problem when using distribution rendering

[WWX]

all the texture for the scene is in the same place and my paths are configured correctly, but for some reason only certain areas (textures) are rendered in correctly.

In this particular go the texture for the tv and part of the gable end was rendered incorrectly.

Please advice.

[Morbid Angel]

the image is too small to tell. if you are using avi or similar video file for your tv do display, it wont work for network. You need image sequence.

[WWX]

okay here is a bigger version.

two areas where the problem is clear visible are the TV, its a simple image mapped to it not a avi. Second area is the gable ends, the texture are loaded, but the quality is all wrong compared to the right hand side.

[Candelero]

The TV problem looks like a missing diffuse map.
The wooden one looks like a missing bump map.

Best regards,
nikki Candelero

[WWX]

yes I would agree that is what it looks like. what puzzles me though is that all of the maps used in the scene is in the same folder i.e. all of the diffuse maps in one folder and all of the bump map files in another.

so the fact that all other textures are rendering correctly does show that my path direction is setup and being used by the slaves, so the problem to solve is why these two are given problems.

[Candelero]

Is that MAP folder shared via the network or each PC is reading them locally.
If not, go for a local copy and add that file in the Customize paths under MAX, mind to keep the < use Sub-folders > check ON !

Best regards,
nikki Candelero

[WWX]

Hi Candelero,

Something I did notice opening the file now, was that the Missing External File dialog box does pop up, but there is no files listed.

The map files is in a shared network folder and I did use the Customize paths in MAX to setup the location, but I did had the "use Sub-folders" check on as I did listed each path seperately. I will reset it with the aboth option ticked, but would it make a difference?

[WWX]

ignore the tv map problem, that was user error

[jonnybefree]

t if you are using avi or similar video file for your tv do display, it wont work for network. You need image sequence.

Really? in our last project, i've used a quicktime for the screen. rendering over network worked fine.

[WWX]

Okay I created a simplified scene and something certainly does not seem right to me.

Image 1 is rendered by just one machine.

Image 2 uses distribution rendering with one other machine added. The activation of distrubtion rendering is the only change and yet there is a clear difference in the two images

Image 3 another machine added to the distribution list. The setting i.e. path directions on this machine and the first added to the distribution rendering list are the same, yet maps aren't rendered correctly.

[Candelero]

Try making a local copy of all your maps.

Best regards,
nikki Candelero

[WWX]

I can to that, but what will we learn from it?

[Candelero]

I can to that, but what will we learn from it?

Sometimes, a render-node may fail loading an image via the network (DR), if at that very moment all the render-nodes "attack" the shared map folder and try to load the same file.

Your MAX is first searching its own folders, so having a local copy will skip all that network map-files transfer and accessing.

Best regards,
nikki Candelero

[RErender]

The difference between the first two looks like the default lights turned off.

[WWX]

Yes, it looks like it, but no such change were made.