Output Settings Node

OUTPUT SETTINGS NODE


Another important part of settings nodes system is the output settings node. Output settings nodes tell the renderer what will be rendered to a file. When doing final rendering you have to choose one output setting node and set up its parameters, one of the most important one is render node(s) selection. Output settings node (output node) has to use at least one render node, output node says what frame to render and where to save result and render node defines 'how the image will be rendered', its contents and quality (see Render Setting Node section). If more than one render node is selected more output images will be rendered and saved.


Let's say you want to render diffuse, ambient occlusion and shadows layers to separate files. Just create three render nodes with whatever settings you need and set its Output Pass (see Render Setting Node section) to diffuse, AO and shadows respectively. Create or select an output node, select camera, output filename pattern and select the three render nodes. There will be three image files when rendered.



Attributes



Quick help

Move your mouse cursor onto any attribute and read a help message in the status line (bottom of Maya window by default). Right click on any attribute and select Help, online help will be opened in your web browser.
















Filename And Path Variables


The File Name attribute has a possibility to add several global variables to it and expand the values for every frame or settings used. Let's explain this on the following example, it is also the default filename and path:


       $MAYA_PROJECT/Images/$SCENE_NAME/$RENDER_SETTINGS####


This string tells the renderer to put the rendered files into a directory with the same name as the scene being rendered ($SCENE_NAME), this directory is under 'Images' subdirectory located in Maya project path ($MAYA_PROJECT). The file images will be named after the render settings node used ($RENDER_SETTINGS)and a 4-digit frame number (####)will be added to it. The output path and files could then look something like this:


       C:/Maya Projects/My Project/Images/My Scene/Beauty0001.tif

       C:/Maya Projects/My Project/Images/My Scene/Depth0001.tif

       C:/Maya Projects/My Project/Images/My Scene/Beauty0002.tif

       C:/Maya Projects/My Project/Images/My Scene/Depth0002.tif

       .....


If the path doesn't exist it will be created but only up to 2 levels deep in the directory tree, ie. only two last directories in the path will be created if they do not exist.


Here is the list of variables that will be automatically expanded when used:


ADVANCED TIP

It is possible to define custom variables by editing Python script file 'FurryBallEnvVar.py' located in 'scripts' subdirectory where FurryBall is installed.



Batch Rendering


For a tutorial on batch rendering, see the Miscellaneous section.

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