A nice function to add..

[net_ralf]

There would be a nice function I'd like to see. I use to render with one fast computer and one slow computer. Instead of waisting time of calculating the prepass i stop once the fast one finished it and save the irradiance map and then start the DR with it. However when it is damn late at night as usual, waiting 3 hours until the prepass is done to set the network up seems compicated. Isnt it possible to tell one computer to do the prepass and keep the other idle and then once finished ditribute it. Just an idea to make things easier and find a bit more sleep

Ralf

[Artizen]

if you use max 5 and backburner, you can tell backburner to not start a job untill another has finished.
its called dependancies or something like that (not in front of max at the moment to confirm)

[net_ralf]

HMMm..

I think v-ray and backburner dont work together is that right, might be wrong but i havent seen the function in v-ray?

Ralf

[proces2]

back burner does work with vray and i think what is being proposed would work.

first job - calculate the prepasses. saving the illum map to file.
second job (to start after first one is completed) - render view. set the adv parameters to use the illum file created in the first job.

if you have the design utility pack with MAX 5.1, you could even do the second job as a region net render and have all your machines working on the rendering.

great suggestion artizen, i will definitely start using that process to render out my hi-res stills.

sean

[TJE]

Yep, that's the way we do it, but if it's late, you REALLY have to concentrate on getting the final render perameters right.

Set the first scene to save the irradiance map somewhere the other computers can access. Then have the next scene render with the yet-to-be irradiance map.

Works like a charm. Allthough the 'Don't render final image' switch has given me quite a few sad mornings...

Perhaps a worth sending to the Tips&tricks section?