How to Use Batch Render in 3ds Max to Render Multiple Cameras

Introduction

When an archviz project has several cameras, rendering each view manually can waste a lot of time.

Batch Render in 3ds Max lets you prepare multiple cameras and render them with little or no supervision. This is useful for overnight renders, presentation sets, and projects where every camera needs a different output size or frame range.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to set up Batch Render, assign cameras, choose output paths, avoid common render element problems, and use Backburner when you need a more reliable workflow.

Open the Batch Render Tool

To open Batch Render:

1. Go to the Rendering menu.
2. Choose Batch Render.

This opens the Batch Render dialog, where you can create one render entry for each camera.

Add a Camera to Batch Render

Click Add to create a new render entry.

3ds Max adds an empty view container. By default, it is named something like View01, View02, and so on.

To assign a camera:

1. Left-click the view entry to select it.
2. Go to the Camera section.
3. Open the camera dropdown.
4. Select the camera you want to render.

After assigning the camera, rename the view.

Tip: Rename each Batch Render view to match the camera name. This makes the list much easier to read when you have many cameras.

Set the Frame Range and Resolution

By default, Batch Render can use the frame range and resolution from the main Render Setup.

This is fine when all cameras need the same settings.

For example:

• Same still image frame.
• Same animation range.
• Same image resolution.

But one of the main advantages of Batch Render is that each camera can have its own settings.

Override Settings for Individual Cameras

If a camera needs different output settings, enable Override Preset.

This allows you to set:

• Start frame.
• End frame.
• Image width.
• Image height.

Use this when different cameras need different formats.

For example, one camera may need a wide landscape image, while another camera may need a vertical composition.

Good to know: If all cameras use the same frame range and resolution, you do not need to override each view. Let Batch Render use the global Render Setup settings instead.

Choose the Output File

Each Batch Render entry needs an output path and file format.

This is where 3ds Max will save the rendered image.

Choose:

• Folder location.
• File name.
• File format.

Make sure every camera has a clear file name. This helps avoid confusion after a long render session.

Be Careful with Corona CXR Files

If you save a Corona CXR image for use in the standalone Corona Image Editor, 3ds Max may also save all render passes as CXR files.

This can create many extra files and use a lot of storage.

The transcript describes this as a bug, and there is no direct workaround inside this workflow. After rendering, you may need to manually delete the extra files you do not need.

Important: Check your output folder after rendering CXR files, especially if your scene has many render elements.

Leave Render Element Paths Empty

A very important workflow tip is to leave the output path of each render element empty.

This allows the render elements to use the main output path from either:

• The Batch Render dialog.
• The Render Setup dialog.

This helps avoid problems when rendering multiple cameras.

Why This Matters

If render elements have their own fixed paths, you can run into issues such as:

• Files being overwritten.
• Render errors.
• Render elements saving to the wrong location.

For batch rendering, keeping render element paths empty is usually safer and cleaner.

Tip: Let the main output path control where files are saved. Avoid setting separate render element paths unless you have a specific reason.

Use State Sets or Render Presets

Batch Render also allows you to assign different:

• State Sets
• Render Presets

This can be useful when different cameras need different render setups.

For example, you may want one camera to use one render preset and another camera to use a different setup.

For a simple archviz workflow, you may not need this. But it is useful to know the option exists when a project becomes more complex.

Add More Cameras

To add more cameras, you have two options:

• Add a new empty container.
• Duplicate the selected camera entry.

If the next camera uses similar settings, duplicating is usually faster.

After duplicating, change only what is needed:

1. Assign the new camera.
2. Rename the view.
3. Adjust the output file.
4. Change frame or resolution settings if needed.

Tip: Duplicate entries when most settings are the same. It reduces setup time and avoids missing important options.

Set a Progressive Rendering Limit

Before pressing Render, set a progressive rendering limit.

This is important because without a limit, one camera can keep rendering forever.

A good option is to use a noise level limit.

This tells the renderer to stop when the image reaches the chosen noise threshold.

Why This Is Important

Batch rendering depends on each camera finishing correctly.

If one camera never reaches an end condition, the entire batch can get stuck on that view.

Important: Always set a clear progressive rendering limit before starting an unattended batch render.

Start the Batch Render

After all cameras are set up:

1. Check every camera entry.
2. Confirm the output paths.
3. Confirm frame range and resolution.
4. Make sure progressive rendering limits are set.
5. Click Render.

3ds Max will start rendering the Batch Render list.

This is useful when rendering several cameras from the same scene file.

Limitations of Standard Batch Render

Standard Batch Render is useful, but it has some limitations.

The main disadvantage is that it does not render multiple 3ds Max files in the same way a render manager can.

Another problem is crash recovery.

If 3ds Max crashes during a normal batch render, it can be difficult to know exactly what failed and where the problem happened.

For simple jobs, standard Batch Render may be enough. For longer or more important jobs, a render manager is safer.

Use Backburner for a Safer Workflow

Backburner is a free render manager that can help make batch rendering more reliable.

It is often used for render farms, but it can also be useful on one computer.

With Backburner, you can send jobs from 3ds Max and monitor them separately.

This can help with:

• Rendering different 3ds Max files.
• Restarting jobs after crashes.
• Checking logs to understand what happened.
• Managing render jobs more clearly.

Send Batch Render to Backburner

After Backburner is configured and the slave is connected to the monitor, you can use it from Batch Render.

In the Batch Render dialog:

1. Enable Net Render.
2. Assign a job name.
3. Start the render.

Backburner Monitor will then take care of the rendering.

It opens a new 3ds Max instance for each job, which can make the process more stable than rendering everything directly from one open scene.

Good to know: Backburner can be useful even on one machine. It gives you better job management and access to render logs.

Backburner vs Deadline

The transcript also mentions Deadline as another option.

Deadline can be used for free with up to two computers, but the setup can be more complicated than Backburner.

For beginners, Backburner is usually the easier starting point if you want a simple render manager workflow.

Basic Batch Render Checklist

Before starting a long render, check this list.

Camera Setup

• Each camera is assigned.
• Each view has a clear name.
• Duplicated entries have been updated correctly.

Output Setup

• Every camera has the correct output file.
• File names are unique.
• Render element paths are empty.

Render Settings

• Frame range is correct.
• Resolution is correct.
• Override Preset is enabled only when needed.
• Progressive rendering limit is set.

Reliability

• Use normal Batch Render for simple jobs.
• Use Backburner when you need better job control or crash recovery.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Forgetting to Rename Views

Default names like View01 and View02 become confusing very quickly.

Rename each entry to match the camera.

Rendering Without a Stop Limit

If no progressive limit is set, one camera can render for too long and block the rest of the batch.

Use a noise level limit or another clear stopping condition.

Setting Render Element Paths Manually

Fixed render element paths can cause overwrites or output errors when rendering multiple cameras.

Leave them empty unless you know exactly why you need custom paths.

Reusing the Same Output File Name

If multiple cameras save to the same file name, one render can overwrite another.

Use unique names for every camera output.

Conclusion

Batch Render is a simple but very useful tool for rendering multiple cameras in 3ds Max.

For most archviz scenes, it is enough to assign your cameras, set the output files, check the resolution, and start the render. The most important part is to prepare the settings carefully before leaving the computer unattended.

For longer jobs or more complex projects, Backburner gives you a safer workflow with better job control, crash handling, and access to logs.