SquidNet and Terragen 3 Output Image Files

[penboack]

I have been have been testing SquidNet with Terragen 3 over the last few weeks. I am having a few issues, one of which is that whilst I am able to render out render layers I am unable to get the extra output image files to include the frame number, so for rendering animation they get overwritten each time a new frame is rendered.

In the SquidNet Jobform field "Extra Output Image Filename" I am using the following syntax, based on the Terragen Command Line rendering syntax, "imagename.IMAGETYPE.%04d.exr". This does not work. Does anyone know what the correct syntax should be to get the extra output image files produced by the render layers to include the frame number.

In addition, do I need to prefix the filename with the path, or does SquidNet use the folder defined in the Output Image Path?

[Matt]

In the SquidNet Jobform field "Extra Output Image Filename" I am using the following syntax, based on the Terragen Command Line rendering syntax, "imagename.IMAGETYPE.%04d.exr". This does not work.

When you do this, what file name does it produce?

In addition, do I need to prefix the filename with the path, or does SquidNet use the folder defined in the Output Image Path?

I don't know, but I would give it a full path to be safe.

Matt

[penboack]

Hi Matt,

Thanks for your reply.
Using the following syntax

$XPATH(OD-SN-PROJECT)/Terragen/SGP217_TG_1v12_S02_R01_SN/SGP217_TG_1v12_S02_R01_SN.%3d.IMAGETYPE.exr

gives the following output:

SGP217_TG_1v12_S02_R01_SN.d.tgAlpha.exr
SGP217_TG_1v12_S02_R01_SN.d.tgAtmoAlpha.exr
...
and
SGP217_TG_1v12_S02_R01.000001.exr
SGP217_TG_1v12_S02_R01.000002.exr
SGP217_TG_1v12_S02_R01.000003.exr
...

It also produces a subfolder "tgAlpha" containing a single file "SGP217_TG_1v12_S02_R01_SN.d.tgAlpha".

[Matt]

What syntax do you use for the main image output?

Matt

[penboack]

The syntax I am using is:
Output Image Path:
$XPATH(OD-SN-PROJECT)/Terragen/SGP217_TG_1v12_S02_R01_SN

Image Filename Prefix:
SGP217_TG_1v12_S02_R01.
(This is the main image filename)

Number Frame Digits: 03

Extra Output Image Filename:
$XPATH(OD-SN-PROJECT)/Terragen/SGP217_TG_1v12_S02_R01_SN/SGP217_TG_1v12_S02_R01_SN.%3d.IMAGETYPE.exr

Charles

[Matt]

Ah, so Squidnet is working out the formatting. For the extra output images, if you leave that field blank in Squidnet does Terragen use the values set in the project file? If so, can you do it that way?

Matt

[penboack]

Hi Matt,

I made some progress.

First I set up the paths and filenames in the project file, as you suggested, and rendered directly from Terragen to check that these settings were producing the intended output. Then I tested with SquidNet leaving the field for the Extra Output Images Blank.

SquidNet produced the extra output files with the frame numbers for frames embedded in the filename for all frames except frame 1. The main output is produced for all frames including frame 1.

I note that the extra output files are only produced if the SquidNet Job Profile Frames Per Slice setting is set to 1.

So this narrows the problem down to an inability to produce the extra output files for the first frame of an animation, which seems a bit strange.

Charles

[penboack]

I just noticed something odd, the first frame of the main output is the default scene in Terragen, subsequent frames are as expected. It is as if SquidNet loads Terragen, renders frame 1 of the default scene, loads the project and then renders the remaining frames of the range setup in SquidNet.

[Matt]

It's very strange that it would treat the first frame differently.

Do you have a log showing exactly what command line it uses to launch Terragen, i.e. the actual lines where "tgdcli.exe" (Windows) or "Terragen 3" (Mac) are invoked?

Have you contacted their support about it?

Matt

[penboack]

I have contacted their support via the form on their website, they don't have a forum, but I have not had a reply, so I am putting this on hold until they come back to me.

Charles