EXR Problem with 3DS Max 2010 Connection Extension

Deadline
1

EXR Problem with 3DS Max 2010 Connection Extension

The new exr workflow allows the user to add render elements to an exr with a new interface. All is well when rendering locally, following Autodesk’s directions that is. However, when I submit a scene from Max to Deadline, there are problems. Deadline errors out while trying to create render elements that don’t really exist. So the job gets to 100% completion and freaks out trying to create elements that should not be created. I’ve included the error below.

Is there a work around or fix available?

-chad ashley

Error Message
Exception during render: An error occurred in RenderTasks(): RenderTask: Unexpected exception (Monitored managed process “3dsmaxProcess” has exited or been terminated.
2010/01/15 13:22:20 INF: Loaded C:/Users/dkstaff/AppData/Local/Frantic Films/Deadline/slave/jobsData/STUDIO_LIGHT_RIGS_CA_V01.max
2010/01/15 13:22:20 WRN: Gamma Correction is Being Enabled
2010/01/15 13:22:20 INF: Job: C:/Users/dkstaff/AppData/Local/Frantic Films/Deadline/slave/jobsData/STUDIO_LIGHT_RIGS_CA_V01.max
2010/01/15 13:22:29 WRN: RC 0.3 warn 082034: sample filter other than box 1.0 1.0 not supported for these sampling levels
2010/01/15 13:22:29 WRN: RC 0.3 warn 082035: sample filter switched to box 1.0 1.0
2010/01/15 13:24:10 ERR: An unexpected exception has occurred in the network renderer and it is terminating.
) (Deadline.Plugins.ScriptPlugin+FailRenderException) (Deadline.Plugins.RenderPluginException)
at Deadline.Plugins.ScriptPlugin.RenderTasks(Int32 startFrame, Int32 endFrame, String& outMessage)

Slave Log

0: INFO: Lightning: Attempt to move C:\Users\dkstaff\AppData\Local\Temp\EXR_SCANLINE_TEST_mr_A_D_Output__Diffuse_Direct_Illumination0005.exr to destination failed: The system cannot find the path specified.
0: INFO: Lightning: Waiting 8 seconds to try again.
0: INFO: Lightning: Attempt to move C:\Users\dkstaff\AppData\Local\Temp\EXR_SCANLINE_TEST_mr_A_D_Output__Diffuse_Direct_Illumination0005.exr to destination failed: The system cannot find the path specified.
0: INFO: Lightning: Waiting 9 seconds to try again.
---- January 15 2010 – 01:24 PM ----
0: INFO: Lightning: Attempt to move C:\Users\dkstaff\AppData\Local\Temp\EXR_SCANLINE_TEST_mr_A_D_Output__Diffuse_Direct_Illumination0005.exr to destination failed: The system cannot find the path specified.
0: INFO: Lightning: Waiting 10 seconds to try again.
0: WARNING: Monitored managed process 3dsmaxProcess is no longer running
Scheduler Thread - Render Thread 0 threw an error:
Scheduler Thread - Exception during render: An error occurred in RenderTasks(): RenderTask: Unexpected exception (Monitored managed process “3dsmaxProcess” has exited or been terminated.
2010/01/15 13:22:20 INF: Loaded C:/Users/dkstaff/AppData/Local/Frantic Films/Deadline/slave/jobsData/STUDIO_LIGHT_RIGS_CA_V01.max

2010/01/15 13:22:20 WRN: Gamma Correction is Being Enabled

2010/01/15 13:22:20 INF: Job: C:/Users/dkstaff/AppData/Local/Frantic Films/Deadline/slave/jobsData/STUDIO_LIGHT_RIGS_CA_V01.max

2010/01/15 13:22:29 WRN: RC 0.3 warn 082034: sample filter other than box 1.0 1.0 not supported for these sampling levels

2010/01/15 13:22:29 WRN: RC 0.3 warn 082035: sample filter switched to box 1.0 1.0

2010/01/15 13:24:10 ERR: An unexpected exception has occurred in the network renderer and it is terminating.

) (Deadline.Plugins.ScriptPlugin+FailRenderException) (Deadline.Plugins.RenderPluginException)

at Deadline.Plugins.ScriptPlugin.RenderTasks(Int32 startFrame, Int32 endFrame, String& outMessage)

Error Type
RenderPluginException

Error Stack Trace
at Deadline.Plugins.Plugin.RenderTask(Int32 startFrame, Int32 endFrame)
at Deadline.Slaves.SlaveRenderThread.RenderCurrentTask()

2

We’ll have to configure a test setup here to reproduce this, because I don’t think we have connection extension installed yet. In the meantime, if you could post a sample max scene that reproduces the problem, that might help speed things up.

Thanks!

  • Ryan
3

Why don’t the render elements exist? Meaning, are the ones you have set up to render the same as the ones in the EXR setup?

  • Chad
4

download.autodesk.com/us/3dsmax/ … 0x510.html

This video explains the new exr workflow in the Connection Extension. Problem is when you submit the job to Deadline, it errors out trying to write seperate elements that have already been baked into the exr file itself.

Ryan,

Can you guys install the Connection Extension and test it out? We really need this to work, exr is our preferred file format.

thanks,

-chad

5

Hi Chad,

We installed Connection Extension on Friday afternoon, but haven’t had a chance yet to test this out. As I mentioned in my last post, if you can post a simple scene that reproduces the problem, that will help speed things up. We already have an internal option to ignore render elements, so it’s probably just a matter of us enabling this option if we detect this new EXR workflow (hopefully there is just a flag or something to check this via maxscript). If not, at the very least we can expose the option to the submission script to ignore them.

Cheers,

  • Ryan
6

I’ll build one later today.

Thanks Ryan!

-chad

7

Just ran a test here, and we didn’t run into this problem. The main exr with the embedded REs rendered by Deadline seemed to match that rendered through 3dsmax locally. The only “issue” was that Deadline still produced the individual REs, but other than that, everything was fine. I should note that we were rendering with 3dsmax 2010 SP1 with Extension Connection.

When you post your test scene, we’ll try that too to see if we get similar results.

Cheers,

  • Ryan
8

Strange, what vers of Deadline did you test? Can you screen grab your RE dialog for me? I wanted to see if your elements were active and displaying. Did you open the EXR into a comper and examine all of the channels?

thanks,

-chad

9

We’re testing with version 4.0. We wanted to confirm that the problem still exists in the current beta and if so, try to get it fixed before release. I’ve attached 2 images showing how my REs are set. I’ve also confirmed in Nuke that channels are included. Finally, I’ve uploaded the rendered exrs here.

If you can get us that test scene, we’ll see if we have any success with it using 4.0 as well.

One thing to check - under the Render tab, in the 3ds Max Pathing Options rollout, see if the Update Render Elements Paths and Also Update RE’s Filenames are enabled. If not, try enabling them and submit the job again to see if you get any different results.

Cheers,

10

I’ll test it out at work on Thurs. I dont have access to the farm at home.

thanks,

-chad

11

I can test this tomorrow morning if that helps?
The MaxScript commands for the new EXR interface in Max are under help, “additional help”, connection extension.chm
Mike

12

OK, so I made a test file. I’m using Mental Ray FYI. Slave Version = v3.1.0.36430

Here is the latest error log out of Deadline…

Error Message
Exception during render: An error occurred in RenderTasks(): RenderTask: Unexpected exception (Monitored managed process “3dsmaxProcess” has exited or been terminated.
2010/01/19 10:45:14 INF: Loaded C:/Users/dkstaff/AppData/Local/Frantic Films/Deadline/slave/jobsData/untitled.max
2010/01/19 10:45:14 WRN: Gamma Correction is Being Enabled
2010/01/19 10:45:14 INF: Job: C:/Users/dkstaff/AppData/Local/Frantic Films/Deadline/slave/jobsData/untitled.max
2010/01/19 10:46:14 ERR: An unexpected exception has occurred in the network renderer and it is terminating.
) (Deadline.Plugins.ScriptPlugin+FailRenderException) (Deadline.Plugins.RenderPluginException)
at Deadline.Plugins.ScriptPlugin.RenderTasks(Int32 startFrame, Int32 endFrame, String& outMessage)

Slave Log
o move C:\Users\dkstaff\AppData\Local\Temp\Dline_EXR_WorkflowTest_mr_A_D_Output__Diffuse_Direct_Illumination0010.exr to destination failed: The system cannot find the path specified.
0: INFO: Lightning: Waiting 7 seconds to try again.
0: INFO: Lightning: Attempt to move C:\Users\dkstaff\AppData\Local\Temp\Dline_EXR_WorkflowTest_mr_A_D_Output__Diffuse_Direct_Illumination0010.exr to destination failed: The system cannot find the path specified.
0: INFO: Lightning: Waiting 8 seconds to try again.
0: INFO: Lightning: Attempt to move C:\Users\dkstaff\AppData\Local\Temp\Dline_EXR_WorkflowTest_mr_A_D_Output__Diffuse_Direct_Illumination0010.exr to destination failed: The system cannot find the path specified.
0: INFO: Lightning: Waiting 9 seconds to try again.
---- January 19 2010 – 10:46 AM ----
0: INFO: Lightning: Attempt to move C:\Users\dkstaff\AppData\Local\Temp\Dline_EXR_WorkflowTest_mr_A_D_Output__Diffuse_Direct_Illumination0010.exr to destination failed: The system cannot find the path specified.
0: INFO: Lightning: Waiting 10 seconds to try again.
0: WARNING: Monitored managed process 3dsmaxProcess is no longer running
Scheduler Thread - Render Thread 0 threw an error:
Scheduler Thread - Exception during render: An error occurred in RenderTasks(): RenderTask: Unexpected exception (Monitored managed process “3dsmaxProcess” has exited or been terminated.
2010/01/19 10:45:14 INF: Loaded C:/Users/dkstaff/AppData/Local/Frantic Films/Deadline/slave/jobsData/untitled.max

2010/01/19 10:45:14 WRN: Gamma Correction is Being Enabled

2010/01/19 10:45:14 INF: Job: C:/Users/dkstaff/AppData/Local/Frantic Films/Deadline/slave/jobsData/untitled.max

2010/01/19 10:46:14 ERR: An unexpected exception has occurred in the network renderer and it is terminating.

) (Deadline.Plugins.ScriptPlugin+FailRenderException) (Deadline.Plugins.RenderPluginException)

at Deadline.Plugins.ScriptPlugin.RenderTasks(Int32 startFrame, Int32 endFrame, String& outMessage)

Error Type
RenderPluginException

Error Stack Trace
at Deadline.Plugins.Plugin.RenderTask(Int32 startFrame, Int32 endFrame)
at Deadline.Slaves.SlaveRenderThread.RenderCurrentTask()
exr_connection_problem.zip (25 KB)

13

Thanks. We tested this scene with Deadline 4.0, and while individual REs were still getting written out, they were still embedded in the main image as expected and no errors occurred during rendering. The only change we made to the scene was the output path for the rendered image.

Deadline 4.0 is scheduled for release this month, but we can still give you access to the beta board in case you want to run a few tests with it. You could install the 4.0 repository and client on a single machine and then test this scene with it to see if you still have problems on your end. If this is something you would like to do, let me know and I’ll get you on the beta.

Cheers,

  • Ryan
14

Thanks Ryan. We are on the beta (Digital Kitchen). I’m surprised you are not seeing our problem. From the error log it looks like it is trying to store the elements in a tmp folder. Is there a work around? Or should we wait till Deadline 4.0 releases?

Thanks,

-chad

ps. can you IM me?

15

That is normal. The image is saved locally, and then copied to the final location after. Are you guys actively using the 4.0 beta? We’re testing with the latest release (RC5), and we’re not having any problems, so it might be in your best interest to quickly run some tests with this version to confirm the problem is resolved.

Also, do you have 3dsmax 2010 SP1 installed, or are you running it without the service pack?

Cheers,

  • Ryan
16

We are running with the service pack. We are not running the 4.0 beta. We can test that and see if it makes a difference. Why would it make a difference btw? Was something changed that would affect this problem?

-chad

17

There have been tweaks made to the 4.0 version of the 3dsmax plugin, so it’s very possible that one of these tweaks is responsible for this particular feature working. I can’t think of any specifics though.

Cheers,

  • Ryan
18

Has anyone confirmed if this is fixed in 4.0? I ended up losing like 10% of my renders to exr configuration errors on some workstations that were rendering overnight. We haven’t switched to 4.0 because we are three weeks from delivery and don’t want to lose a second to upgrade and create potential for new problems.

Thanks,
Ben.

19

Hey Ben,

We can’t reproduce this particular problem with the release version Deadline 4.0. Is this the exact same problem you ran into? You mention “exr configuration errors on SOME workstations”, which to me sounds like a different problem. We’ve run into exr configuration errors in the past here, and the solution we had was to push out the same configs to all machines, as Deadline doesn’t explicitly control the exr configurations on each machine.

Cheers,

  • Ryan
20

I don’t know how this implementation of openExr works to get and set the configuration. I see ini files but who knows whats going on. All that info should only be read from the .max file. It’s hard to repro without kicking people off their machines and would require us to upgrade to 4 mid delivery.

B.