Insufficient system memory error when rendering

[mguerrisi493]

Hi

I have to do a 8267x3543 px rendering (150 dpi, 111 Mb) but autocad return me an insufficient system memory error. I tried also to render at 800x600 px but I have the same issue.

What can I do?

My PC:

RAM 16gb

Intel core i7 7th gen 2.8 GHz

Windows 10 64bit

Graphic Nvidia Geforce GTX 1050

[natasha.l]

Hello @mguerrisi493, 

Thanks for posting. 

This out of memory error can occur for many reasons, but the most common causes are complex drawing files, 3rd party interference, corrupt drawings or system limitations. 

Please keep in mind that the common fixes are not associated with your Autodesk software, the most common workaround is enabling the 3GB switch in Windows.

For more suggestions review the "Error: "AutoCAD is running out of system memory" article on how to resolve this issue. 

Please "Accept Solution" if a reply or replies have helped resolve the issue or answered your question, to help others in the community.

[mguerrisi493]

The 3GB switch doesn't solve the issue.

Last week I was able to do renderings (the same dwg file, also if autocad often returned me fatal error messages while I was setting custom render dimensions) but it's trange the fact that although I has lightened the file, now the software show me this memory error...

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

have you tried my suggestions in the >>>other thread<<<, to reduce the size of the texture images?

You also mentioned that 800x600 is working, so what is the max resolution you get it working before it shows the memory exception?

@natasha.l 

>> the most common workaround is enabling the 3GB switch

This is very historic, because the 3GB switch is only valid for 32bit Windows, has nothing to do with 64bit.

- alfred -

[mguerrisi493]

I explain the new situation:

• I open my dwg file, I do a 8267x3543 px rendering => autocad crashes with an insufficient memory error and if I try to do another rendering (ex. 800x600) autocad shows me the same memory error.
• I close the file, I re-open it, I do a 800x600 rendering, it works but if I try to start another one (at the same resolution) autocad return me the insufficient memory error.

I reduced the dwg file size deleting un-necessary objects. But how can I reduce the texture image files? Could the size reduction affect the render quality?

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> I close the file, I re-open it, I do a 800x600 rendering, it works

Well, if AutoCAD has got short with memory then (as every other software in Windows too) restarting it is not a mistake.

When you restart AutoCAD, load your project (have already assigned lower res images for texture mapping), and you now raise the output to 1600x1200 ... does that work?

- alfred -

[mguerrisi493]

How can I reduce the texture image resolution?

[Alfred.NESWADBA · Accepted solution]

Hi,

>> How can I reduce the texture image resolution?

Open these image files using raster-software like GIMP, Photoshop, IrfanView ... and resize them to 50% or 25% and save them with a different name.

In your AutoCAD materials define then the new images and make sure to change the texture scaling to 2 or 4 times the value you have currently.

- alfred -

[mguerrisi493]

I have to reduce also the default texture with the associated bumps or my custom texture only?

It is strictly necessary to rename the images and then upload them again or can I let the same name and change the scale only ? Autocad should read the same images but in a different resolution, am I correct?

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> I have to reduce also the default texture with the

>> associated bumps or my custom texture only?

It is just to isolate the issue, so try half of them and see if that helps, if not handle the others too.

You might also modify these materials to temporary not use the images, or assign to the objects materials that do not have any texture mapping. We need to come to the source of the item that eats up your memory, these are just steps to get that item.

>> can I let the same name and change the scale only

I don't know your environment, if you change existing images and you have already other projects that use them, it's not the best solution to change the existing images, otherwise you have issues when rendering your other projects. That's why I always create my own image settings and never touch original files.

- alfred -

[mguerrisi493]

---

---

>> You might also modify these materials to temporary not use the images

I don't understand

If I launch the command _ETRANSMIT Autocad creates a zip archive with a folder containing all the textures used in the file. If I modify them without change the name it souldn't affect other autocad drawings, because the default textures are in the Autocad folder on the pc and with etransmit it makes a copy of them, right? 

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> I don't understand

You can open your dwg-file in your AutoCAD, start material-browser, edit your materials and remove the textures from them. Just to see if rendering without textures needs then less memory.

>> If I launch the command _ETRANSMIT Autocad creates a

>> zip archive with a folder containing all the textures used

>> in the file. If I modify them without change the name it

>> souldn't affect other autocad drawings,

Great idea!

But to be honest I have never tried that.

If your scene is using a texture like "WOOD01.JPG" and it finds this material twice, one time in the etransmit folder and the other time in the AutoCAD materials, I'm not sure which one it would use.

- alfred -

[dgorsman]

Just a stab in the dark - at very large resolutions, try a 1:1 aspect ratio e.g. rather than 1600 x 1200, use 1200 x 1200.  You'll need to crop the result if you want different dimensions. 

Also, have a look at different programs for rendering e.g. Navisworks Simulate or Manage.  

[mguerrisi493]

I tried to set a 1:1 aspect ratio because I needed some square renderings, but it didn't work.

[mguerrisi493]

Finally I managed to do my "big" renderings reducing the size of the custom material images, but also if I used the etransmit folder (for order reasons) I had to re-upload (without changing names) the images. I didn't have to scale the image in the autocad material editor...but I noticed the quality of the custom materials has dropped. Did I do something wrong?

N.B. I manged to do my renderings with a draft accuracy with more levels and they are acceptable but also I can use the high one without any error.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

first at all, good to know you can continue your work and you have found a way to work with that drawing.

>> I didn't have to scale the image in the autocad material

>> editor...but I noticed the quality of the custom materials

>> has dropped

Then only idea I have is that Autodesk installs two types of material libraries, a small and a medium library. Maybe the images are exported from the small library and so used instead of the higher quality ones.
That would also explain why you now can render, but I'm totally unsure about that assumption.

At least it could also be an explanation why I had no issues to render your project.

- alfred -

[mguerrisi493]

I am talking about the custom textures, I didn't touch Autocad default materials.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> I am talking about the custom textures

In that case (and assuming you are using the same render settings) I have no idea why they would render differently.

Sorry, - alfred -

[mguerrisi493]

I'll do some other test when I have free time.

Meanwhile I accept as solution your answer about resizing the texture images.

Thank you for your help in this matter and particularly thank you for the immediacy in reply my questions.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

You are very welcome!

Wish you best success with your project!

- alfred -