Cache Disk not rendering

#1

Hi there,

I have a Pflow with some mParticles and since the shape is animated, I created a dummy shape, that should be used during Sim for collisions and set my cache disk operator to exclude shape from cache and then included a shape instance op with the animated shape in the post cache operators list.
It seems to work, the sim works as expected and after the sim I can see the animated shape in the viewport. but once I hit render I get nothing…it renders fine without the Cache disk operator.

It also renders fine, if I pick a not animated mesh as instance in the post cache shape instance operator…

Any idea whats going on here?

Can´t I use animated meshes in a shape instance operator used post cache?

#2

Hey Insert Mesh,

The cache disk have some problems using shapes in the post cache. It look’s like it’s fixed on max 2015 (not sure), but you can do a simple workaround with a data operator and a shape control.

Instead of add the shape instance to the post cache, just add the data operator.
In case you’re not familiar with the Shape Control suboperator, it’s just like the shape instance. Put a shape there, check the Animated Shape checkbox and it’s done. It should work fine. :slight_smile:

#3

Are you Caching Viewport and Render?

Alvaro is correct, there where some crappy issues with Cache Disk and Post-op Shape. They should all be resolved in 2015 at least they were in the last build I tested, not to say they couldn’t be broken again.

Do you have Frost by any chance? I used it a few times to successfully “shape” some particle systems with animated instances. In fact you can control a number of different animated shapes within the same system depending on an integer payload you set per particle.

I will look into it in a few, have a meeting to go to.

#4

Appears to be working as expected in max2013+.

Here is an example to cross check your settings and test. It contains a Shape Instance with an animated teapot and a Shape Instance with a changing vertex count blobmesh. Both seem to be rendering for me in scanline.

#5

Sorry, been busy, had to use a workaround due to time constraints…
Unfortunately I don´t have frost at my disposal (on my wishlist once I can convince my boss of its necessity…;=) and we can only update to 2015 after the current production is over…

Thanks for the file, I´ll check it out asap!