The RANCH renderfarm now supports Indigo!

[CTZn]

http://www.indigorenderer.com/joomla/fo ... sc&start=0

Image data starts at byte 5032.
[...]
int image_data_size; // Size of image data in bytes
// Should be equal to

Code: Select all

width*height*12*num_layers

if data is uncompressed.

I found a result for a 14k square single layered image renderable at the Ranch, but one would better check my maths

[alex22]

Right, I forgot to convert bit<-> Byte

[RenderFred]

Hi everyone,

we have decided that, given the relatively long time between two Indigo stable versions, we will also support beta versions in between. Not every one of them probably, but those which are considered 'relatively stable' by the community will be installed on the RANCH. That way, Indigo users will not be forced to keep the old stable version if they want to send projects to the RANCH. It will also allow us to follow the progress of the software more closely, and you to benefit from new Indigo features on the RANCH for very fast rendering. Of course it also means that the risk of crashes will be higher with betas, but as Indigo users are most often technically skilled, we have no doubt that they will understand if half the RANCH explodes when they send a project (just joking)

So, one of the big changes between 1.0 and 1.1 will be the layers. Even though they are (obviously) useful, we advise you to use them with caution. Each layer will add to the weight of the IGI file (2 layers = twice the size for the IGI) so it means longer merging times. This is something that maybe not all of you are aware of, but when rendering a project we are systematically merging 128 IGI files (don't try this at home ), that is gigabytes and gigabytes of data. And of course the longer the merging, the longer the total time taken by the project, and the higher the cost - except for projects with at least one hour of pure rendering: in that case the IGI merging time is offered.

I am now doing test with a 1.1.18 version (Windows x64), and I plan to update the RANCH with 1.1.18 when it is available for everyone to download, whether it is still considered a beta or the final stable 1.1 version. In the meantime, you can help me . I had to rewrite our IGIFusion program (a very fast IGI merger optimized for the RANCH) to support the recent V4 IGI format version. But I do not have scenes with several layers to test (the layers_blending testscene is a bit too simple and its layers have no names). So I would appreciate if you could post here or send me to the RANCH contact e-mail address one or two simple scenes with several layers, preferably named layers, to debug the merging of layered IGIs before going into production.

Thanks!

Fred
www.ranchcomputing.com

[RenderFred]

Hi,

I have good news: the layers support seems to be working fine. I have installed the latest Indigo we have on the RANCH so we are now ready to render projects created with the most recent Indigo versions. Two members of the forum (thanks guys) sent us scenes with several layers and the output was great.

To give you an idea of the size of the IGIs, one was a 1600 x 2000 render with 8 layers (0 to 7). It generated uncompressed IGIs of 1.14 GB. It took 12 minutes to merge the 128 IGIs. The other scene was a 1488 x 1047 render with 5 layers (0 to 4), which generated uncompressed IGIs of 1.4 GB. It took 15 minutes to merge the 128 IGIs. The second project generated bigger IGIs than the first one, even with less layers, because of the supersample factor of 4 instead of 2.

So, before sending a project to the RANCH, first launch a render for a few minutes to see the size of your IGI (or it should not be too difficult to use a formula to guess it). I remind you that as of now we won't render scenes with IGIs > 2.5 GB.

For those who are interested, I have updated my utility IGIinfo. This small program must be run from the command line, with the syntax:
IGIinfo MyIGI.igi, or IGIinfo alone (in which case it will ask you for the name of the IGI). When it's done it will display several info on the IGI, like the definition, samples per pixel and number of samples, rendertime, number of layers... It will also tell you if the IGI has been rendered and merged on the RANCH. You can find IGIinfo 1.04 here.

Fred
www.ranchcomputing.com

[delic]

With the ability to resume from .igi at home, with layers, and after rendering on the RANCH for example, it really becomes an awesome way to get perfect renders !

It just works fine ...

Thx RenderFred, thx Ono !

[PureSpider]

It will also tell you if the IGI has been rendered and merged on the RANCH.

How do you find out that one?

[RenderFred]

It will also tell you if the IGI has been rendered and merged on the RANCH.

How do you find out that one?

That's a secret

[PureSpider]

I bet it's in the header padding though
Enough unused space in there

[Zom-B]

Hey Guys...

I was one of the two how offered a Scene to render, here is my "report":

I used a 8 Layer Scene file that was rendered in 1600 x 2000 for 45 minutes, getting 11152 samples per pixel with super sampling @ 2. The total time of the project was 1 h 01 minute, including warming up, rendering and the merging of 128 IGIs of 1.05 GB each (around 12 minutes for the merging alone).
Merging the igi files is here something that can cost some $ if you use a lot of layers, so you can do some math, because The IGI gathering+merging is FREE if the render time of the project is >= 60 minutes!

You also have to remember that I actually get 8 images here, and not only one! you also can simply resume your rendering at home, mix your layers as you like, and then save th output!

I attached some results and also a link to the final image @ 1600 x 2000.

In my scene I used some original glas for the window of the conference room. There is still some little noise visible behind the glass, but this simply shows that Indigo needs some work(arounds) in this area. And yes I know that this scenario is a general problem for raytracers, but I'm sure there can still be done some stuff
Also some cr.nk phong materials have still some noise left... I think this need some fix too Ono! This 45min image would render on my 2x2.8Ghz iMac for over 17 Days!!1!

HERE is the link for the original output file saved as jpg with 100% quality (1.7MB)

[suvakas]

Very good quality !
Half of the ventilation cover seems missing from the ceiling. Or is it intetnional?

[Borgleader]

Very good quality !
Half of the ventilation cover seems missing from the ceiling. Or is it intetnional?

I think it might be because of the angle or something...i think

[delic]

woaaaa, really nice example of using layers !

I also submitted a layers scene to the ranch, and also tested the blitz formula(no .igi back), and it works fine.

The blitz previews, for 10$, tends to be stuck on bottom on the queue(lowest price), but are really usefull to give some breathe to my workstations ...

[RenderFred]

Just to inform everyone that our new site for Indigo is online, go check it out!

Cheers

Fred

[suvakas]

@ZomB
Could you please refer to the origin of your scene next time?
I just saw this scene on one of the Evermotion DVD's. I really thought, that it was made by you.

[Zom-B]

@ZomB
Could you please refer to the origin of your scene next time?
I just saw this scene on one of the Evermotion DVD's. I really thought, that it was made by you.

sorry Suv, mentioned it always when posting it but forgot it here
At least the carpet and all the light (management) is from me...