8

184 Chapter 17: Rendering
Pr ocedur es
To add bitmap paths to the Ex ter nal Files panel from
within the software:
1.
Run the software on a machine running an
authorized copy of the program.
2. Choose Customize > Configure User Paths to
open the Configure User Paths dialog, and then
click the External Files tab, if necessary.
3. Use the Add button to specify the paths ( UNC
(page 3–1122)
or mounted) to every directory
onthenetworkwherebitmapfilesarestored
for rendering. Make sure you use UNC or
mounted directories, even if the maps are on
the loc a l drive.
4. Click OK.
To a dd bitmap paths to r ender-only ma chines using
the initialization file:
Use the following steps if you do not want to
authorize the sof tware on the server machine(s).
1. Install the 3ds Max core software on the server
station(s).
2. Copy the 3dsmax.ini file from y our authorized
3ds Max workstation to the program d irector y
of each of your server(s).
If you followed the previous procedure, the copied
initialization file contains information about UNC
or mounted directories that stores the required
bitmap files.
Note: Topreventmishaps,itisusuallyagood
idea to edit the INI file once it is copied to the
server. Remember that the server machine can
be configured differently than your 3ds Max
workstation: The drive letter, program directory,
and subdirectories may be different. Use a word
processor to edit all entries under the [Directories]
section to match entries of the server machine.
For example:
[Directories]
Fonts=d:\3dsmax\fonts
Scenes=d:\3dsmax\scenes
Import=d:\3dsmax\meshes
Export=d:\3dsmax\meshes
...
See also
Sharing a Directory (page 3–182)
Mounting a Directory (page 3–182)
Networ k Job A ssi gnment
Rendering menu > Render > Render Scene dialog > Turn
on Net Render (Rend er Output group) > Render
Rendering menu > Render To Texture > Render To Texture
dialog > Turn on Net Render (Render Settings group) >
Render
Rendering menu > Vi deo Post > Set up a sequence with
an Image Output Event > Turn on Net Render (Out pu t
group) > Render
Use the Network Job Assignment dialog to name
rendering jobs, specify the computers that will
participate in the rendering, and submit jobs to
the rendering servers.
You can submit as many jobs as you like in a single
session. Open each file you want to render and
submit it following the standard pr ocedure. Each
job is placed behind the last one submitted. If you
submit a job in which the frame output name is
the same as another job in the queue, a warning
dialog asks you if you want to o v erwrite the output
frames from the other job.
You can divide the work of rendering a single
image among any number of rendering servers.
This is particularly useful when rendering a single,
extremely high-resolution image intended for
print. To use this feature , turn on the
Split Scan
Lines option
.