No batch rendering at all in 2017?

[Anonymous]

So I got my 2017 licenses yesterday and was shocked as I did some reading around before installing. Is this correct Maya has no way to render frame sequences other than software and hardware without paying extra to Arnold? Are you kidding me? Not to mention earlier this year it was said that they transition  away from MR was gonna take several releases yet you guys did it in one and completely pulled the rug out from under everyone. You guys have removed the rendering engine ok you replaced it with another one. But I used to get 5 batch licenses with every one of my 5  "Maintained" seats you have taken that away and yet you have not lowered the price that I'm paying wtf?

[dgorsman]

Starting to beat a dead horse at this point.  Start with this thread: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/maya-general/arnold/m-p/6459260

tl;dr version -we're waiting to hear back with something other than speculation.

[grimbleeper]

What exactly is "speculation", at this point? I mean that sincerely - have I missed something indicating that AD plans on restoring the features leaving with MR? AD has seemingly said, in pretty cut and dry terms, what the deal is.

MR is suddenly gone, a hamstrung and watermarked, version of Arnold is in, and you get no batch rendering in the background, and no network features of any kind, unless you pay hundreds of dollars to restore that functionality. They're pretty clear about it, actually, in writing.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/maya/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Changes-t...

Do you mean, we're waiting to see if some kind of backlash pushes them to make a concession, or what? The basic facts of the matter would appear to be established, and beyond the realm of speculation.

[Stephen.Blair]

Hi

You're right, there's no speculation. It's there in writing in that link you posted.

Maya 2017 includes "foreground rendering", which means rendering in the interface. For example, Render Current Frame, the Arnold Render View, and Render Sequence all render frames without a watermark. Render Sequence in the way to render a sequence of frames without using an Arnold license.

Batch rendering, whether in the Maya interface or on the command line, requires an Arnold license (otherwise you get the watermark).

Thanks

Stephen Blair

Solid Angle Technical Support

[Anonymous]

I agree! so Mental Ray is gone and there's NO batch rendering for arnold unless you pay extra. I knew Autodesk likes to mess around like this with their paying customers but THIS is a new low!

[drbrandtjr]

Stephen,

So, I skipped Maya 2017 and just now getting started on 2018.  I now I just found out, I can't batch render, even though I've been paying for a network license for the past year.  What good is a network license?  I feel like Autodesk took my money knowing full well, the license was meaningless.  

Do you hav any suggestions other than paying more for something I thought I was already paying for?

Thanks,

David