Playblast to match resolution settings

[shmorgyg]

Hi,

This request might be too much to ask, but I'm trying to playblast so that the camera looks like my resolution settings.

I've been unsuccessful in achieving this. I wonder if there is any info that I could get that would show me how to do this. 

I'm using maya 2017 and I've made a camera. I've set the resolution settings under the Render Settings tab. In the Camera Settings.  I've clicked ON the resolution gate.  I've then gone to the Playblast settings and selected "from Render Settings" - but the playblast that's made is whatever is seen in my viewport window - as if  I've selected "From Window" - Is there any way I can playblast what is only in my resolution gate? - and nothing outside of it?

Thanks.

[mspeer]

Hi!

Please read this:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/maya-animation-and-rigging/about-playblast/td-p/7670135

[shmorgyg]

Hi,

Thank you for the reply.

I matched the settings that you provided and I still only get a playblast that resembles what's in my viewport window. So for example, if I readjust the window to be smaller, I get a smaller sized playblast.  Currently my playblast is too wide for the resolution that I've chosen. I'm still looking to playblast what's inside the resolution gate. 

Seeing as I matched the settings that you provided, and I still am not achieving the correct size, am I out of luck? 

Thanks

[mspeer]

Hi!

You can't just render the gates with playblast.

[shmorgyg]

Hi, 

Oh, I'm confused.

Why do you then change the playblast settings to "from Render Settings" if you're not going to see the render settings?

And if I don't see the resolution gate that want through a playblast, then how do I get a version that is what is on the resolution settings? 

Is there information on that?

Thanks.

[mspeer]

Hi!

Playblast is a quick help to preview your animation i realtime, based on the Viewport you work at, not more.

For full scene preview incl. camera framing use Render Sequence.

[shmorgyg]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply-

Sorry, I don't know what render sequence is. Is there any information that I could get so I can make a version  with the resolution gate that I'm looking for?  ( I still don't understand why the recommendation to use "Render settings" in a playblast, if the playblast won't use the render settings....Was what you sent me originally not correct? )

Thanks.

[shmorgyg]

Hi again,

What is the difference between Render Sequence and what this person is doing in a playblast?  ...and how come I'm not able to do what this person is doing? 

Mark- 0:46 -1:30

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WVeAMqPlv4

[shmorgyg]

Hi,

The other thing is, I'm not looking for a full render with lighting etc... I just want a version of the rough animation but seen through the camera that I've set up- without the outside of the resolution gate showing.... I'm consistently seeing people's tests with the standard 16x9 ratio without a gate mask visible. How should I go about achieving this? Is this what the render sequence does? Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Thanks! 

[mspeer]

Hi!

Check Fit Resolution Gate in Camera Settings.

[shmorgyg]

Hi again,

Thank you for your reply,

I'm not sure I'm still understanding you. 

You've now recommended that I check camera settings and "fit" the resolution gate. I don't see "fit" I see "fill", and I've already tried that previously, and I still only get whatever size is in my window viewport- even with the use "render settings" on in playblast mode. I thought you said that I couldn't do a playblast and see inside the resolution gate. Is that to be used with the Render Seq? 
What ever happened to the render seq that you asked me to use. Is that what I should be using? 

Sorry, I'm more confused than ever.   I'm just looking to get a version with the 16x9 aspect ratio that I see on every demo reel . How are people doing it?  There must be some way - It couldn't be that hard, and yet I can't find any information on how to achieve this. 

Is that youtube link that I sent relevant?  Or is the Maya too old in the video. That's what I'd like to achieve. If I have to use Render Seq then I will if I can maintain the rough animation in a 16x9 output. 

Could you please clarify? 

Thank you

[mspeer]

Hi!

I try to keep it simple.

1. Use Batch Render or Render Sequence with your main renderer to get a preview or a final render of your scene

2. Use Batch Render or Render Sequence with a hardware renderer like Maya Viewport 2.0 to get a fast preview or a final render of your scene.

3. Use Playblast to get a realtime preview of your Viewport.

The last one is based on your View Size, there is not the same amount of control as with the other options. Your Viewport must show the correct  width or height based on your settings for Fit Resolution Gate.

For further help please upload a scene-file or some screenshots.

[shmorgyg]

Hi there,

So I tried to use Render Seq and it looked as though it was actually rendering the animation with lights etc... That's not what I'm looking for... This can't be that unheard of.. I see it done without the lights all the time- everyday...what are people doing?  Also, after it rendered the frames  I don't know where they were put. they just vanished...and it came up small like  thumbnail size.

Anyway, I uploaded a simple shot with a camera/resolution gate. Maybe you could show me how to get a version with the rough animation looking like the way it does in the saved scene- but inside the resolution gate - without lights...

Thanks again....

[shmorgyg]

Also-  the youtube link that I sent... what is that person doing that you don't seem to be responding to? Is that function no more? Just wondering why it seems that he can do what I'm looking to do? - 

Thank you!

[shmorgyg]

What are these people doing so they have no gate mask seen? Is it an editing software that's cropped it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NtNHxzfmJA

Thanks.

[mspeer]

Hi!

1. Set Camera  -> Overscan to "1".

(As said before your visual width or height has to match for Playblast)

2. Set Playblast -> Display Size to "From Render Settings"

Then it works.

[shmorgyg]

Hi there, 

I changed Overscan to "1", and noticed the picture popped closer.  I already had the "use render settings" selected for the playblast settings. The playblast still reflects what is seen in my window. So if I have a wide window, then it playblasts wide - including what's outside the resolution gate. 

If I manually change the size of my window to try and match up with the edges of the resolution gate, I can get close. Is that what needs to be done?- Is that what you're referring to when you say that the "visual width has to match for Playblast"?  Is the trick -the manual sizing of the window?  And if so, why do I need to have the "use render settings" selected in the playblast settings? It doesn't seem to matter if I use the "render settings" or not- It just seems to playblast what's in the window viewport -as though I have "from window" selected instead. 

Could you please clarify? 

Thank you.

[mspeer]

Hi!

"Use Render Settings" is only for resolution.

The rendering area is based on the aspect ratio in your viewport and the settings for "Fit Resolution Gate".

I recommend to test other settings for "Fit Resolution Gate", you should become more experienced with those options.

[shmorgyg · Accepted solution]

Hi there,

I've just figured out that the specifications in the  youtube link I previously asked about worked -so long as the "render offscreen" box was checked in the playblast settings.

So I can now achieve a rough animation playblast within the resolution gate!

Thank you for your attention and time concerning this matter.

[Anonymous]

Also go to view>camera settings>ignore 2D pan/zoom

I just had a similar problem and found out my 2D zoom was on.