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[Arnold] [Python] Iterating over the shape nodes in a scene
Here’s a snippet that loops over the shape nodes in an ASS file. from arnold import * AiBegin() AiMsgSetConsoleFlags(AI_LOG_ALL) # Required if the ASS file uses any SItoA shaders...
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The case of the disappearing particles
In this case, nParticles (render type = point) weren’t visible behind a refractive plane: For the points render type, you get an Arnold points shape (with mode “disk”), so I exported an ASS file to see...
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[Arnold] [RLM] ARNOLD_LICENSE_HOST and ARNOLD_LICENSE_PORT no longer supported
If you’re still using ARNOLD_LICENSE_HOST and ARNOLD_LICENSE_PORT, now’s the time to stop. As of Arnold 4.2.4.0, these deprecated environment variables are no longer supported. Instead, use...
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[Arnold] Getting started with the Arnold Python API
You can download Arnold here. The Arnold download (aka the Arnold SDK) includes the Arnold library, the Arnold C++ API, the API docs, and the Python bindings for the Arnold API. To use the Arnold...
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[Arnold] System requirements: minimum Windows version
As of Arnold 4.2.3.1, the minimum Windows version is Windows 7. We no longer support Windows versions before Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. This applies to all plug-ins (such a MtoA 1.2.02 and...
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[MtoA] Finding your Arnold log file
When you enable file logging, it can seem a bit of a mystery where the .log files end up. You may find log files in different folders of your project, like the scenes folder, or the sourceimages...
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[MtoA] Normal mapping with mayaBump2d
mayaBump2D has an RGB parameter for normal maps, and it’s named “normal_map”: C:\solidangle\mtoadeploy\2015\bin>kick -l ..\shaders -info mayaBump2D node: mayaBump2D type: shader output: RGBA...
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[Arnold] Standard shader AOVs and shading trees
Here’s a question asked recently. Given a shading tree like the one below, why don’t AOVs like diffuse_direct include the blended color from the Blend Color node? The answer: because it is the Standard...
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[MtoA] Flushing the texture cache from Python
MtoA provides an arnoldFlushCache command (and the Arnold > Flush Caches menu uses that command). You can call it from Python like this: import maya.cmds as cmds cmds.arnoldFlushCache(...
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Creating a polymesh with the Arnold Python api
Here’s a snippet that shows how to create a simple four-polygon polymesh node with the Arnold Python API. n = AiNode( "polymesh" ) AiNodeSetStr( n, "name", "grid" ) nsides = [4, 4, 5, 6]...
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[MtoA] Instancing lights
If you want to instance lights in Maya, use Duplicate Special. MtoA will correctly translate those instances to Arnold (as copies, not instances, because Arnold itself doesn’t support light instances)....
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[RLM] No ISV servers to start redux
The technical reason for a “No ISV servers to start” message is that that RLM could not read the ISV line from the license file. So, for example, if you somehow save the license file as a binary file...
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[HtoA] Using custom Arnold cameras in Houdini
Here’s how to set up your custom camera in Houdini. I’ll use the Oculus camera as an example. Copy OculusCamera.dll and OculusCamera.mtd to your HtoA arnold\plugins folder. For example, on my machine,...
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[HtoA] About instancing
A few quick notes about instancing support in HtoA: For instancing, use the Instance object with fast point instancing. HtoA doesn’t support full point instancing. You can assign material to instances...
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[MtoA] Is there an ARNOLD_PROCEDURAL_PATH environment variable?
No, there isn’t. HtoA recently added support for an ARNOLD_PROCEDURAL_PATH environment variable, but neither MtoA or Arnold itself support ARNOLD_PROCEDURAL_PATH. Here’s a few things you can do: If...
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[Arnold] System requirements
In general, Arnold is going to work on pretty much any 64-bit system where Houdini, Maya, Cinema 4D, or Softimage works. However, there are some minimum OS requirements: OSX 8 or later (as of Arnold...
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[RLM] The case of the false positive for virtual machine detection
When RLM detects that it’s running on a virtual machine, you’ll see “This server does not run on virtual machines, exiting” and “solidangle initialization error: 5, not restarting” in the RLM debug...
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[C4DtoA] Render failed! Please check the log for more details.
The Arnold log is important, not just for troubleshooting and getting help from us at Solid Angle, but also for understanding what’s going on when Arnold renders your scene. But, first things first:...
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[HtoA] Using the heat grid to drive volume emission
Use a Volume Sample Float to sample the heat channel Plug the volume sample into a ramp Plug the ramp into the Emission (the Emission Source must be set to Parameter)
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ERROR | [mtoa] [xgenTranslator] Could not find xgen_procedural in search path...
This error ERROR | [mtoa] [xgenTranslator] Could not find xgen_procedural in search path $ARNOLD_PLUGIN_PATH happens only when MtoA is first loaded, and it can be safely ignored. It doesn’t cause any...
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