split single frame renders across multiple networked machines?

[kentm]

Hi there,
I understand Terragen can split sequences across multiple machines, but is it possible to split a single frame to render it on multiple machines at once?

I think not, just checking.

Thanks!
K

[Oshyan]

Not automatically, but you can do this with Crop Regions. You'd need to manually setup crops equal to the number of machines you want to render on, and they should have a slight overlap, perhaps 10%. You'd then save a separate .TGD for each crop area and render them on your separate machines, saving out the images at the end. Finally you'd need to manually stitch the images together. For very large images and/or long renders this can be worth the time of setup. I believe there are also now 3rd party render managers that can do all of this for you, for example Virtual Vertex Muster: https://www.vvertex.com/

- Oshyan

[kentm]

Thanks!

vvertex/muster9 doesn't list terragen as an app/engine they support.

What I'm chiefly wanting at this point is a way to distribute my test renders, so I can iterate faster to get the look I want. Sometimes at later stages I'm finding I just want a whole or larger crop region render, and rather than just sit and waiting for it to finish I'd love to just press the render button and have the render be sent across multiple machines... I'm lazy.  :-)  Its also not worth it from a workflow point of view to be constantly splitting and reassembling crops of test renders.

Anyway, thanks again!
K

[Oshyan]

VVertex contacted us saying they specifically supported Terragen and that's why we put them on our Resources page, so it's odd we're not on their supported apps list. I'll reach out and see if we can clear it up.

- Oshyan

[kentm]

Oh excellent, I'll check them out.