NotchCmdLineRender

Updated: 26 Mar 2025

Introduction #

A new tool for rendering DFX files via the command line.

This may be used to facilitate Notch rendering on render farms such as Deadline by splitting the render across multiple computers and assigning each a given frame range.

This tool is considered experimental and is still under active development and testing, which should be considered before attempting to use it in production.

Licensing #

Only projects saved from VFX/RFX/Base/Pro licenses are supported. NotchCmdLineRender also requires an active VFX/RFX/Base/Pro license to run (Separate Render Node licenses will be available in future.).

Usage #

NotchCmdLineRender.exe -document C:\input.dfx -width 1920 -height 1080 -refines 1 -startframe 0 -endframe 100 -codec notchlc -out C:\output.mov

Options #

Option	Description
`-out filename`	Specify the `filename` of the output render. [Required]
`-document filename`	Specify the `filename` of the input project file. [Required].
`-layer x`	Set the layer index `x` to be rendered. If not defined, the first layer is rendered if the project uses Composition Mode “Isolated” (default) - or the composited project is rendered otherwise.
`-width w`	Set the width of the output render to the given value `w`. Must be <= 16384.
`-height h`	Set the height of the output render to the given value `h`. Must be <= 16384.
`-fps f`	Set the frame rate of the output render to the given value `f`.
`-refines r`	Set the number of refines to the given value `r`.
`-gpu name`	Set the GPU adapter `name` used for rendering. Defaults to default GPU adapter.
`-startframe sf`	Sets the start frame `sf` of the output render. Defaults to 0.
`-endframe ef`	Sets the end frame of the output render. Defaults to the end of the rendered project/composition accordingly.
`-codec name`	Sets the name of the codec. Where `name` is either: `notchlc` NotchLC, Quicktime MOV `hap` HAP, Quicktime MOV `hapa` HAP Alpha, Quicktime MOV `hapq` HAPQ, Quicktime MOV `h264` H.264, MP4 `h265` H.265, MP4 `jpeg` JPEG image sequence `png` PNG image sequence `tga` TGA image sequence `exr` EXR image sequence
`-quality 500`	Sets the quality value for the given codec if applicable, between 0 and 1000. This applies to NotchLC.
`-bitrate 500`	Sets the bit rate for the given codec. This applies to H.264 and H.265.
`-logfile filename`	Sets the `filename` of a log file to which all log entries will be written.