Deadline + Arnold Render

Deadline
1

HI
when I render with Deadline all the renders coming out “pink” (see attachment render_pink.jpg)
This happens when arnold can not find the shader. http://arnoldsupport.com/2013/01/28/missing-shaders-in-images-rendered-with-kick/
but locally on each client/machine without the deadline the render coming out correctly.
there is no way to set up the plugin in deadline setting
I tried to check “Force Translate Shading engines” on .ass exporter option from Maya

someone has the same problem?
thanks for your precious help

render_pink.jpg.jpg
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2

Hi,
Looking at the link you posted to the Arnold support thread; one option is you can set an environment variable: “ARNOLD_PLUGIN_PATH” to point to where your shaders are stored. You could use Deadline’s environment handling features to help you do this:

thinkboxsoftware.com/deadlin … nvironment
thinkboxsoftware.com/deadlin … vironment/

Here you can see how they can be set at submission time:
thinkboxsoftware.com/deadlin … nt_Options

Would this work for you?

Regards,
Mike

3

thank you, maybe it works, but I’m not a coder, sorry.
can you help me to make this variable?
So, the path for arnold shader is:

/Users/myuser/solidangle/mtoa/2014/shaders

What should I put in “Key” and Value?

thank you!

4

Sure, no problem…So, if the job is already submitted into your queue, you can right-click, modify job properties and enter the info as per my screen-grab (ignore the fact that it is a Maya job!):

Screen Shot 2014-09-08 at 16.35.29.png
Screen Shot 2014-09-08 at 16.35.29.png892×599 68.6 KB

If that checkbox at the bottom is enabled, then the render process environment will ONLY contain the variables specified for the job. If it is disabled, then the job variables will be merged with the system’s current variables when starting the render process. In either case, the variables are NEVER permanently applied to the slave’s environment.

You can also apply the env. variable KEY=VALUE setting: ARNOLD_PLUGIN_PATH="/Users/myuser/solidangle/mtoa/2014/shaders" during submission time. How are you submitting the job as I need to know which script to edit as an example for you?

Thanks,
Mike

5

thank you, it works, but seems that not works “permanently”
If I send a new job I need to set up once again for every job.

generally I export from maya .ass file and then I submit with deadline launcher menu
thank you again

6

Hi,
That’s great! As per my previous note, “In either case, the variables are NEVER permanently applied to the slave’s environment.”
To make them permanent, you could logon to each machine and manually enter the setting or perhaps use a script, such as power-shell or bash, depending on your platform.
Regards,
Mike

7

We have all Osx, you can give me an example of how to set this variable permanently?
Thank you very much.

8

Maybe I find a solution, please tell me if it’s right one.
On Terminal window I have to edit the /etc/launch.conf and add this line to a file
setenv ARNOLD_PLUGIN_PATH="/Users/myuser/solidangle/mtoa/2014/shaders"
it’s good?

9

Hi,
Yep, that should apply the setting to all users on the machine after a restart. The syntax is a little different in /etc/launchd.conf:

setenv ARNOLD_PLUGIN_PATH /my/path

If the “myuser” needs to be replaced with a particular [username], then editing the user’s ~/.profile, ~/.bash_profile etc. file would be better as it’s user centric. (There shouldn’t be any need for the quotation marks around the path).

Hope this helps!
Mike