4 Replies Latest reply: Nov 2, 2011 5:44 PM by unique_screenname_here RSS

    Photoshop plugin bug fixes and release schedule?

    _TiW_ Community Member

      Hi,

       

      I am a TD working in 3D computer graphics for architectural visualisation.

       

      First off I really like Pixel Bender and the power it has. Amongst other things we use Photoshop and AE in our workflow. Photoshop for still compositing and AE for Animations. I already have some Pixel Bender tools coded for normal map relighting, toon lines for normal passes and a screen space ambient occlusion shader.

       

      My question is with the Photoshop plugin for PIxel bender. I have the following problems with it:

      1. If the GPU runs out of memory when using a filter it crashes Photoshop. Can we get an error message instead and have it switch to CPU processing? We have different spec machines in the studio so one person could crank up some sampling options and then the next person just gets a crashing file. Could the plugin run independently from Photoshop so if it does crash it does not take Photoshop with it?
      2. UI. It seems that almost all of the UI meta data is ignored? Not sure why? While on the same subject it would be great to have a group box for UI layout or something for more complex filters. Can we also have it update the filter, not during the typing of a number but after enter is hit? Is it possible to get a typable number for integers and not just floats? Could we get something like presets implemeted that change multiple parameters? etc.
      3. Multiple image inputs. It would be insanely useful to have, especially as pixel Bender supports it.
      4. 32 bit support image support. Is this planned at some point?

       

      So I suppose my bigger question is asking if this is still something that is in active development and are any of these points planned to be fixed or implemented in the next 6months/ year. Is pixel bender more of a bonus feature not meant for production? Like I said, I really like Pixel Bender and the power it offers but I do not want to invest everyone into a technology that is not getting worked on or just seen as a lab project or something.

        • 1. Re: Photoshop plugin bug fixes and release schedule?
          unique_screenname_here Community Member

          Thanks for the feedback. Please post feature requests on the Pixel Bender Wishlist thread at http://forums.adobe.com/thread/787658?tstart=0.

           

          The crashes you are seeing are more than likely crashes in the graphics driver. What graphics cards are you using in the machines that exhibit crashes? Have you tried updating the graphics drivers to the latest vendor-supplied drivers on those machines? Out of curiosity, what are the dimensions in pixels of the images you are trying to process in Photoshop?

           

          We are always working to improve the stability of our products--crashes are not acceptable. However, we cannot discuss specific plans nor can we discuss the current state or future directions of a project. Sorry. You've asked some good and valid questions; I wish I could be of more help. You might try asking some of these questions on the AfterEffects and Photoshop forums as they may have a bit more flexibility in discussing the future of technology integration within their products.

          • 2. Re: Photoshop plugin bug fixes and release schedule?
            _TiW_ Community Member

            Thanks for the reply.

             

            We have a few different cards. Quadro FX 1500, Quadro FX 1800, Geforce GTX 470 amongst others. They all have latest drivers and the Quadro's have the performance drivers installed. The gaming card is actually the most robust one with no errors or crashes so far.

             

            The Quadro FX 1500 cards will not process an image over 4096x4096 because of the Max texture size limit in the GFX card.  It seems that Pixel Bender will process very big images in AE because it is using the CPU. Photoshop does not even launch if the image is above the max texture size. It would be nice to have the Photoshop Pixel Bender still work but just use the CPU only in these cases. Anyway I will add this to the wish list thread.

             

            In terms of crashing, I have a sampling option in one of the kernels I have made that performs a 'sample' image in a for loop. The more times it samples the more likely it is to crash PB. Using the GeForce the sampling can be cranked up and be fine. Using the Quadros it will just crash when the sampling number gets too high even at dimensions of 720x480.

             

            If you have any suggestions to stop the crash, please let me know what you would recommend next. I have no problem sending you a .pbk file and the steps to break Photoshop. It might be difficult to reproduce though if you do not have the same hardware. I could also make a video or send you any other info if you need it.

             

            I understand that it is not possible to talk about specifics in terms of development. However, is it possible to give a very rough guide to how often releases and updates are planned. E.g. once every 6 months, once every 2 years? Once every 5 years? Is Pixel Bender 3D going to be the focus for the next few years? It is difficult to know which direction to steer our own development. I don't know if I have jumped on this too soon and if I should wait a couple of years for it to mature?

             

            I will make a list and add it to the forum. Almost all my comments are for the Photoshop implementation of PB.

            • 3. Re: Photoshop plugin bug fixes and release schedule?
              _TiW_ Community Member

              I have uploaded an example video of the SSAO sampling. You can see towards the end of the video that more samples get added. When too many are added, this is when PB crashes. The video looks a little jittery in places because this is where options are getting changed.

               

              http://vimeo.com/31495864

              • 4. Re: Photoshop plugin bug fixes and release schedule?
                unique_screenname_here Community Member

                Yes, please send us the filter and the steps to reproduce the crash. Thanks.