In article <lFvGO8=N87Ecf8A=H0iK3LSb+WfL@4ax.com> , Glen Berry 
<7no### [at] ezwvcom>  wrote:

> We all know that 24 bit images can be used for height fields, but I
> was wondering if 48 bit images could also be used for height fields,
> and if they would give less of the "terracing" or "banding" effects
> that 24 bit files sometimes give?
>
> Of course, I also have to find a way to create 48 bpp images in a
> format that POV-Ray can actually read, but I'll eventually figure that
> one out. For now, I just want to know if there is any advantage to 48
> bpp images, when used as height fields?
>
> Just in case anyone is tempted to do so, please don't tell me to read
> the POV 3.5 docs, because I can't at the moment.

You should be able to use 16-bit grayscale PNG images.  You can also use
48-bit per pixel (16-bit per color component) PNG images of which only the
read channel will be used. As for a program that creates this kind of PNG
images (also they are standard), I don't know except for POV-Ray itself.

And of course the old format using the red and green color component of
8-bit per color component images is still available as well.  I think there
are a few (ancient) programs out there that support this format, but I don't
know where to get those either.


    Thorsten


____________________________________________________
Thorsten Froehlich, Duisburg, Germany
e-mail: tho### [at] trfde

Visit POV-Ray on the web: http://mac.povray.org

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