Using Backburner for batch rendering is a simple matter of starting 3ds Max, running the Backburner Manager and Server programs, specifying the scenes you want rendered, and then proceeding with the rendering. In this case, Backburner coordinates a series of rendering tasks that are network rendered on a single computer.
The process is very similar to rendering over a network. With network rendering, the scenes you submit to the rendering queue are called 'jobs'. The following steps show how to submit multiple jobs to the rendering queue.
Your system has to be properly configured in the TCP/IP protocol (see “TCP/IP Settings” in the Autodesk Backburner Installation Guide at www.autodesk.com/backburner-documentation) to perform Backburner batch rendering. If you do not have a network card or if you are not connected to the internet, then you may need to configure TCP/IP with the Microsoft Loop Back Adapter.
When Backburner Manager begins a job, a series of files are created in the \network\jobs folder of your Backburner folder. Among other things, this means that you can shut down your computer completely (either on purpose or by accidental power failure), and when you next start Backburner Manager and Server, they’ll pick up where they left off and continue with your rendering queue.
The Backburner Manager window appears. Its window displays the words: “Starting Network Manager.”
The Backburner Server window appears. Its window displays the words: “Starting Backburner Server,” followed by additional startup messages.
At this point, the Network Job Assignment dialog appears. Its main purpose is submit the current job to the Backburner Manager with all its render settings, including job name and net rendering specifics. The Backburner Manager then takes over and begins the rendering process.
Once you’ve submitted the jobs you want rendered, you can exit 3ds Max (do not shut down the Backburner Manager or Server), or you can begin working on a new scene, or editing an old scene. Keep in mind, however, that your processor is spending most of its time working on rendering, so your computer will slower than usual.
If you need to monitor the batch render processes, you can use the Backburner monitor for that purpose. (See “Understanding the Backburner Monitor” in the Autodesk Backburner User Guide at www.autodesk.com/backburner-documentation.)