when using VBF save EXR saves black (empty)

[lukx]

I can pin point when it happens but sometimes when using network rendering and "render to Vray raw image" save exr, the slaves save empty black file. Sometimes if render takes 10 hours + it is painful ! Anyone else noticed similar problem?

[joconnell]

Yep, I've had a lot of problems with render elements dropping for no reason. The best option I've had was to render to vrimg which seems a lot more robust and then convert to exr afterwards which gives a lot of additional benefits in terms of options for nuke.

[lukx]

OUCH! Is there any vrimg to exr windows converter ( I mean just select files and convert and not the typing in dos thingy tool from chaos?)

[joconnell]

Give this a run, and then choose a single vrimg in a folder. It'll make a bat file and convert every file in the folder.

macroScript VRimgBat_0_05 category:"Johns bits (snigger)" tooltip:"VRimgBat_0_05: Make a bat file to convert vrimg to exr files"
(
	local theFileList = #()
	local TheVrimgPath
	local TheVrimg2exrpath
	Local OutFile
	
	rollout ConvertVRimgBatFile "VRimgBat_0_05: Make a bat file to convert vrimg to exr files"
	(
		button ImageFileFolder "Rendered file folder" width:300 Align:#right
		
		on ImageFileFolder pressed do
		(
			TheVrimgPath = getOpenFileName types:"Vrimg(*.vrimg)" caption:"Pick the folder with your renders"
			ImageFileFolder.text = getFilenamePath TheVrimgPath
			theFileList = (getFiles ((getFilenamePath TheVrimgPath) + "*.vrimg"))
			print ("the files are " + theFileList as string)
			print ("There are " + (theFileList.count as string) + " vrimg files in the folder")
			
			if theFileList.count != 0 then
			(
				MyOutFile = "c:\\convert_vrimg_files.bat"
				TheBatFile = CreateFile MyOutFile
				for i in 1 to theFileList.count do
				(

-- This line contains the path to your vrimg2exr.exe - edit as needed

					format ("\"" + "C:\\Program Files\\Chaos Group\\V-Ray\\3dsmax 2010 for x64\\tools\\vrimg2exr.exe" + "\"" + " " + "\"" + theFileList[i] as string + "\"" + " -compression zips -half -datawindow -bufsize 500" + "\n") to:TheBatfile
					format ("\n") to:TheBatFile
				)
				
				Close TheBatFile
				ShellLaunch (MyOutFile as string) ""
				
				messagebox "Your bat file has been created at c:\convert_vrimg_files.bat"	
			) else (
					messagebox "There are no vrimg files in that folder"	
			)
		)
	)
	
	CreateDialog ConvertVRimgBatFile width:450
	
)

Change the line with the path to vrimg2exr to reflect your own setup, mine is the default for max 2010 64 bit. Also if you're getting issues with passes not coming through, up the number behind "-bufsize" to a larger value.

[lukx]

Big thanks !!!

[joconnell]

I'd also say that large files with loads of passes can take a fair bit of time to convert so if you're in a rush allow for it. I really should add a lot more sophistication into this but I don't have the time right at the minute. It'll in theory all be obsolete soon with Vlado releasing a lot of new exr options in the next service pack (around november according to another thread) which will hopefully be more solid. I'm really curious as to what the difference is in terms of format that makes the difference? I've never had an issue with vrimg - is it due to it being written as each bucket is finished rendering? Or is it something else to do with the writing method?

[lukx]

For now it should be okay I'm not using many passes.