Silly rendering question--ditching the depth files?

[whisper1]

For some reason, when I'm batch rendering, sometimes I get a bunch of "_depth" files. Usually, I don't, but when I do, it means manually selecting and deleting them. I can never remember which setting it is that gets rid of them. Which tick-box is it?

[n8skow]

Is 'Depth channel (Z depth) unchecked in your Render Settings?

[whisper1]

I have tried it checked.

I have tried it unchecked.

Both ways I ended up with "depth" files.

[whisper1]

Thanks, but either checked or unchecked, the problem remains.

Suggestions?

[n8skow]

Are you initiating your renders from the Batch Renderer or another way?

[whisper1]

Batch Render, using Maya Software. This isn't the first time this has come up, but it is the first time I haven't been able to figure out how to make it go away.

[whisper1]

OK, now I'm mad. I just finished a project last week with over 16000 frames where I had to MANUALLY delete all these friggin depth files.

This week, I started a whole new project.

I started some test renders last night, and everything was fine.

Now, this morning, after I had to restart the program, I once again have these obnoxious friggin depth files. I did not make ANY changes to the render settings. I did not make any changes to the geometry (aside from adjusting X, Y, & Z positions) or materials, or lights, or camera, or anything else.

What causes them?

More importantly HOW THE HELL DO I GET RID OF THEM.

Sorry. As I said, I am getting extremely angry and frustrated.

[n8skow]

Have you tried rebuilding your Maya preferences file?

Sounds like there is a hiccup somewhere...

[whisper1]

Um, how would I go about doing that? Working on a completely different project now, and everything was fine, until last week, when the depth files started showing up again.

[n8skow]

Simply delete or backup your exisiting Maya preferences to a different location, and restart Maya (it will recreate the preferences when you start it up again).

Are you on Mac or PC?

[whisper1]

Uh huh. and where to I find "Delete Preferences"? I have shut down and restarted Maya and the computer several times since I started complaining about this.

PC.

[n8skow]

On Pc it will be in \Users\username\My Documents\maya\version\prefs

Either rename or remove from this directory your userprefs.mel file, and then restart Maya to rebuild it.

[whisper1]

Once again, I'm stuck with these stupid Depth files.

Started from scratch on a brand new project.

This should be really simple.

Normally, when I watch the render folder the project is set to, the _depth files appear while the frame is in progress, then disappear when the frame finishes and the next starts.

What is the setting that makes these things go away?

Why would anyone want them in the first place?

[whisper1]

And no, deleting the perf did not solve the problem.

Sorry.

[whisper1]

I'm guessing that this problem is just part of the "Black Arts" of Maya, and no one knows what setting will solve the problem?

[n8skow]

I'm not sure I follow what's going on at this point...

The depth files appear then disappear?

[whisper1 · Accepted solution]

When the system works properly, yes. Then it is no problem.

Sadly, they show up and stay there. I have to manually select and delete them. Constantly.

[whisper1 · Accepted solution]

Somehow, getting Mayatomr back on has solved this problem. Is there some relation? Hell if I know. I just know that the problem seems to have been solved.

Thank you all.

[zanefx]

I am having the same problem. I am submitting maya softare render from a script using command-line Render. Can you be more specific about how you solved this? Did you simply load "Mayatomr" plugin?? I tried that and I'm still getting unwanted depth renders.  

Thanks for any suggestions,

Suzanne