[Mihai]

About that caustics issue file, I sent you two messages about me needing the textures as well but didn't get a reply

I'm sorry I can't offer any more concrete advice than has already been given. I can say that the networking area is a major priority, these issues are being carefully looked at.

[deflix]

About that caustics issue file, I sent you two messages about me needing the textures as well but didn't get a reply

I'm sorry I can't offer any more concrete advice than has already been given. I can say that the networking area is a major priority, these issues are being carefully looked at.

texture have been sent -
cheers

[Bubbaloo]

and most recently this terrible SSS bug.

Is each piece of plastic modelled seperately and possibly overlapping? There was a list of "don't do's" regarding modelling for SSS materials I saw somewhere when the feature was first introduced (maybe the 1.7 manual). Overlapping/intersecting SSS-applied geometry between 2 or more pieces may have been one of the "don't do's". Maybe if the model was all one closed piece of geometry, these problems wouldn't occur. Maybe as a quick fix, even a simple boolean operation might help.

Just a suggestion. I think all of the problems I've seen regarding SSS so far have been due to bad geometry. Can I see a partial wire frame of your object?

It seems to me that overlapping geometry introduces faces/normals inside the solid that will be calculated when dealing with SSS or translucency. I wouldn't expect the results to be realistic.

[jo]

and most recently this terrible SSS bug.

Is each piece of plastic modelled seperately and possibly overlapping? There was a list of "don't do's" regarding modelling for SSS materials I saw somewhere when the feature was first introduced (maybe the 1.7 manual)...

Ok, but how is explainable the different results between the workstation and the render farm?

Thanks, Gio

[Bubbaloo]

The planets weren't aligned?

[jo]

The planets weren't aligned?

Something else?

Ciao, Gio

[Mihai]

This SSS bug is a sneaky one and I don't think it has to do with rendering over the network or on one workstation. Does it always render some parts black when doing a network rendering of the scene? Could you render the scene a few times on your workstation and see if it always renders ok?

[def4d]

Certainly a silly question, as you're not a Maxwell noob, but are the engine versions between your workstation and the farm identical?

[RenderFred]

Disclaimer: I do not want to interfere or seem like I advertise in another thread than the RANCH official thread. I just hope to provide below useful and appropriate info on the workflow some of our customers use to avoid that kind of problem, or at least prevent possible issues way before their deadline. And they have internal renderfams too.

These customers use the RANCH during the whole project, not only for the final renders. They send inprogress images in low res (800 x 600 or 1024 x 768 for instance). At this resolution, most images get to SL 18 on the RANCH in about 10 minutes (so a cost of around $30, or you can also use the Blitz for $10 and a 10 mn run if you don't need the MXI). That way, possible issues are detected very soon, and a lot of time is saved.

I understand that someone who has bought an internal farm may not like the idea to also pay for external rendering. However as it has been said, customers are not interested in the details (and often they are willing to pay an extra to get what they want in time).

Deflix, to show our good faith, we are willing to run your scene for free on the RANCH. These potential issues also concern us, so both you and us may get useful information out of this. If you are interested just let us know.

[deflix]

Certainly a silly question, as you're not a Maxwell noob, but are the engine versions between your workstation and the farm identical?

They are identical

Deflix, to show our good faith, we are willing to run your scene for free on the RANCH. These potential issues also concern us, so both you and us may get useful information out of this. If you are interested just let us know.

The job has been submitted but I would be interested in giving this a go out of curiosity - I'll pm you. many thanks for the offer!