: Why do people keep asking this question ?

  Seems like a good entry for the VFAQ...
  I'm feeling lazy right now; anyone willing to write a proper question+answer
for me to copypaste into the VFAQ?

-- 
#macro N(D,I)#if(I<6)cylinder{M()#local D[I]=div(D[I],104);M().5,2pigment{
rgb M()}}N(D,(D[I]>99?I:I+1))#end#end#macro M()<mod(D[I],13)-6,mod(div(D[I
],13),8)-3,10>#end blob{N(array[6]{11117333955,
7382340,3358,3900569407,970,4254934330},0)}//                     - Warp -

Post a reply to this message