VFB region issues

[Joelaff]

When exactly is the size of the VFB render region (red rectangle) saved?

On numerous occasions I have changed this, and saved my scene, only to find that a net render does not reflect the change, and uses whatever settings I had before. I render with the VFB all the time.

Is ther some sure fire method to be certain the changes "stick?"

Thanks.

[vlado]

It should be always saved; if you can describe more specific reproduction steps when it is not, it would be very helpful.

Best regards,
Vlado

[Joelaff]

That's the thing... I can't figure out what makes it fail sometime.

I know for certain that I saved the scene after changing the region, but before starting the net render. I can reopen the VFB in the still open scene and it shows the changed region.

It is as though saving does not always store the updated region. It is displayed in the VFB if you open and close it, but not saved.

It doesn't seem to make much sense.

[vlado]

Ok, thanks - will try to reproduce it here.

Best regards,
Vlado

[tashko.zashev]

Hi Joelaff,

Could you please share some information about the software versions you are using ?
I just tested the latest V-Ray 3.10.02 / Max 2015 and BB 2015 and seems to work fine with VFB regions.

[Joelaff]

Presently vRay 3.10.01 max 2014. Using ButterflyNetRender (which calls 3dsmaxcmd.exe).

Will upgrade vRay shortly. Stuck on 2014 until this project is done.

[tashko.zashev]

Would it be possible to send us the log from the ButterflyNetRender manager?
There could be some useful information.

Also can you run the same test from the command line locally on one of the renderfarm machines:
...\Program files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2014>3dsmaxcmd.exe ..\test.max
Does it work in this way?

[Joelaff]

Next time I encounter the issue, and know I have a scene that exhibits the problem I will try it. That is pretty much the command ButterflyNetRender runs (with the camera flag to specify the right camera).

[Joelaff]

I just saw this again on two different scenes. I think it has to do with starting a render, dragging out a new region while rendering, and canceling the render. Then I do a save incremental (always do that whenever saving from any program). When I reload the scene the region is in the old position.

[Svetlozar Draganov]

I've just tried to define a new region during the rendering, then canceling the render, save and reload the scene but the new region was properly rendered.

Are you able to reproduce the issue on a completely new scene or it happens only on particular ones?
Please update V-Ray version up to the latest one 3.01.02 and try to reproduce the issue on a new empty scene without using any render managers like ButterflyNetRender and etc.

Let us know the results from the test after it is completed.

[Joelaff]

Hey again.

Still having the problem 3.03

I have seen the problem even when using Save rather than Save Incremental. So I don't think that is the issue. Perhaps it is some combination of closing or minimizing the VFB after the test render. I am having trouble nailing it down. Maybe it has to do with having the material editor and curve editor open on the second monitor. Sadly, I don't know. Maybe in a few weeks when things calm down I can try harder to figure it out.

I know we have seen it on more than one scene. I believe even on some simple scenes.

This is driving us crazy, though. We keep ending up with test renders of the whole scene rather than regions. Going to switch to using object based render masks, as these are reliable.

Anybody else having this issue? Please post if so...

[vlado]

Ok then, will try to look at the code to see if there are any obvious situations when this might happen.

Best regards,
Vlado