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Configuring Stand Alone Renderer (SAR): Mode selection

Caroline
  • Updated

Once Virtual Worlds' Stand Alone Renderer (SAR) has been installed, you can now configure it to the mode function that fits your requirements. 

 

To open Virtual Worlds Standalone Renderer, click the VW SAR Icon:

VW SAR Icon.png

 

There are three modes:

Mode summary

Directory mode - The preferred mode as it allows an Input folder to be continuously monitored to render images. In this mode, the SAR program must be open at all times to function as intended.

Interactive mode - Allows a single image file to be exported. This is useful when you need to change render settings such as resolution or lighting and re-render without opening Virtual Worlds Professional.

Batch mode - Allows multiple images to be saved and then rendered as a batch collection. This is useful when you want to allocate a certain time to render when PC use is in less demand.

Using Directory Mode 

In Directory mode, two folders need to be designated for the render process. 

  • The first folder is the Input folder, which will contain render requests sent from the Virtual Worlds application.  When Directory mode is activated, the Input folder is continually monitored by SAR.

  • The second is the Output folder, which will contain the completed renders processed by SAR. VW_DirectoryMode.gif
Note:  You will need to create these folders somewhere on the PC that is running the SAR.  
It is advisable to create specific INPUT and OUTPUT folders in the Virtual Worlds Documents folder.


To set the directories, take the following steps:

  1. In the Monitored Directory section, the first field is asking you to specify the Input folder location.  Click the More options icon to the right of the first field:

    VW_Icon_More Options.png
  2. Locate the relevant folder, and click Select folder.

  3. The second field is asking you to specify the output.  Click its More options icon to the right. 

  4. Locate the folder that you want all finished renders to go to, and click Select folder.

  5. In the Startup Options section, tick Activate on Application Start to ensure that SAR begins monitoring automatically when it is opened in the future.

  6. In the Processing Options section, it is advisable to tick Delete processed Renders to remove the files from the INPUT folder once SAR has completed rendering.  This will save storage space on the PC.  If you want to re-render the file at a later date, ensure that this field is unticked.

    Note: Ticking Quick Render Mode will force the resolution of images to make small but quick renders (256 x 192 pixels). 
    It is best used when needing to test a particular render without having to remember to change your preferred image resolution in Virtual Worlds Professional.


  7. Click Start Monitoring.  SAR will begin monitoring the INPUT folder, ready for render requests.

    SAR will render each image one by one and place them into the OUTPUT folder when complete.  If you want SAR to miss a render request, click Skip current render.

    Note: Once monitoring has begun, you will not be able to switch modes or change the OUTPUT folder.  Click Stop monitoring to continue making changes.

See article Stand Alone Renderer: Exporting Renders for guidance on starting render requests.

Using Interactive Mode 

In Interactive mode, you load an existing image file to render.  You can save a file in Virtual Worlds to be rendered later in interactive mode, or re-render a file that has already been processed.  

Note:  If you know you want to re-render later and are using Directory or Batch mode, ensure that the Delete processed option is unticked.


To set Interactive mode, take the following steps:

  1. Click Load File...  in the bottom left.

  2. Locate the File folder that you want to render and click Select Folder.

    The file will load.  Once loaded, the Image and Photo Quality sections will now be accessible.  If the file folder is an AVI file, Frame management and AVI management will now be available to access.

  3. Make adjustments to the image you want to render.  Click Advanced... to update the edit preset.

  4. Click Render to start rendering.
Troubleshooting:  You may wish to make several renders from the same file.  However, once the render has been processed, you may find that you can not load it again. 
You can rename a file in the image folder to allow the file to be re-rendered. 

Take the following steps:

  1. Locate the file in your computer separately from SAR.
  2. Open the file and locate the RRS.XML.done file.
  3. Right-click and select Rename.
  4. Delete .done from the file so it is now named RRS.XML 
  5. Hit Enter.  You will be warned that the file will become unusable.  Click Yes to continue.

The file should now load in Interactive mode.

 

Using Batch Mode 

In Batch mode, you can process multiple image (XML) files from Virtual Worlds that have been saved in a single local area.  You will need to assign an input and output directory, like in Directory mode.  Instead of SAR continuously monitoring render requests, you can select a large batch to process when it is convenient for you.

To set Batch Mode, take the following steps:

  1. Click on the More options icon to the left of Choose a local directory to be opened:

    VW_Icon_More Options.png

  2. Locate the file where you have stored image folders from Virtual Worlds Professional, and click Select folder.

  3. Click on the More options icon to Specify the output directory.

  4. Locate the folder you want the rendered images to be saved, and click Select folder.

  5. Batch Mode will locate all of the files that can be rendered, and list them in the main box. 
    Tick to select the files you want to process.  

    Note: Click Modify Settings to standardise the settings for each image file.  

    As with Directory Mode, you can choose to tick Quick Render Mode and Delete Processed if needed.

     

  6. Click Start to begin the batch render.

 

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