If you prefer to keep the Maya project used to render the 3D model in its original location, you can configure your Maya Batch Render node to render the Maya project from its original location rather than from the 3D model's element directory in the scene. This is done in two steps:
- Adding the Original Maya File Name field to the layer properties of your Maya Batch Render node.
- Typing the path to the Maya project in the Original Maya File Name field.
- If you link your Maya Batch Render node to an external Maya project, you will need the Maya project to remain in this location for your scene to render properly. This means you will be unable to render the 3D model in your scene if you try render it from a different computer, or if you move or delete the Maya project.
- This procedure is entirely optional and is more technical than the default approach, which is to copy the 3D model in the element folder of your 3D model. If you prefer to go with the more simple method, see Copying your Maya Project to the Scene Directory
How to add the Original Maya File Name field to the layer properties of the Maya Batch Render node
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In the Node View, locate the MayaBatchRender node, and click on its Layer Properties
button.
The Layer Properties dialog for the Maya Batch Render node appears.
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Click on the Specifications tab.
In the Specifications field, an XML script defines the input ports, output ports and attributes of the Maya Batch Render node.
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Copy the line below:
<attr type="string" name="OriginalMayaFileName" value="" tooltip="Write your project path here"/> -
Paste it right above the </attributes> line:
You have now added the OriginalMayaFileName attribute to the Maya Batch Render Node. However, you will not see it in the Attributes tab right away.
- Save your scene, close it and re-open it. Afterwards, the OriginalMayaFileName property will be visible in the Attributes tab of the Maya Batch Render node's layer properties, right under renderer.
How to link the Maya Batch Render node to your original Maya project
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In the Node View, locate the MayaBatchRender node, and click on its Layer Properties
button.
The Layer Properties dialog for the Maya Batch Render node appears. The OriginalMayaFileName field should appear under the renderer field.
- In the Attributes tab, select the OriginalMayaFileName field.
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Type in the path to the Maya project containing your 3D model. You must type the path to the directory as well as the name of the project file, including its extension. Whether you are using Windows, macOS or GNU/Linux, you must use forward slashes (/) to separate the directories.
For example, if your Maya project is stored in a folder named MayaProject in your Documents folder and is named MayaProject.ma, and your username is username, you would type the following location to point to it:
- On Windows: C:/Users/username/Documents/MayaProject/MayaProject.ma
- On macOS: /Users/username/Documents/MayaProject/MayaProject.ma
- On GNU/Linux: /home/username/Documents/MayaProject/MayaProject.ma
Optionally, you can type in a relative path. The path is relative to the specific element folder of your 3D model, which is in a folder named elements inside your scene folder. So, for example, if you want to store your 3D models in a folder named 3dmodels inside your scene folder, you can type in the following relative path:
../../3dmodels/MayaProject.ma
In a relative path, two consecutive periods (..) refer to the parent folder. So, by referring to the parent folder of the parent folder of the 3D model's elements folder, you get to the scene folder.