Batch rendering again- Last question!

[Alan Lorence]

From the Mac version docs:

These last two parameters are more advanced, and are used when saving a QuickTime movie:

-loadcompressorsettings FILENAME load the compressor settings from the specified filename (full path required)
-savecompressorsettings FILENAME Save current compressor settings to the specified filename (full path required).

Briefly, you’d use these parameters if you wanted to render movies with different compressor settings in your batch. It involves first running pIllusionRender normally (not in batch mode), changing the compressor settings, doing a short render (to ensure the settings are saved), then run pIllusionRender in batch mode with the “-savecompressorsettings” parameter. Repeat this for each different compressor settings you need, then you can use the “-loadcompressorsettings” parameter with the appropriate filenames in your batch render.

If you’re on Windows, you set the AVI/WMV options using the buttons on pIllusionRender first — it then uses the same codec and settings every time.

Alan.

………………..
Alan Lorence
Product Manager
BorisFX

[Aaron Cross]

Sorry but really you’d need to make a video if anyone else is to properly understand this.

[Aaron Cross]

So this bit

-loadcompressorsettings FILENAME load the compressor settings from the specified filename (full path required)

Is the FILENAME the ip3 file I am trying to render (or a reference .ip3-see below) or is the FILENAME the filename of the Compressor? I don’t know where the codecs are located so sorting out the path will be tricky.

Or is the idea that I load an .ip3 file, render it a bit- and then the render settings are embedded back into this ip3?

If that understanding is right, do I need savecompressorsettings in that .irb?

This is probably quite a workable path but confusing.

Is it two steps- do you manually – using PIbatch and PIrender – Do one file as a reference and savecompressorsettings in the irb, (to store the codec settings) and then load up others- referring to the reference file for settings by using loadCompressorSettings and point it towards the reference file?

-Needs a “Batchrenderthisfolder” button 😉

[Aaron Cross]

Sorry Alan. really fed up now. Deadline in 36 hours will probably ditch using PI FX at our danceparty on Saturday.
After spending hours making 150 ip3 files

Why don’t you provide better information in the docs? The convoluted process you described is impractical at best.

So I made a file, rendered it in PI, saved it, tried to load it’s compressor settings

#! /bin/sh
‘/Applications/particleIllusion 3.0/pIllusionRender.app/Contents/MacOS/pIllusionRender’ -in “/Applications/particleIllusion 3.0/particleIllusion.app/Contents/MacOS/AbsBigShimmer.ip3” -out “/Users/aaroncross/Documents/VFX_720P/_test.mov” -loadcompressorsettings “/Users/aaroncross/Movies/VFX_720P/TestSettings.ip3”

DOESNT WORK

Batch rendering should be : Load a bunch of files, press a &* button. These help files are simply inadequate and copying and pasting them doesn’t help any.

[Aaron Cross]

So this one loads into batch renderer UI

‘/Applications/particleIllusion 3.0/pIllusionRender.app/Contents/MacOS/pIllusionRender’ -in “/Applications/particleIllusion 3.0/particleIllusion.app/Contents/MacOS/TestSettings.ip3” -out “/Users/aaroncross/Documents/VFX_720P/_test.mov” -loadcompressorsettings “/Users/aaroncross/Movies/VFX_720P/TestSettings.ip3”

As does this one

‘/Applications/particleIllusion 3.0/pIllusionRender.app/Contents/MacOS/pIllusionRender’ -in “/Applications/particleIllusion 3.0/particleIllusion.app/Contents/MacOS/TestSettings.ip3” -out “/Users/aaroncross/Documents/VFX_720P/_test.mov” -savecompressorsettings “/Users/aaroncross/Movies/VFX_720P/TestSettings.ip3”

and this one

‘/Applications/particleIllusion 3.0/pIllusionRender.app/Contents/MacOS/pIllusionRender’ -in “/Applications/particleIllusion 3.0/particleIllusion.app/Contents/MacOS/TestSettings.ip3” -out “/Users/aaroncross/Documents/VFX_720P/_test.mov” -loadcompressorsettings “/Users/aaroncross/Movies/VFX_720P/TestSettings.ip3” -savecompressorsettings “/Users/aaroncross/Movies/VFX_720P/TestSettings.ip3”

All of them load the renderer for a split second and then it closes again.

Why am I having such trouble with what should be extremely simple?

[Aaron Cross]

You’ve also got the option of saving .ps3 files from the renderer- but loading these up fails also.

unravel the mysteries Alan!

[Aaron Cross]

Fast>> Forward>>

Final situation…

have the entire thing working finally…except…Still have to click the render button each time…

Any ideas how to bypass this one?

[Alan Lorence]

Okay, I have to admit, this is not well explained in the docs. Keep in mind:
1) These apps and the docs were written about 15 years ago
2) I haven’t done any batch rendering with pI3 for almost that long. ☺

So I read through the docs again and tried to do what it said… and I got it to work so it will render without having to select a compressor or click the “Render” button. I think a video is a great idea. (15 years ago YouTube didn’t even exist yet!) I have to try it a few more times before I’m comfortable with it.

I know this doesn’t help you now, but maybe for the next time.

Oh, and this app will NOT be updated, so don’t hold your breath for any improvements in this area. 🙂

Alan.

………………..
Alan Lorence
Product Manager
BorisFX

[Aaron Cross]

Hi Alan,

Thanks- I got there in the wee small hours- just a space needed before the -out part of each line. Something a programmer in this environment would probably spot straight away. Feels like a miracle!
rendering away 10 hours after starting as I type. Thanks for your patience.

'/Applications/particleIllusion 3.0/pIllusionRender.app/Contents/MacOS/pIllusionRender' -in "/Applications/particleIllusion 3.0/particleIllusion.app/Contents/MacOS/Etheral Aura V3.ip3" -loadcompressorsettings "/Users/aaroncross/Movies/VFX_720P/TestSettings.ip3" -out "/Users/aaroncross/Movies/VFX_720P/Etheral Aura V3.mov"
'/Applications/particleIllusion 3.0/pIllusionRender.app/Contents/MacOS/pIllusionRender' -in "/Applications/particleIllusion 3.0/particleIllusion.app/Contents/MacOS/Etheral Aura V4.ip3" -loadcompressorsettings "/Users/aaroncross/Movies/VFX_720P/TestSettings.ip3" -out "/Users/aaroncross/Movies/VFX_720P/Etheral Aura V4.mov"

Valid code^

For other readers, make an entirely seperate file & render it in PI with your globally desired settings and identify that file in the -loadcompressorsettings part above. It’s your reference file