16 bit output looks like 8 bit output (steps) in zBrush

Bug Reports
#1

Hello there!
I just started using WM and when i try to export a heightmap, it always end up in the 256 stepped look no matter what I do.
Here’s an example
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5292395/hello.png

its a 16bit file but still looks like its only 8 bit :o i tried all 16 bit formats!
I tried clamping the values of the terrain but it doesnt help, the resolution is ~4m/pixel so thats not the problem

Has anyone any idea? I couldnt find anyone else with that problem and gave up after hours now
Could it be a hardware issue? (2008 graphics card…)

Hope anyone can help me, Thanks in advance !

#2

Hi there,

Everything looks fine to me in that file – the image there is the starting WM terrain. I suspect what you’re experiencing is that that world has a fractal generator -> terrace device -> output. The terrace device will, of course, make terraces!

Try deleting the Terrace device and you should see them disappear.

#3

Hey thanks for the quick respone!
Youre right, you made me realize i should check the heightmaps via File Input and they appear to be fine in World machine!
Its an issue with zbrush i guess (thats where i want to import them), since the output heightmaps look always stepped like 8bit…
In case anyone has an idea what zBrush doesnt like about them, please let me know

Heres what it looks like in ZbRush
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5292395/DepthGrab01.jpg

EDIT: Ok for now I will just use the mesh exporter and import it to zBrush as an obj. I tried converting the WM .tiff in PSD to RGB and 32 bit etc… No luck with any of that

#4