Render Setup

This command opens the Render Setup dialog, which lets you set the parameters for rendering. Rendering creates a still image or an animation. It shades the scene's geometry using the lighting you've set up, the materials you've applied, and environment settings such as background and atmosphere.

• Main toolbar > (Render Setup)
• Rendering menu > Render Setup
• Keyboard > F10

Rendering "fills in" geometry with color, shadow, lighting effects, and so on.

Rendering is multi-threaded and multi-processed on multiple-processor configurations. A two-processor or dual-core system can render in nearly half the time a single-processor system can.

Rendering can also take place on multiple systems by using a network. See Network Rendering. For the mental ray renderer, also see Distributed Bucket Rendering Rollout (mental ray Renderer).

Missing Mapping Coordinates

If the renderer finds a parametric object that requires mapping, it automatically sets its Generate Mapping Coordinates toggle before rendering the scene. The toggle remains set after the rendering is done.

In the following cases, however, 3ds Max is unable to supply mapping coordinates automatically:

• Non-parametric objects, such as imported meshes, don't have built-in coordinates.
• Some third-party (plug-in) objects aren't provided with mapping coordinates.

In these cases, 3ds Max is unable to render the scene completely. It displays a Missing Mapping Coordinates dialog that lists the objects the renderer couldn't map. To resolve the problem apply a UVW Map modifier to the objects that the dialog lists.

Note: If a material has Show Map In Viewport set when that material is assigned to an object, the object's Generate Mapping Coordinates toggle is set, if it was not previously set. (The state of Show Map In Viewport is saved with each material.)

Procedures

To render a still image:

1. Activate the viewport to render.
2. Click (Render Setup).

   The Render Setup dialog appears.

3. In the Time Output group, make sure Single is on.
4. In the Output Size group, set other rendering parameters or use the defaults.
5. Click Render.

   By default, the rendering appears in a window.

   Tip: To render a view without using the dialog, click (Render Production or use Render Last (press F9).

To render an animation:

1. Activate the viewport to render.
2. Click (Render Setup).

   The Render Setup dialog appears.

3. Open the Common Parameters rollout. Choose a time range in the Time Output group.
4. In the Output Size group, set other rendering parameters or use the defaults.
5. In the Render Output group, click Files.
6. A Render Output File dialog is displayed.
7. Use the file dialog to specify a name and a type for the animation file, and then click Save.

   A configuration dialog opens that lets you set the options for the file format you chose. Adjust these settings or leave them at their defaults, and then click OK.

   The configuration dialog closes, and on the Render Setup dialog Common Parameters rollout, the Save File toggle is now available and on.

8. Click Render.
   Note: If you set a time range and do not specify a file to save to, the animation is rendered only to the window. This can be a time-consuming mistake, so an alert warns you about it.

Tip: To render a view without using the dialog, click (Render Production) or use the Keyboard Shortcut F9 to Render Last.