scripted network rendering and bitmapIO settings

[Anonymous]

So I have a script that I have developed for submitting max jobs to backburner. (using the NetRender Interface) When using this Interface, the output file type is derived by the file extension on the job.frameOutputName. I have found nowhere in the documentation a way to specify the file type options during job submission. If for example, I specify a filename of "path\test_.png", each slave will write out a png using the png options saved in that machines own 3dsmax.ini. This can cause a bit problem if some machines are set to output 48bit, others are set to 24 bit, and others still may have the alpha disabled! (btw, Combustion crashes if a sequence does not have identical bit depths for every frame!!!)

One of the things my job submission script does is attach a #preRender script to each job submitted. (using callbacks.addscript #preRender) I know that my script is being properly applied and executed because it's doing lots of other things to the scene, including updating materials, changing object properties, etc. I had the bright idea of using the bitmapIO options to modify the file output settings on each slave in the #preRender script. For example, I added the following lines as a test:

pngio.setType #gray8
pngio.setAlpha false
pngio.setInterlaced true

But to my dismay, the render slaves output the same chaotic mix of 24 and 48 bit that they did before, instead of 8 bit grey as I specified. Am I doing anything wrong? Is #preRender the wrong place for changing output options? Do changing the bitmapIO options even do anything?

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Ray

[keithm]

You should be able to set the pngio.<> values prior to the submit command, but AFTER you have set the rendOutputFilename to a .png type file name. You need to set the rendOutputFilename in the max file you are submitting, simply setting the file output on the submitted render job, Netrender.job.frameOutputName does not seem to affect the files output parameters..

You may also want to check the png.cfg file found in \3dsmaxX\plugcfg on your render nodes to ensure this file is not locked or something funky like that... you can even delete it, max will make a new one...

Good luck

[Anonymous]

I am having a similar problem. I have a script that automatically net renders a PNG sequence, however a certain project I';m working on requires that I output 8-bit, rather than 16-bit which they default to. I've tried using "portable_network_graphics.setType #true24" and "pngio.setType #true24" but nothing has any effect. Is there a certain place they need to go to function correctly? Am I missing a step that communicates with the manager?