---
title: "vrstconvert"
canonical: "https://documentation.chaos.com/space/VRAY4TOOLS/117637249/vrstconvert"
format: markdown
---
This page provides information about the vrstconverter tool in V-Ray.


## **Overview**

---

The VRST Converter is a command-line utility that converts* .vrst *to* deep .exr *files*. *VRST <span style="color: #000000">is V-Ray's native deep image file format which was used before OpenEXR 2 was released. </span>


![image](media://fa1b2710-bbdf-4364-ad6b-1f4d1651a4a9)


## **Installation**

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<span style="color: #000000">By default, the installation of V-Ray includes the </span><span style="color: #000000">*vrstconvert*</span><span style="color: #000000"> executable in the </span><span style="color: #000000">*bin*</span><span style="color: #000000"> folder found under </span>*[Program Files]\Chaos\V-Ray\[host app]*<span style="color: #000000">. In some host apps, the bin folder is found in the </span><span style="color: #000000">*vray*</span><span style="color: #000000"> folder, while in others, it is found in the </span><span style="color: #000000">*appsdk*</span><span style="color: #000000"> folder.</span>


## **Command Line Usage**

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With the command prompt, navigate to the bin folder and run *vrstconvert* without arguments to see a list of available options.

```
vrstconvert [-buffers=1|2] [-threads=R[,W]] [-compression=X] [-alpha=Y] <infile> [outfile]
```


## **Arguments**

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**infile **– Specifies the .vrst shademap.

**outfile **– Specifies *deep scanline EXR *output filename with its .*exr* extension, including full file path. If no output is specified the converter will use the input file location and filename for saving .exr file output.


-**compression** – Defines which compression method to use from the following:

**0** – No compression;  
**1** – RLE;   
**2** – ZIPS. This is the default compression method.

**-alpha** – Defines the Alpha channel mode.

**0** – Produces monochrome "A" channel. This is the default option.  
**1** – Produces color "RA", "GA", "BA" channels.  
**2** – Produce both monochrome and color alpha channels. 

**-buffers** – Defines the buffer method of the conversion.

**1** – Reduces the memory usage.  
**2** – Reads and writes concurrently for best performance.

**-threads** – Defines the number of threads used for the conversion process.

**R** – Number of reading threads. Default or a value of 0 sets usage of threads equal to the number of processors.  
**W **– Number of writing threads. The default options sets usage of threads equal to reading threads.