Render > Batch Render (mental ray options)

Runs a batch render. For more information, see About batch renders from within Maya (UI).

opens the Batch Render option dialog box to let you set options to render an animation on a local or remote computer, or on a computer with several processors. For descriptions of these options, see below.

Render > Batch Render >

Messages

Verbosity Level

Controls the verbosity level for messages related to mental ray rendering. Messages equal to or below the selected verbosity are displayed. Messages are displayed in the mental ray log file.

Parallelism

Auto Render Threads

If Auto Render Threads is enabled, Maya automatically calculates the number of threads that should be used to best take advantage of the CPUs (or cores) on your workstation. This option is on by default.

Render Threads

Specifies the number of rendering threads to be used by mental ray for Maya for rendering. Use a thread for each CPU you utilize on the local host.

Auto Tiling

Turn on this option to automatically determine the optimal tile size at render time.

Task Size

Pixel width and height of render tiles.

Memory

Auto Memory Limit

If Auto Memory Limit is enabled, Maya dynamically calculates the memory limit prior to the start of rendering. This feature can be enabled at all times to obtain better performance.

Tip:

For limited memory situations, this setting is recommended.

To view the calculated value, ensure that Export Verbosity is set to Info Messages in the Verbosity Level section. The calculated Memory Limit is then displayed in the render log.

Memory Limit

Soft limit for the memory used by mental ray. A soft limit implies that mental ray may actually use more memory than indicated.

Network

Used for network rendering only.

Select one of these options to determine whether the local machine renders the scene, or whether the slaves render the scene.

Render on the local machine

Select this option so that the local machine participates in rendering the scene.

Render on network machines

Select this option so that the networked machine(s) participate in rendering the scene. This is useful in reducing the workload on the master machine while Maya is also running.

Tip:

To render on all available machines, select both the Render on the local machine and Render on network machines options.

Rendered Output

The Rendered Output option only appears in the mental ray Batch Render Option window if your scene contains render targets. Select one of these options to determine which of the elements to include in your batch render.

All Renderable
By selecting All Renderable, all renderable dependencies and render targets are included in the batch render.
Render Targets Only
Select Render Targets Only to perform a 2D render and render only the render targets. This option is ideal if you are satisified with your 3D renders and you are only tweaking your composite.
Omit Render Targets
Select Omit Render Targets to perform a 3D render and render only the renderable dependencies.