Batch rendering multiple MAX file

[Dchimenti]

Hello.

I have 35 .MAX files that need rendering and I can't babysit them.

I used to use Backburner for this but it looks like Arnold wants to put a watermark on my renders when I do this.

What is Autodesk's solution for this? It's a pretty basic request.

Thanks!

-derek

[MartinBeh]

AFAIK Arnold requires an additional license for offline rendering.

Have you tried Rendering > Batch Render?

[Dchimenti]

From what I can see, batch render only lets you render multiple views from within a single file. I've yet to find a way to use that across multiple MAX files.

[MartinBeh]

If nothing else you can export to .bat file and run from there...?

Edit: nevermind, this will also result in watermarks...

[MartinBeh]

Hm.

How about a little MAXScript that loads up one .max file after the other into the current 3ds Max session and renders it out?

Found this: https://www.splinedynamics.com/free-3dsmax-scripts/ (scroll down to "Quick Batch Render") - old but maybe still useful?

[MartinBeh]

These people here talk about using Deadline and forcing it to "workstation mode"...?

[MartinBeh]

This is pretty primitive but maybe it gets you started:

(
	sourceFolder = @"C:\tmp\batchrendertest\"	-- where all the .max files to be rendered are stored
	targetFolder = @"C:\tmp\batchrendertest\"	-- where to render images to (into subfolders using .max filename base)
	
	allMaxFiles = getFiles (sourceFolder + "*.max")
	for f in allMaxFiles do (
		resetMaxFile #noPrompt
		format "Loading '%'\n" f
		loadMaxFile f useFileUnits:true quiet:true		-- todo: better handling of "missing X"
		if not rendSaveFile then (
			format "Renderer configured to NOT save image(s). Skipping...\n"
		) else (
			if targetFolder != "" then (
				local oldSave = rendOutputFilename
				local newBase = targetFolder + (getFilenameFile maxFileName) + "\\"
				makeDir newBase
				rendOutputFilename = newBase + (filenameFromPath oldSave)
			)
			format "Saving renderings to %\n" rendOutputFilename
			-- todo: override image sizes using renderWidth and renderHeight 
			skipRenderedFrames = true
			max quick render
		)
	)
)

[Dchimenti]

Martin- thank you so much for all the suggestions and attention. 

What's funny is that I think the answer to my original question is "No."

No, Autoesk has no solution for someone who needs to batch-render multiple files using Arnold.

I guess it's unreasonable to expect that? I don't know.  

I tried a script called "Overnight Batch Render".  It seems to work well but Arnold keeps crashing now. On multiple systems. Even while not using the script. Guess I'm, just cursed. 🙂

[MartinBeh]

---

@Dchimenti wrote:

What's funny is that I think the answer to my original question is "No."

No, Autoesk has no solution for someone who needs to batch-render multiple files using Arnold.

They do. But you need to buy Arnold license(s).

Or try Deadline. Or try my little script...?

[Dchimenti]

Yeah- sorry. I mean an off-the-shelf solution.  The script I found seems to "fool" the system into letting me easily batch render the way I need to with a nice GUI interface.  I'm just oh so tired of workarounds with this company.