Error writing bitmap!

[trhoads]

In VIZ 3i, I am trying to render out @ 6480X3240. Why is it telling me error writing bitmap? I have rendered out pretty big before, what is the limit?

 

Sorry if it sounds silly, i have not had this problem before.

[abicalho]

The file format you chose does not support a bitmap of that size.

 

Choose a different file format (TGA, TIFF, PNG)

 

Alexander

[Buffalo Bills]

abicalho,

 

I recently had this appear on one of my files. I found out that by restarting my machine it got rid of that error. The reason being is that I had 3 other programs that were eating up the memory to render out my file. But also like trhoads said, you might want to use a file that is compressed more or to reduce the dpi level of you map.

[trhoads]

It gives me that error message when attempting to render out jpeg and tiff formats. I guess I am out of luck.

[Iain Denby]

I get this quite frequently. It relates to the size of your bitmap. Restarting free's up memory and is usually OK. If not, gradually reduce the pixel size.

[BSArch98]

Trhoads

 

I've gotten this error on many occasions. Sure, restarting may free up some space for the render, but it normally doesn't make a difference what file format you choose, because MAX/VIZ renders uncompressed, and then only saves/compresses to file type after it's rendered, so if it can't handle a bitmap at a certain size, the file type won't help you.

 

If restarting doesn't free up enough memory, and you DEFINITELY need it that size, there are two things you can try:

 

1) Try the Render:Crop method, where instead of creating the whole image at once, you create pieces of it in multiple renders. You will still specify your image size as 6480X3240, but you will then adjust the box that appears on the screen to render only a portion of your image. VIZ will then render ONLY that part. Do that a few times, and then attach them all in photoshop or another image editing program.

 

2) Use the bitmap pager (I don't know if that is available in VIZ, but it's available in MAX). However, the bitmap pager can be quite tricky to figure out, so I would go with the first option.

 

I have had very hi-res images (30,000x15,000) that I've had to render out in 30 or 40 pieces. It's long and tedious, but it's better than getting that error.

 

Hope this helps,

[Buffalo Bills]

BSArch98,

 

30,000 x 15,000. I hope you weren't printing that out to be 300 dpi. That's huge! How many computers were you using to help render that out. Did photoshop even allow you to put that file together?

[trhoads]

Thanks for the help folks,

 

I ended up with 4320x2160. It will work, and in the future I am going to try the other methods presented. No time right now. It took all night to render as it is, and I dont have time to re-render. Thanks for all the help.

[BSArch98]

Buffalo Bills,

 

No, luckily we didn't have to print it! We were supplying it to a printer who was printing it at 100dpi (+/-). It was a backdrop for a stage presentation for a client of ours. They were trying to get the image to be as close to full size as possible. From what I understand (I didn't see the final show) it came off great.

 

Photoshop choked on creating the blank image to begin with, but I tricked it by creating a blank the same proportion, and then scaling it up to the correct size. Just that took almost 20min. What sucked (and this is probably the only time you will ever hear me praise a MAC) is that the Mac's in our office were able to manipulate it with no problem, where as the PCs were taking a LONG time to save, open and resize.

 

trhoads...glad you got it to work...hope we were of some help.

[Buffalo Bills]

VBSArch98,

 

It's too bad you didn't get to see the final result. But you know I am the same way when it comes to photoshop and Mac's. I don't use one anymore, because I don't work for a company that has any but the company before had one and it was awesome! Miss using Mac's but I have gotten used to using PC's just because the 3D programs run on them and software is so expensive to have to buy for 2 different platforms.

[trhoads]

I ended up needing to re-render today, and it is now allowing the size that I originally wnated. I did not restart the computer, simply closed VIZ, and re-opened the file. So I guess it needed to start fresh. But thanks to all who took the time to help.