Q: FileOut Nodes Don't Render in Shake

One way of doing it:
Double click on the fileOut node you want rendered.
In the Parameters1 tab do you get an 'imageName'
field?

Yes, I do have that. The File Path indicated there is as I expected: //Nick berrisford\xd5s g5/Users/Nick/nreal/Tutorial_Media/comp.#.sgi (though I am confused about the portion that PRECEEDS "/Users . . .", I'm guessing that is code for the basic file structure of the OS)

If not, click on the little folder and create one
(noting where the file is supposed to go when
saved).

Keep that node selected.

Then, go up to the main menu above and choose 'Render

Render fileOut Nodes...'

When that screen comes up, select 'Selected' and then
near the bottom left, 'Render.'

Once finished you will find the file (or files if
you're rendering image sequences) in the folder you
chose above.

That's just it, the files never appear there . . . or anywhere - at least in a way that a "Find" can locate them.

Thanks.

.../Users/Nick/nreal/Tutorial_Media/comp.#.sgi

You probably know this but your resulting files will
be something like this: comp.0001.sgi,
comp.0002.sgi...
The '#' in 'comp.#.sgi' just implies a 4 digit
number. . . .

Did you try a 'Find' using only '.sgi'?

Yeah, and even a search for any portion of that doesn't result in a hit (that applies to the file I am looking for at least).

And you're not using the trial version?

No. It's the real deal, peoperly installed (I believe).

If that's not it I've used up my resources on this
one, sorry.

Don't be. I appreaciate the help. I do have it set to "Over1" and will see what happens if I switch it to "Screen1" (though, and I'm sorry if this is a silly newbie assumption, but wouldn't rendering out a different portion of the Tree still result in SOME kind of render, if not the final one?)

Thanks for your help!

OK . . . I actually tried a couple of things (and foolishly changed TWO things at once, making it harder to determine which was effective - Doh!) and had some success. I changed my FileOut to run off the "Screen1" node as suggested. I also sent the file to a different location (an external FireWire drive).

It WORKED!! Great . . . now I just had to figure out what part made it work. SO, I rerendered to the same spot after switching the FileOut node BACK to "Over1" . . . NO luck. No newly rendered file. I siwtched the FileOut BACK to "Screen1" and rendered to the OLD location, and that DID work.

So, logically the deduction is that the "Over1" won't render a result with a FileOut node. Now I am new to those so please excuse me if I am off base here, but I thought FileOut nodes could be used at anypoint in a Tree in order to get a render of that particular point in the Tree. Meaning that I would THINK that rendering out the "Over1" node would get SOME result, just not the FINAL result with all the parameters. I would think that I would at least get a render of that simple comp that the "Over1" is executing. Right? I am understanding the cocept correctly aren't I?

If not, what part of the concept am I missing? Is there a reason rendering "Over1" WON'T generate ANY result even though the FileOut node IS going through the rendering proccess? Given that rendering is REALLY the one process that is truly important (no render, no comp! =) ), I really want to be sure I understand the whole process completely and what I can expect to render and I what I can't.

Thanks.

I should probably stop speculating now...

No actually . . . what you say makes great sense. I can't say for sure that the flipbook preview was from that node. I obviously have a way to go before I get it all completely, but you have been tremendously helpful so far.

THANKS!

Thanks Inconceivable!