Reducing frames

mogogirl

Hi everyone. I'm back with another question.

I have my animation (done with Proper Animation plug in) and have downloaded Twilight Rendering so that I can export my animation. However my file seems huge (841 frames at 24 fps). This is going to take forever to download thru Twilight and I notice that each frame is dumped onto my computer as a jpeg file.

Is there anyway to reduce the number of frames in my sketchup model? I have already purged layers. I realize I may have done something wrong in my original sketchup modeling in order to make the file so large. This is my first animation export so any hints, tips or tricks would be of great assistance.

Thanks in advance for any help...you guys are the best!

Mary

Gaieus

You can do two things:
Reduce the scene transition in Model info > Animation

or in the animation export options, reduce the frame number per second (from 24 to something less).

In the first case, your animation will be faster, in the second, it will be a bit jaggy.

Animation export always needs time especially when done by rendering. 800 something frames are actually not that bad at all.

Fletch

be sure of course SketchUp>Window>Model info>Animation>Scene Delay = (0) zero!

then, first and foremost be sure you are rendering at the correct resolution for the final... do not render 'larger' than needed, then downsize, as this adds a lot of time in rendering animations.

choosing 10fps will, I imagine, get the job done... but it would be 'marginal' quality for most 'pros' to ever use that. That is, when you watch the video, you will notice a slightest pause after each frame. I suggest doing one or 2 seconds on lowest render setting at 10fps to check and see. If that's not good enough, in my experience many clients are happy with 15fps.

however, I myself, have been forced into rendering animations at 10 or 15fps in other apps I've used, including Viz, Vue Infinite, and Kerkythea... it is common to all apps that rendering an animation takes time. (it depends on computer power available to you)

This is why people create and sell time on a 'render farm'. Or have an in-house net rendering system set up. Or buy an inexpensive new computer with 8 threads.

If you ask on Twilight's forum, there may be someone willing to help you render the animation, and you would come to an agreement with them on the price that you would pay them to render for you (a per frame or per second of animation cost).

If you ask at Twilight's forum, I'm guessing someone there can tell you 2 great methods of how to net render an animation using Twilight and multiple machines.

mogogirl

Thanks all. Being new to this animation and rendering thing I wasn't sure if 800 frames was huge or not. That was my main concern. Thanks for the answers on that. I feel better knowing it's probably just a normal size.

I will probably try a save overnight tonight when I leave work. I think that will give it time to save all the frames without interrupting my work schedule.

I'll let you know later in the week how it turns out!

Mary