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Re-generating TX-Files (when "auto Tx generation" is on)

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Message 1 of 4
ulrichGTAV3
230 Views, 3 Replies

Re-generating TX-Files (when "auto Tx generation" is on)

Hey there,

I understand why arnold is using tx files and how it is working generally.

Normally I have auto TX generation on in the IPR. So all my PNGs, EXRs, TGAs and HDRs are converted on the fly.

BUT: I'm under the impression, that sometimes (maybe often) files that already have their corresponding TX-File in the same folder, get converted again. And this, naturally, slows my render.

So my questions:

Is the (generation of the) TX-File dependend on my material, lights and/or scene? So it would have to be generated for each project I'm working on? Or is it only depending on my original texture file? If the latter, why does it have to be generated multiple times?

I would think, when I'm done with my materials for my project, when I just do lights or animation, I would turn off "auto TX generation". Or would that be a mistake?

If I create a new material for which I use textures that somewhere are converted to .TX already, could I not just import the .TX to my project (and maybe delete/archive the TIF or PNG).


Thank you very much for any insight.

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3 REPLIES 3
Message 2 of 4
Stephen.Blair
in reply to: ulrichGTAV3

TX files are re-converted only if the original texture changes, or if you change some of the TX generation parameters (eg change color spaces), or if the tx file no longer exists

We use the -u update flag to make tx files:

https://openimageio.readthedocs.io/en/master/maketx.html#cmdoption-u

-u

Ordinarily, textures are created unconditionally (which could take several seconds for large input files if read over a network) and will be stamped with the current time.

The -u option enables update mode:
if the output file already exists, and has the same time stamp as the input file, and the command-lie arguments that created it are identical to the current ones, then the texture will be left alone and not be recreated.

If the output file does not exist, or has a different time stamp than the input file, or was created using different command line arguments, then the texture will be created and given the time stamp of the input file.




// Stephen Blair
// Arnold Renderer Support
Message 3 of 4
ulrichGTAV3
in reply to: ulrichGTAV3

Hey Stephen,

thanks for your detailed reply. But to focus that on my actual problem: I am not using any command line tool. Not even maketx (as standalone). I am in C4D and my TX-generation happens mostly by turning on "auto TX generation" in the IPR window. And when I read your reply (and the docs) correctly, re-generating TX files should not happen, as long as I don't change the original image files. So when I'm finished importing all my texture files, I would check the asset/TX manager, convert any files for which no TX files exist yet and then turn off "auto TX generation" in IPR.

Thx again...

Message 4 of 4
Stephen.Blair
in reply to: ulrichGTAV3

Right. The auto tx feature uses -u, so tx files are not re-generated unless the original file changes, the timestamp on the original file changes, or something like the image color space is changed in C4DtoA.


// Stephen Blair
// Arnold Renderer Support

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