8
Command-Line Rendering 207
files\autodesk\3dsmax8\renderoutput\
myImage.jpg” -w 800 -h 600 “ c:\progr a m
files\autodesk\3dsmax8\scenes\
myscene.m a x”
and press ENTER .
Note: The specified output path must already
exist. If it doesn’t, the image doesn’t render and
you get an error message.
Network render i ng f rom the command line:
If you have your system networked and have
access to other systems, you can take advantage of
network rendering.
Note: Acommand-linejobcannotberunona
system already running the Backburner server.
1. Openacommandpromptwindow.
2. Enter the following:
“c:\progr a m f il es\autodesk\3dsma x8\
3dsmaxcmd” -submi t “c:\pro gram files\
autodesk\3dsmax8\scenes\myscene.max”
and press ENTER .
Example: Rendering from a text file:
Command-line rendering gives you the ability to
set a series of common sw itches that can b e quickly
re-used for rendering a single job from Start >
R un, or for rendering a group of scenes specified
in a BAT file. You can build your text file using any
text editor.
Note: A TXT file can specify only a single scene to
render. For multiple scenes, use a BAT file.
1. Open your text editor.
2. Enter your list of commands, such as:
-bitmapPath=\\mapServer\maps\myMaps
-cam=myCamera
-width=800
-height=600
-vfb=true
-frames=all
-force2Sided=true
3. Once all the switches are entered, save the files
as a TXT file, such as
myrender .txt
.
4. To render the scene, open the Windows Start
>Rundialog.
5. Enter the following:
“c:\progr a m f i les\autodesk\3dsm ax 8\
3dsm axcmd” @ c:\m yr e nder.tx t
-o=“ c:\p rogram fil es\autodes k\
3dsma x8\renderoutput\myIma ge.tga”
“c:\prog r a m f i les\autodesk\3dsm a x8\scenes\
myscene.ma x”
and click OK.
Using a TXT file that con tains your favorite
settings, in conjunction with a command line
that specifies the output file format and scene
of your choice, gives you the flexibility to re-use
the TXT file without having to edit it each time
youwanttorender. Youcancreateseveral
TXT fi les with sett ings for different stages of
scene development, such as
testrender.txt
or
finalrender.txt
.
Example: Rendering fr om a B AT file:
If you want to render several scenes in a batch
process, you can create a BAT file containing all the
scenes and switches needed to get the results you
want. Just like a text file, you can build your BAT
file using any text editor. For this example, let’s say
you have three scenes, in various stages, and you
want each rendered using different settings.
1. Open your text editor.
2. On the first line, enter the following text. This
exampleassumesthatthesceneisfarfrom
finished, but that you want to test a chunk of
animation.
“c:\progr a m f i les\autodesk\3dsm ax 8\
3dsmaxcmd” -o=“c:\pro gr am fil e s\auto d es k\
3dsm ax 8\renderoutput\scene1.jpg”
-w=320 -h =240 -fr a m e=1-33 “ c:\progr a m
files\autodesk\3dsmax8\scenes\scene1.m ax”