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jackthegiantkiller
jackthegiantkiller
Inspiring
February 9, 2017
Answered

"Output color depth exceeds project color depth" prompt needs to go.

  • February 9, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 13753 views

For years now myself and other animators have complained about this annoying prompt that halts the render process. Most of our output presets use ProRes at a high color depth, but when working in a comp the color space is often set to 8-bit for faster work. When you go to render to a codec that is higher than the comp it give you the "Output color depth exceeds project color depth" that stops the render before it starts, and if you are working on multiple monitors you sometimes miss the prompt as it might pop up in a location you miss. You have to click OK for every single comp that is stacked up, and if you overstrike the number of returns to clear each freaking render, it sometimes accidentally triggers the render "pause" button. I've come back from lunch to find nothing rendered and this annoying, useless, unnecessary prompt sitting there staring at me. Either give us a checkbox on this prompt that says "Do not ask again" or get rid of it altogether, because it doesn't accomplish anything.

      This topic has been closed for replies.
      Correct answer jackthegiantkiller

      I have been working with After Effects since Aldus version 2.0 on a Quadra in my college lab. I am painfully aware of color depth and know how to avoid this message, the complaint is that there is no need for this message. It interrupts workflow, just like me having to manually convert every single freaking 3D layer to separate XYZ coordinates in every new comp. Have we complained about this? Yes. Have we begged for these two seemingly simple options to be included as a check-off preference so we don't have to get this warning every time we are working at 8-bit and want to render ProRes or manually change every layer to separate XYZ. Yes, we have begged for years and accumulated numerous UserVoice votes and here we are again with nothing, being chided by someone who may not be under the same studio pressure or deadline constraints. Thanks for your kind message though, I would be much more peaceful if the After Effects team were willing to communicate more and listen to the repeated, popular requests that have gone unremarked upon since 2018.

      3 replies

      L
      lees20144752
      Participant
      April 21, 2021

      Hi jackthegiantslaye~

      I am from the future.

      Please understand that my English is poor.

       

      Do you see the shape of a rocket here? Click on this, change the depth in the color panel and extract it.

       

      I solved it like this.

       

      HDR~What's wrong when using Lumetri color is also solved with this.

       

      You may have solved the problem already, but I could feel the anger and irritation you might have felt.

       

      Please be peaceful now 🙏

        jackthegiantkiller
        jackthegiantkillerAuthorCorrect answer
        Inspiring
        November 3, 2021

        I have been working with After Effects since Aldus version 2.0 on a Quadra in my college lab. I am painfully aware of color depth and know how to avoid this message, the complaint is that there is no need for this message. It interrupts workflow, just like me having to manually convert every single freaking 3D layer to separate XYZ coordinates in every new comp. Have we complained about this? Yes. Have we begged for these two seemingly simple options to be included as a check-off preference so we don't have to get this warning every time we are working at 8-bit and want to render ProRes or manually change every layer to separate XYZ. Yes, we have begged for years and accumulated numerous UserVoice votes and here we are again with nothing, being chided by someone who may not be under the same studio pressure or deadline constraints. Thanks for your kind message though, I would be much more peaceful if the After Effects team were willing to communicate more and listen to the repeated, popular requests that have gone unremarked upon since 2018.

          Szalam
          Community Expert
          SzalamCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          February 9, 2017

          That sounds very frustrating and like a very good feature request. File one here: Adobe.com/go/wish

            jackthegiantkiller
            jackthegiantkillerAuthor
            Inspiring
            February 9, 2017

            I have filed this feature request before and I did again. Thank you.

            Dave_LaRonde
            Dave_LaRonde
            Inspiring
            February 9, 2017

            jackthegiantslayer wrote:

            Either give us a checkbox on this prompt that says "Do not ask again" or get rid of it altogether, because it doesn't accomplish anything.

            --  OR  --

            Remember to double-check the project bit depth before you render.  Just make it a habit.

            Problem solved, and no needless whining about AE shortcomings necessary.

            Unless, of course, you have short-term memory problems.  That's a different issue.

            jackthegiantkiller
            jackthegiantkillerAuthor
            Inspiring
            February 9, 2017

            Thanks for the patronizing response, but were it just myself complaining I would refrain from "whining". When you are on tremendously tight deadlines in an insanely fast paced NYC animation studio, you don't need one more hiccup in your workflow.

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