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openglcommand-linerenderblender

Blender OpenGL animation rendering without open GUI (display) from command line

I'd like to render animation with opengl. I have a script for render and this working with open blender GUI. I want to run this script (with render.opengl function) from linux command line without X.

I tried some way without success :(

Solution

  • Short answer: Can't be done.

    Long answer: For OpenGL to be usable you need a so called render context. OpenGL itself can not create render contexts, that's the job of the display graphics system (X11, EGL/Wayland, etc.).

    Mesa's software rasterizer is accompanied with an offscreen render context manager, however using that one must be prorammed specifically, works only with Mesa and Blender doesn't support it!

    When launched in windowless mode, Blender doesn't even bother to create a render context.