I have a scene for which I want a number of different renderings (different
camera and light locations). I run a .ini file to render the variations, which
get numbered 0 to 49. In my .pov file I have the following code:

  #declare Rnd1 = seed(frame_number); // camera
  #declare Rnd2 = seed(frame_number); // light

From these 50 I select a number to render at high resolution, and I run a
different .ini file for these. In my .pov file I write the following code, which
maps the sequence numbers to my own:

  #declare frames = array[5] {2, 3, 5, 8, 13} // selected for high-res rendering
  #declare frame_nr = frames[frame_number];
  #declare Rnd1 = seed(frame_nr); // camera
  #declare Rnd2 = seed(frame_nr); // light

The result is a series of output files with filename numbers in sequence
(defined by the .ini file)

  outfile_00
  outfile_01
  outfile_02
  outfile_03
  outfile_04

Is there a way to have custom numbering for the output files? Like

  outfile_02
  outfile_03
  outfile_05
  outfile_08
  outfile_13

numbers I would get from the array in my .pov file, which would mean that the
output filename should be defined in the .pov file.

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hi,

"stevenvh" <nomail@nomail> wrote:
> I have a scene for which I want a number of different renderings (different
> camera and light locations). I run a .ini file to render the variations, which
> get numbered 0 to 49. In my .pov file I have the following code:
> ...
> The result is a series of output files with filename numbers in sequence
> (defined by the .ini file)
> ...
> Is there a way to have custom numbering for the output files? Like
>   outfile_02
>   outfile_03
>   outfile_05
>   outfile_08
>   outfile_13

> numbers I would get from the array in my .pov file, which would mean that the
> output filename should be defined in the .pov file.

not directly, afaik.  if you could use that "map" of frame->file# from a script,
the 'Post_Scene_Command' option will help.

<wiki.povray.org/content/Reference:Shell_Command_Options>


regards, jr.

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"jr" <cre### [at] gmailcom> wrote:
> ...
> 'Post_Scene_Command' option will help.

sorry, 'Post_Frame_Command' is what I meant.


regards, jr.

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On 11/14/25 11:16, stevenvh wrote:
> Is there a way to have custom numbering for the output files? Like
> 
>    outfile_02
>    outfile_03
>    outfile_05
>    outfile_08
>    outfile_13

Not exactly what you asked for, but you can render single frames with 
the animation frame subset capability via flags or ini options:

subset_start_frame, subset_end_frame, frame_step, +sf, +ef and +stp

   povray myAnimation.pov +sf7, +ef7 +kff10

would render just frame 7 of a 10 frame animation for example - with the 
same frame animation output file name. You'd be running povray multiple 
times change the subset options rather than using an SDL array, but if 
not many high res frames perhaps not a bad approach.

---

Alternately.

Though I'm not a big fan of the capability due possible confusion, It is 
also possible to set the 'frame_number' inside the SDL for your scene.

   #declare frame_number = 2;  // Or make '2' Ary[0] etc.

or set it - and the complete output file name - on the command line with:

   povray myAnimation.pov declare=frame_number=9 +omyAnimation09

Bill P.

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