Depth Masking

[Chris Northcross]

I understand what depth masking does, but I'm still foggy on how the different settings for depth masking work.  How does source brush differ from brush coverage?  What's the difference between source blend and source brush?

 

Actually as I write this, I think maybe I could use some help/hints on how depth masking works and what are some strategies for using it in a paint preset.

 

As always, any help is appreciated

[Synthetik]

Here's the user guide description of the Depth Mask control in the Paint Fill Apply control panel.

 

Determines if a Z depth mask and buffer is used for paint application. Turning this option on limits the paint’s ability to overdraw the already drawn portion of a paint stroke. The setting determines what is used to draw into the depth buffer.

 

So, the different options available in the Depth Mask control specify what is being drawn into the hidden depth buffer as the paint nib is being applied to the canvas. The depth buffer is a hidden 8 bit image hidden inside of the paint synthesizer.

 

So if you try to overdraw a new paint nib at that canvas location later, and the z-depth of the new paint nib is less than the existing z-depth in the depth buffer, then the new paint nib is not drawn.

 

Some of the options are designed to work with the dual fill algorithms, so algorithm 1 would be inhibited while still allowing the second algorithms (usually a wet mixing or smear process) to continue.

 

 

[Synthetik]

I'll try to get some daily effect blog posts up soon that talk about working with the Depth Mask control.