-
Automated Render Queue
Hello,
I have a question about a workflow problem. every month I have to create graphics for a local car commercial which requires 13+ separate comps to be rendered with alpha and saved to a separate folder. It is a tedious task to go through the settings for each comp to change the settings manually. I know how to create custom output modules to make that part more efficient but I am curious to see if there is a more efficient way to go about this. I am looking for any tips, along the lines of the record option in photoshop where you can record your action, assign to to a keystroke and apply the same action to any file. Does anyone have any tips, if so I would greatly appreciate the insight. Thanks -
6 Replies
-
My apologies for making it sound confusing…what I meant was when I add to render queue, i have to go into lossless for each individual comp I add to the Queue and change the settings for the output module. I was wondering if there was a script or an automated way of customizing this step so that every comp I add to the queue already had the specific settings I wanted for the render instead of going into each setting and changing them individually…i hope this makes more sense. Thanks and appreciate your help
-
[Dave LaRonde] “Once you’re done, make it your default movie Output Module.
Want a different default Output Module later? Change it to something else.”
I’m trying to get more people on board with this idea:
Secondary/Tertiary Default Output Modules!!!
I sent this in as a feature request, but if anyone else is interested I would encourage them to do the same.
Basically, I think it would be really nice to be able to specify the default output module to be used when pressing cmd-shift-/ (as it works now) as well as a secondary default output module for another key combo, say, cmd-opt-shift-/… Maybe more depending on how many key combos we can come up with (;
Darby Edelen
Designer
Left Coast Digital
Santa Cruz, CA -
That’s exactly what I was looking for…some quick keystroke or action script that would set specific settings for output without manually setting it….so I’m guessing that means if you are trying to request it there is no function like that already in existence??
-
It’s not exactly what you’re looking for, but after you add everything to your render queue you can select multiple Output Modules and when change one, you will change them all.
Example: Click on the text “Output Module” (not the underline module itself) of the first comp in your queue. Then click on the Output Module text of the last comp while holding Shift, this will select all of the Outputs between the first and last. Then change the output module to a template and all of them should change.
At least this way you don’t have to click and change thirteen times.
-
[Dave LaRonde] “….and if you temporarily change the default Output Module — a VERY easy thing to do — it will already be done for you when you add comps to the Render Queue.”
It’s a pain to have to remember to do this, especially when creating DVD Menus. For small DVD projects there are usually 4 or 5 files to render, but I’ve had to render more than 100 menus for a single disc before… That’s a lot of Render Queue items =O
My default is 4:3 MPEG-2, and if I don’t remember to change it to 16:9 MPEG-2 for a 16:9 project before I render I might have to render everything out again! Or at least add all of my items to the queue again. I’ve gotten much better at remembering to do this, but it’s a pain changing the default for almost every project I work on… it’s almost like not having a default at all =O
Darby Edelen
Designer
Left Coast Digital
Santa Cruz, CA -
[Dave LaRonde] “When you add an item to the Render Queue, can’t you just click on the Output Module, select a setting and be done with it? How does that differ from what you’d like to have?”
It takes a step or three out of the process. If I’ve added 100 items to my render queue and need to change the output module I need to select the output module on my last item, scroll to the top, shift-click the output module on my first item then select the proper output module from my list of output modules.
It’s not terribly hard, but not nearly as easy as simply holding option when I add the items to my render queue.
I’m not saying that we should get rid of the current workflow, I’m trying to support it with additional functionality.
Darby Edelen
Designer
Left Coast Digital
Santa Cruz, CA
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up