This guide explains how to set up a VRayDenoiser render element to process output images in the vdenoise standalone tool.
Overview
The V-Ray installation includes a standalone denoising tool called vdenoise. It can be used to denoise still images or animations outside of 3ds Max. This is the recommended workflow for denoising animations because the vdenoise standalone tool can consider multiple frames at once and produce a better-denoised result. Likewise, it is useful for testing different denoiser options.
Setting up the VRayDenoiser and the Render Output
The different 3D platforms have their own render output specifics. Please select your platform to see detailed instructions.
V-Ray for 3ds Max
- Set the V-Ray raw image file output from the Frame Buffer rollout. OpenEXR (*.exr) and V-Ray image files (*.vrimg) are supported.
Note: Avoid using the 3ds Max native file output (under the Common tab) since it doesn't support
the VRayDenoiser render element.
2. Add the VRayDenoiser render element and under Advanced denoiser parameters, set the mode to “Only generate render elements”:
3. Render the image/animation.
V-Ray for Maya
- Set the Image File Output to exr (multichannel) or vrimg.
2. Add the vrayRE_Denoiser render element and under Extra VRay Attributes, set the mode to “Only generate render elements”:
3. Render the image/animation.
V-Ray for SketchUp / Rhino
- Set the Render Output to File Type to vrimg
- Enable Denoiser and set the Mode to Only Render Elements
- Render the image/animation.
Using the Vdenoise Standalone Tool
Windows
Start the vdenoise tool.
The default location of the vdenoise tool is: "C:\Program Files\Chaos Group\V-Ray\3ds Max 20XX\bin"
2. Browse to the location where the rendered frames are saved.
V-Ray will process the entire sequence. If needed you can edit the frame interval.
By default, the vdenoise tool will denoise the RGB render element only. Additional render elements could be selected from the Select denoise elements button.
3. Press the Denoise button.
4. Once the process is completed, the output files will be saved in the same location, with the _denoised suffix.
macOS
The VDenoise Standalone tool can be found under Applications > ChaosGroup > V-Ray for *Host Application* > Extension > Tools > vdenoise.bin
To start it:
- Open the Terminal;
- Type ”sudo chmod +x” and drag-n-drop the vdenoise.bin over the Terminal window;
- Press Enter;
- You are asked for your password. (Please note that there is no visual input when typing the password);
- After typing in the password, press Enter and drag-n-drop the vdenoise.bin file once again. Enter the options you need. The full command list and more information can be found in the following link for the Denoiser Tool.
Note: Please note that the input file must be a multichannel .exr or .vrimg containing the render elements needed for the denoising process. This means that in the Denoise output settings, Only Render Elements option should be selected.
You can find more information about the vdenoise tool including additional commands on the
Denoiser Tool documentation page.