Difficulties with Virtualight and TS7

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Difficulties with Virtualight and TS7 // Archive: Tech Forum

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Post by ProfessorKhaos // Jan 29, 2006, 7:58pm

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Howdy all,


Been trying to get my integrated Virtualight to work but I can't seem to get it to render anything but black screen. I wanted to render a comparison image of Virtualight vs Vray using the "gem" image (shown on the old forums). I've changed the materials to virtualight, played with all sorts of settings, even went back to try and render a new scene with a cube in it. No luck. :(


Anyone else have this issue? Any ideas for a fix?


Prof K.

Post by Leif // Jan 30, 2006, 3:59am

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In case you have a separate install of VirtuaLight (for VirtuaOut plugin), maybe check if systen variable VLIGHT_ROOT points to the right directory.

Post by ProfessorKhaos // Jan 30, 2006, 4:11am

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Yep. Already done. BTW, here's the virtualight.log contents... I believe the log file overwrite each time you launch tS7 or perhaps when you choose virtualight as the renderer.


################################################## ##


trueSpace session: 01/29/06, 22:46:54


-------------------------------------------------------

----- System variables:

trueSpace TEMP:

C:\DOCUME~1\GLENP~1.GOR\LOCALS~1\Temp\

VLIGHT_ROOT:

C:\trueSpace7\tS\VirtuaLight

System TEMP:

C:\DOCUME~1\GLENP~1.GOR\LOCALS~1\Temp

-------------------------------------------------------

----- Render:

"C:\trueSpace7\tS\VirtuaLight\bin\vlight.exe" "C:\DOCUME~1\GLENP~1.GOR\LOCALS~1\Temp\vl5" -b -x 533 738 -y 278 529

-------------------------------------------------------

----- Render:

"C:\trueSpace7\tS\VirtuaLight\bin\vlight.exe" "C:\DOCUME~1\GLENP~1.GOR\LOCALS~1\Temp\vl6" -b

-------------------------------------------------------

----- Render:

"C:\trueSpace7\tS\VirtuaLight\bin\vlight.exe" "C:\DOCUME~1\GLENP~1.GOR\LOCALS~1\Temp\vl7" -b

-------------------------------------------------------

----- Render:

"C:\trueSpace7\tS\VirtuaLight\bin\vlight.exe" "C:\DOCUME~1\GLENP~1.GOR\LOCALS~1\Temp\vl8" -b

-------------------------------------------------------

----- Render:

"C:\trueSpace7\tS\VirtuaLight\bin\vlight.exe" "C:\DOCUME~1\GLENP~1.GOR\LOCALS~1\Temp\vl9" -b

-------------------------------------------------------

----- Render:

"C:\trueSpace7\tS\VirtuaLight\bin\vlight.exe" "C:\DOCUME~1\GLENP~1.GOR\LOCALS~1\Temp\vl10" -b

-------------------------------------------------------

----- Render:

"C:\trueSpace7\tS\VirtuaLight\bin\vlight.exe" "C:\DOCUME~1\GLENP~1.GOR\LOCALS~1\Temp\vl11" -b

-------------------------------------------------------

----- Render:

"C:\trueSpace7\tS\VirtuaLight\bin\vlight.exe" "C:\DOCUME~1\GLENP~1.GOR\LOCALS~1\Temp\vl12" -b -x 533 738 -y 292 513

-------------------------------------------------------

----- Render:

"C:\trueSpace7\tS\VirtuaLight\bin\vlight.exe" "C:\DOCUME~1\GLENP~1.GOR\LOCALS~1\Temp\vl13" -b


################################################## ##


The various entries appear to be my render attempts, either object specific or to file. When I go to the C:\DOCUME~1\GLENP~1.GOR\LOCALS~1\Temp directory I don't see any of the referenced vl<xx> files though they may be so temporary as to be difficult to see.

Post by behzad // Jan 30, 2006, 9:10am

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you look like a mad cat, i dont blame you.:eek:

Post by ProfessorKhaos // Jan 30, 2006, 6:19pm

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Well shoot! After many many more attempts it appears that all I can get is a black screen. I'd be interested in hearing if someone else got the same results with TS7


I'm wondering if it doesn't have something to do with temporary files not getting created or something like that.


If anyone else is getting good results, could you post the contents of your virtualight.log here?


I have a feeling it might have something to do with the use of a period in my username on my computer.

Post by SteveBe // Jan 30, 2006, 6:50pm

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Hi Prof K,

VirtuaLight is working for me with one oddity, it reports antialiasing disabled
in the status area when I render. Although AA seem to be in the render.

Here's my log file:

Post by ProfessorKhaos // Jan 30, 2006, 6:59pm

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Thanks SteveBe.


Just a quick question. Can you check and see if the file below still exists in your temporary directory? If so, it could be a strong indicator as to where my problem lies since my files don't show up in the equivalent folder on my system.


C:\DOCUME~1\Steve\LOCALS~1\Temp\vl2

Post by SteveBe // Jan 30, 2006, 7:09pm

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The last render in my log is vl4, but no there is no vl file in my temp
folder. This was done yesteday so I'll try again and see if it leaves
it there while TS7 is still active. I suspect that it is deleted after the
render is complete.

Post by SteveBe // Jan 30, 2006, 7:23pm

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I tried a screen area render with the temp folder open and it had vl#.tga,
vl#.vib and vl#.vs files while the render was in process. They were deleted
when the render finished.

Post by ProfessorKhaos // Jan 30, 2006, 7:26pm

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Thanks SteveBe, that helps to answer my question. It seems my files never seem to get created. :confused:

Post by SteveBe // Jan 30, 2006, 7:34pm

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One other thing, I just checked my Environment Variables as I had VL installed
for TS6.6 in my C: root and I have a User Variables VLIGHT_ROOT = C:\VIRTUALIGHT
and in the System variables VLIGHT_ROOT = C:\trueSpace7\ts\VirtualLight.

Post by ProfessorKhaos // Jan 30, 2006, 8:02pm

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Total Posts: 622
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Well, turns out I was wrong, there were files but they were so brief in existence that they were very hard to see (frames are taking a fraction of a second to render which doesn't seem right)


I checked the system variables and I do have the VLIGHT_ROOT = C:\trueSpace7\ts\VirtuaLight definition and it seems to be enough of one that TS6.6 is actually able to use it too.



Perhaps there's a way I can write a script to copy the files as they get passed on to virtualight by TS7. That way I could see if they have sensible contents or not.


Thanks again for your help SteveBe!


Glen

Post by SteveBe // Jan 30, 2006, 8:09pm

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Your welcome and good luck!

Post by trueBlue // Jan 30, 2006, 10:04pm

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I am also having problems with VirtuaLight.

Post by hoss // Jan 30, 2006, 10:15pm

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I also only get a black image whenever I use the VirtuaLight renderer. I must say that I haven't spent much time looking into the cause on my system, though. Now that other people seem to be running into the same problem that I have with it, I guess it must not be something that I missed in the manual.


My configuration:


Athlon XP 3000+

2 GB DDR400 RAM

Windows XP Pro SP2

Radeon 9700 Pro w/latest ATI drivers


-Patrick

Post by SteveBe // Jan 30, 2006, 10:20pm

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Prof K may be right, you both have a period in your user names. Hoss is that the case for you as well?

Post by Leif // Jan 30, 2006, 11:46pm

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I wonder, is there any update in the material editor preview if you use the virtulalight reflectance shader?

Post by Johny // Jan 30, 2006, 11:56pm

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Did you already set on the irradiance setting :rolleyes:

Post by ProfessorKhaos // Jan 31, 2006, 3:29am

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Total Posts: 622
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Tried about every setting possible in the Virtualight dialog. Nada.

Post by ProfessorKhaos // Jan 31, 2006, 4:16am

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Username *IS* the problem. I created a new user account named "TrueSpace" and the render worked fine.


Nevertheless, it's quite inconvenient to have to change accounts every time I want to render to Virtualight.


Is there some sort of configuration file or registry entry I can change to have trueSpace use a different temporary file location for the virtualight files?


Can Caligari include a fix in the patch? Say for instance, instead of using


"C:\DOCUME~1\GLENP~1.GOR\LOCALS~1\Temp\" or similar


for the virtualight path, could they use


"C:\trueSpace7\tS\VirtuaLight\Temp"


I think that would give consistent results for everyone.


What I suspect is going on here is that directories with periods as part of the name confuse virtualight.


By the way, changing your user name through the control panel is not enough. All that does is change the way your login screen appears. It doesn't change the path for the username's temporary files, thus it won't fix the problem.

Post by Alien // Jan 31, 2006, 4:39am

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Am I right in thinking that it's the default windows temp folder that's being used for this? if so, you can change it yourself to wherever you want it to be.



Right click on My Computer & select Properties [or hold windows key & press Pause/Break key]

Advanced tab -> Environment Variables

In the top section you'll probably see 2 variables TEMP & TMP, change them to the folder you want to use for your temp files [eg c:\temp] [don't forget to create the folder 1st if it doesn't already exist]

Do the same for the same variables in bottom box.

Reboot.

Post by trueBlue // Jan 31, 2006, 1:24pm

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Am I right in thinking that it's the default windows temp folder that's being used for this? if so, you can change it yourself to wherever you want it to be.

Right click on My Computer & select Properties [or hold windows key & press Pause/Break key]
Advanced tab -> Environment Variables
In the top section you'll probably see 2 variables TEMP & TMP, change them to the folder you want to use for your temp files [eg c:\temp] [don't forget to create the folder 1st if it doesn't already exist]
Do the same for the same variables in bottom box.
Reboot.

Alien,

Thank you very much. Your above advice did the trick.

Dave

FYI: I changed them to:
%SystemRoot%\TEMP
%SystemRoot%\TMP

Post by Alien // Jan 31, 2006, 2:08pm

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Alien,



Thank you very much. Your above advice did the trick.



Dave



FYI: I changed them to:

%SystemRoot%\TEMP

%SystemRoot%\TMPI still think you ought to put it somewhere seperate [eg C:\Temp] from any other system folders. That way it's simpler to get at, should you need to for any reason, like periodic cleaning out of temp folder. Often progs leave behind stuff from installs or uninstalls, & over time it starts to eat space.

Post by ed_baker // Feb 1, 2006, 6:03am

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Total Posts: 355
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Howdy all,


Been trying to get my integrated Virtualight to work but I can't seem to get it to render anything but black screen. I wanted to render a comparison image of Virtualight vs Vray using the "gem" image (shown on the old forums). I've changed the materials to virtualight, played with all sorts of settings, even went back to try and render a new scene with a cube in it. No luck. :(


Anyone else have this issue? Any ideas for a fix?


Prof K.


Hey Prof (and everyone else),


I posted a fix that worked for me here:

http://forums1.caligari.com/truespace/showthread.php?p=737&mode=threaded#post737


My PATH variable was missing.

Post by hoss // Feb 1, 2006, 6:19am

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Total Posts: 21
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Leif:


The machine I run trueSpace on is part of a domain, and I use my domain account, so, I believe that there probably would be a period in my user-name. It's probably --> user.domain.


-Patrick

Post by ed_baker // Feb 1, 2006, 6:21am

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Total Posts: 355
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Leif:


The machine I run trueSpace on is part of a domain, and I use my domain account, so, I believe that there probably would be a period in my user-name. It's probably --> user.domain.


-Patrick


I didn't think about that. My log only showed my username with no domain.


Ed
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