Hair slow pre-render export

[jeremyp]

I seem to have a runup issue when batch rendering. The hair is static but each successive frame takes longer to render (turntable). It is getting stuck at pre-render export.

I've tried overriding dynRunupForBatchRender() and setting MAYA_DISABLE_BATCH_RUNUP without luck. I'm using stable build 2.10.01, 22321

Please help

[t.petrov]

Hi,

Is it possible to send us the scene, so we can try to debug what is causing the slowdown?

/Teodor

[sebastiaaan]

I have the same problem and wasn't able to solve it. I ended up rendering the hair not in batch mode... . This is the link to the thread over at cgsociety

Kind Regards,
Sebastian

[jeremyp]

I think I've found a way around the problem. If I remove the output curves and use MAYA_DISABLE_BATCH_RUNUP then it doesn't get stuck at pre-render export.

So essentially my hair system is static with only the input curves (into the folicles) and a pfx node.

Not sure why the output curves cause that problem but I don't think they are needed in the static case. Teodor, is it still worth you debugging?

[jeremyp]

Well I spoke to soon. This morning I opened up the same scene and the problem is occurring again. Rendered it three times last night and it worked fine, some sort of voodoo...!?

I've put together a simple scene for you. It renders fine in Maya but has all sorts of problems in maya batch.
You can see below it gets stuck at "Pre-render export". At frame 100 it stops for 25mins!

0: STDOUT: [2012/Aug/16|12:47:59] V-Ray: Total time translating scene for V-Ray 0h 0m 0.4s (0.4 s)
0: STDOUT: [2012/Aug/16|12:47:59] V-Ray: Rendering.
0: STDOUT: [2012/Aug/16|12:47:59] V-Ray: Pre-render export.
0: STDOUT: [2012/Aug/16|12:47:59] V-Ray: Pre-render export
0: STDOUT: [2012/Aug/16|13:02:32] V-Ray: Pre-render export done.
0: STDOUT: [2012/Aug/16|13:02:32] V-Ray: Rendering frames.

I'll send the file to support as it's to big to attach here.

[vlado]

You will need three things on the render slaves to solve this:

1) patched dynRunupForBatchRender();
2) MAYA_DISABLE_BATCH_RUNUP set to "1" without the quotes;
2) a recent nightly build of V-Ray.

Best regards,
Vlado

[jeremyp]

Yep, I set that in the pre render mel, is that OK?

putenv("MAYA_DISABLE_BATCH_RUNUP","1"); global proc dynRunupForBatchRender() { print("get farrrrkkkked"); }; print("Disable runup done.\n");

You can see it in the support file I sent.

[vlado]

I'm not sure if setting this in a pre-mel would work fine; I have to check... just to be on the safe side, try setting it before calling mayabatch. I'm also not sure if this is in the stable builds, or only in the nightly ones.

Best regards,
Vlado

[vlado]

Yep, just verified - the check for the environment variable is only in the nightly builds; I've ported it to the stable branch, so it will appear tomorrow.

Best regards,
Vlado

[jeremyp]

Thanks Vlado,

I actually grabbed the latest nightly but it wouldn't load. Has something changed recently? Our last nightly was 20809 and it works fine, last nights gives this,

Error: file: Y:/RnD/jpronk/maya/scenes/mayaHairVray_export_test.ma line 6: Unable to dynamically load : L:/centralisedPlugins/3d/Release/Maya/Default/modules/2013/vray/22501_22320/
plugin/plug-ins/vrayformaya.mll
The specified procedure could not be found.

Error: file: Y:/RnD/jpronk/maya/scenes/mayaHairVray_export_test.ma line 6: The specified procedure could not be found.

New C libraries perhaps?

[vlado]

There is probably some additional DLL library that you did not copy correctly, like glslang.dll/glvm.dll or similar.

Best regards,
Vlado

[jeremyp]

All working now. To confirm with the latest nightly and the following code in pre mel there is no pre-export slowdown.

putenv("MAYA_DISABLE_BATCH_RUNUP","1"); global proc dynRunupForBatchRender() {}; print("Disable runup done.\n");

BTW, I found some rogue local DLL's were causing the plugin not to load... all fixed now.

Cheers Vlado!

[bigbossfr]

Hi,
I have an urgent question : if i add

putenv("MAYA_DISABLE_BATCH_RUNUP","1"); global proc dynRunupForBatchRender() {}; print("Disable runup done.\n");

My hair is fast.
The problem if my camera doesn't work ! The transform do not update !

So, what is the solution please ?

All my renders are false....

Thank you

[vlado]

I guess a solution would be to export the hair into a .vrscene file and then just include it with the Python callback, and leave the Maya batch runup alone.

In any case, can you get me a scene where the camera doesn't update?

Best regards,
Vlado

[bigbossfr]

I guess a solution would be to export the hair into a .vrscene file and then just include it with the Python callback, and leave the Maya batch runup alone.

In any case, can you get me a scene where the camera doesn't update?

Best regards,
Vlado

Just create a camera, anim the translate of the camera frame 1 to 10, set the "MAYA_DISABLE_BATCH_RUNUP" to "1".
Now render the frame 1 to 5.
After, render the frame 6 to 10.

You will see what is wrong between the frame 5 and 6.

I will try the Python solution.
Thank you Vlado.