NotchRenderNodeCLI

Updated: 2 Apr 2026

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.

When using NotchRenderNodeClI in conjunction with a render manager such as Deadline, it is recommended to send batches of frames to to each node (per task). We recommend ~10+ frames per task. This combats the slower load times of larger Notch projects.

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. NotchRenderNodeCLI also requires an active VFX/RFX/Base/Pro license to run (Separate Render Node licenses will be available in future.).

Usage #

NotchRenderNodeCLI.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]. Paths containing spaces will need to be wrapped in quotes.
`-document filename`	Specify the `filename` of the input project file. This can also be an input Image Sequence or Video File, allowing for direct transcoding of media. [Required]. Paths containing spaces will need to be wrapped in quotes.
`-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.
`-layername name`	Set the layer to be rendered by `name`. A layer name containing spaces must be quoted. Eg. -layername “layer name containing spaces”.
`-width w`	Set the width of the output render to the given value `w`. Must be <= 16384. If the `width` argument is omitted, the layer’s configured resolution will be used providing the `layer` or `layername` argument is specified.
`-height h`	Set the height of the output render to the given value `h`. Must be <= 16384. If the `height` argument is omitted, the layer’s configured resolution will be used providing the `layer` or `layername` argument is specified.
`-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`.
`-still`	Outputs a still image rather than a video. Operates in the same way as the ‘Still’ render tab in Notch Builder. Allows a render with no Motion Blur, Motion FX, etc.
`-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 `tif` TIFF image sequence
`-quality 500`	Sets the quality value for the given codec if applicable. For NotchLC the quality value should be between 0 and 1000. For EXR image sequence export the value should be between 0 and 9 which corresponds to the compression level: (0=`None`, 1=`RLE`, 2=`ZIPS`, 3=`ZIP` (default), 4=`PIZ`, 5=`PXR24`, 6=`B44`, 7=`B44A`, 8=`DWAA`, 9=`DWAB`).
`-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.
`-set propertyname value`	Sets the `value` of an exposed render property with the name given by the `propertyname` argument.
`-colourspace cs`	Sets the colour space profile. Where `cs` is either: `acescg\|aces`, `srgblinear\|linear`, `srgbgamma\|gamma`, `p3linear\|p3_linear`, `dcip3\|dci-p3\|dci_p3`, `p3d65\|p3-d65\|p3_d65`, `rec2020`, `p3display\|p3-display\|p3_display` or `rec709\|rec-709\|rec_709`.
`-aov buffer`	Sets the aov buffer to output. Where `buffer` is either: `normal`, `normals`, `depth`, `cryptomatte`, `uv`, `uvs`, `bounceuv`, `bounceuvs`, `objectid` or `ao`.
`-tiled`	Tiles the render, useful for large canvas sizes that wont fit in a GPU buffer. Options are `0` - disabled (default) or `1` - enabled
`-tilesize`	Specifies the size (in pixels) each rendered tiles. (Requires `-tiled 1`) For Path Tracer, tile sizes of 2048 - 4096px are reccomended, with minimal overscan required. For other renderers, smaller tiles (>=2048px) and larger overscan (~256) is reccomended.
`-overscan`	Specifies the overscan (in pixels) each tile in tiled renders, to allow for seamless blending in post (Requires `-tiled 1`)
`-prerollstart`	Corresponds to the ‘Pre-Roll’ parameter in builder. In seconds (s).
`-autopreroll`	Enables auto prerolling. Options are `0` - disabled or `1` - enabled (default).
`-debug`	Enables extra logging. Options are `0` - disabled (default) or `1` - enabled.
`-stdout`	Prints logging information to stdout in addition the attached tty session. Useful for farms where the application runs headless. Options are `0` - disabled (default) or `1` - enabled.
`-metadata filename`	Output a JSON file of metadata to the file path specified by the `filename` parameter.