Hat tip: Andy Jones on the Softimage mailing list
You can use xsibatch -processing to render scenes with third-party renderers like Arnold. With -processing, xsibatch uses a Processing token instead of a Batch license, so you’re not limited by the number of Batch licenses you happen to have. Back in the days before third-party renderers, -processing for was for non-rendering tasks. Now it’s for non-mental ray tasks!
I was sure I tested this long ago, but obviously I must have made a mistake on my command line.
xsibatch -processing -render //server/project/Scenes/example.scn ======================================================= Autodesk Softimage 11.1.57.0 ======================================================= License information: using [Processing] # INFO : [sitoa] SItoA 2.7.1 win loaded. # INFO : [sitoa] Arnold 4.0.12.1 detected.
Here’s actual proof in the form of a screenshot 🙂
eX-SI 
Exactly how it should be! I kept asking/complaining about this months ago! I thought it pretty bad that if I wanted to buy extra vray nodes, I wouldn’t be able to render with them through xsibatch!
It’s probably been this way forever, or at least for awhile. I always assumed that any rendering was blocked, so I didn’t spend a lot of time testing it.
I’ve checked this today with Vray and it definitely works with that as well!
Wow, this is great info! Thanks
So why is this “loophole” limited to third-party renderers? Just asking, BTW, I don’t know anything about render licenses.
Because they are not mental ray 🙂 There’s always been a limited number of mental ray rendering licenses with Softimage or, before that, with XSI, and -processing wasn’t meant to be a backdoor to unlimited mental ray.
I always assumed there was no loophole.
And, I’m sorry to hear about your broken arm. I hope it’s not too bad and that you’re healing nicely! How do you like typing with one hand? I found that you get a bit used to it after a week or two.
Well, typing with one hand and all the internet stuff goes surprisingly well (but a bit slower than usual). It’s the “real-life” stuff that turns out to be the real pain…
😉