Batch Rendering
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IRender nXt Batch Rendering exports the model to a file, and then renders the file in a separate process.
It has 3 main uses and benefits.
- Large Models - Models which are too large to render directly from SketchUp can be rendered in batch mode. Batch Rendering can process models which are 2 to 5 times larger than Direct Rendering.
- Animation - Batch mode is used for animation, because animations need to load and reload the model when there are layer changes, and because animations typically take a long time to render.
- Network Rendering - The entire folder containing the rendering information and files can be accessed across a network, or copied to a thumb drive or another machine and used to render the model.
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Settings
Click Settings to change the default folder or behavior.
Folder to Use
Batch Rendering stores everything needed to render the drawing in a folder on your disk. This lets you render the drawing from a network machine, or render it later if desired.
- Standard - the standard folder is stored in your Windows temporary folder. It is reused every time you start a Batch Rendering. The folder is nXt_Batch.
- Model Name - the Batch Rendering folder name is based on the name of the current SketchUp model.
- Custom - you can enter your own name and location for the Batch Rendering folder.
Action to take
The second two options cause a pause in the rendering process so that you can start the rendering on a separate network machine, or delay the start of the rendering, if desired.
- Start batch rendering - the rendering is automatically started after the data is extracted from your SketchUp model.
- Load this dialog before rendering - this dialog is loaded before rendering so that you can set the Batch Rendering folder.
- Notify me that data is ready - A message box is loaded to show that the data is ready.
Network Rendering
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After extracting the data from the SketchUp model, you can access the entire folder containing the rendering information and files across a network, or copy the folder to a thumb drive or another machine and use it to render the model.
If you check: Notify me that data is ready on the Batch Rendering Setup Dialog you will be prompted when the batch data is read, and you can start the rendering on the remote machine. a DOS .BAT file is created in the batch rendering folder which will start the rendering for you.
Installations
- IRender nXt: You must install IRender nXt in the same location on a network machine if you want to render from the network machine. You do not need to install SketchUp and you do not need to authorize IRender nXt for the batch rendering network machine.
- SketchUp: You do not need to install SketchUp on the remote machine.
- RPC:: If you are using RPC objects, you will need to install the ArchVision Content Manager on the network machine.
Licensing
- IRender nXt: You do not need to license IRender nXt of the Remote Machine.
Batch Rendering Editor
You can edit materials or options in the Batch Renderer, and re-render the model without returning to SketchUp and then reload the changes back into SketchUp.
Licensing for Batch Rendering
You do not need a license for a Batch Rendering machine.
You need a license for each machine which is running SketchUp and wants to access IRender nXt or nXtRender from within SketchUp.
You do not need a license for machines which are used only to perform the renderings using the Batch Rendering process. As long as these machines do not need to access IRender nXt from within SketchUp, they do not need a license.
Render Farms
After we get the Batch Mode fully operational, we intend to create a Render Farm which will allow you to divide the rendering process between 2 or more computers on the network to speed up the overall rendering process.