Object doesn't render when in an hidden layer

[Pixelab]

Object doesn't render when in an hidden layer in max 2010, even when the flag "render" is on for this particular layer (the little teapot)

[rivoli]

that's how it's always worked, in every max version. hidden objects are not visible at render time, it's hardly a vray problem, but rather a max feature.

[Pixelab]

Ok then... what's the point of having a render icon ? to turn off an object only at render time ?

[rivoli]

that's what I thought, but it doesn't seem to be the case. just had a look at the help, and it didn't make any sense to me. what the teapot does it's totally beyond me.

well, actually it seems to to work like that. at least for single objects within a layer, for the layer as a whole doesn't seem to make any difference.

[peakyfreak80]

The Render Icon will control the Renderable Setting of the object at rendertime. I use them all the time. If you have a bunch of reference objects that you don't want rendered, you can change the object settings to By Layer. They go to the layer dialogue, make a new layer called DO NOT RENDER and add these objects to the layer. From there, check the layer properties, and uncheck "Renderable." Now, and object on that layer will never render, even if you see them in your viewport.

I'll use the On/Off layer controls for when I have different sets of objects based on cameras. This way they're technically renderable, but if the layer is off, the won't render.

Hope that helps

peakyfreak

[SnipeyX]

you can change the object settings to By Layer.

This is the key to the layer's renderable property doing anything. The object has to be set to use layer settings, otherwise the object properties override the layer properties, resulting in the layer's renderable property teapot icon "not doing anything."