Recover rendered image after unexpected abort...

[cr1]

Hello everyone, this is my first post here... I have a question about Terragen 2 deep.

I left a really long render running overnight hoping it would finish, only to discover this morning that windows update had forcefully restarted the computer while I was sleeping (you know, the "your computer will restart in 5 minutes unless you postpone it" thing).

I have no idea whether the render already finished or was still running when the forced restart happened. I'm now wondering, is there a way to recover whatever image that's already been created?

I've tried http://www.joshushund.com/render_pause_tut.html but that seems to apply only to Terragen old version.

Thanks for answering...

[Oshyan]

If the render actually finished, then you can use Explore Temp Files from the File menu and then look in the most recent folder. It would be saved as a BMP in there. However if it did not finish (if your computer was restarted before the render completed), unfortunately it can't be recovered.

- Oshyan

[cr1]

It's there! Thanks!

I'll remember to turn off Windows update and any other possible distraction before rendering, next time.

[Oshyan]

Glad you were able to recover it! I do wish Windows Update were a bit smarter before restart, like simply checking CPU activity.

- Oshyan

[cr1]

By the way, what can I do with "tgout.alpha.(somenumber).bmp"?

Seems like I don't get that file if I my render completes normally.

[Oshyan]

That's the alpha image, the "transparency" of the image elements. If you save your image manually after a completed render, you do not get the alpha, but it always gets saved to the temp folder. In fact, it's a good idea to look through there and clean it out periodically because it can build up...

- Oshyan

[cr1]

Great, thanks for your replies!

[gregsandor]

cr1,
In Preferences you can change the location of that temp folder; I set mine to be created on the Desktop.  Every time you open TG and render, a folder is created there. 

[cyphyr]

cr1,
In Preferences you can change the location of that temp folder; I set mine to be created on the Desktop.  Every time you open TG and render, a folder is created there. 

Excellent news Something I've been wanting for a while.
I assume though that this is a feature in a forthcoming update as I cant see any way of doing this at the moment. Is it in some hidden "EASTER EGG"?
Richard

[gregsandor]

Its been there all along:  go to your render node, in the Sequence/OUtput tab, click the disk icon, navigate to your Desktop, and Save.  If you do that for both the alpha and image they will go there when you render. 

[cyphyr]

I think we're talking about different things. I thought you were talking about Terragens temp output folder, the ones that have strange date names (ie. 1273742539-336874).
Changing the sequence/output settings only changes the Render Sequence location, not the Terragen temp folder.
Am I missing something?
Richard

[gregsandor]

Set it up the way I described and do a quick default render, then look on your desktop.

[cyphyr]

I have. Which render button are you using?
I've tried it on both my systems. I have changed the Output image and the Extra output images to the desktop as you suggested and it makes no diferance to where the "TEMP" images are located, the images that are saved when the "RENDER" button is hit. They still go to the usual temp directory. (C:\Users\Richard\AppData\Loca\Temp\Planetside Software\127372046-1237295\). Nothing is saved to the desktop unless I press "Render Sequance".
I'm using win7, could this be a reason it dose not work?

Richard

[gregsandor]

I don't know.  I'm using Vista.  Maybe you do need to render as a one-frame sequence for it to work.

[cyphyr]

If I render by pressing the "Render Sequance" then of course it will save the files to the folder indicated. Have you tried File> Explore Tempory Files? Is that opening up your desktop location?

Richard