disable blender's render output (animation)
I have my own specific render output set up using file output nodes in the compositor, so don't need blender's own output, and would like to opt to disable it to save disk space.
I'd propose a checkbox in the output settings titled 'Enabled'. When unchecked the output properties would become greyed out.
Additionally the python render.render() could have an additional argument called write_animation (to accompany the existing write_still argument).
2 Comments
I remember there were a few proposals about this issue where using the compositing file output would still use the scene's file output and create a mess.
I think it was proposed to use the scene's file output only if there's a composite node plugged. Right now if you have an unplugged composite, it will save the scene's output files with just the blank color of the composite image input socket, which is totally useless. And no composite just saves the composited render as per the scene output.
for me it would be preferable to retain the composite node's connections and mute status, because I have an addon that analyses what can be muted based on what's downstream of the active composite node. It also saves setting it back up, which is a bit more longwinded than unticking a checkbox. A checkbox on the composite node could work though. Although if you have multiple composite nodes for different node tree variations, then forgetting to untick/tick the newly active one could easily happen, or accidentally happen for example if you've ever selected the viewer or comp node and inadvertently turn the alpha checkbox on/off.