1. Here's why
There are several potential causes:
1.1: Overzealous anti-virus software that prevents Lumion from saving the file correctly.
1.2: Saving Photos or .MP4 Movie files directly to cloud back-up folders, e.g. OneDrive. The back-up software might 'lock' the files before Lumion is done saving them which can result in file corruption.
1.3: Saving Photos or .MP4 Movie files to a network drive. If the connection drops out while saving the file, the file can become corrupted.
1.4: Lack of Windows permissions. For example if the Windows User Account is a 'Standard' account instead of an 'Administrator' account.
1.5: Lack of disk space (see 2.4 below).
1.6: Lumion 9.0 and older: Using a Windows User Account name with non-Latin characters, for example Japanese or Chinese characters.
2. Recommendations
To prevent save errors, we recommend that you follow these instructions:
2.1: Please follow the instructions in step 1.1 and 1.3 in the article below to add an exclusion for Lumion to your security software:
- Knowledge Base: How do you resolve anti-virus and firewall problems?
2.2: Always save Photos and .MP4 Movie files to a local harddrive. If the final destination is a network drive or a cloud back-up folder/service, please move the Photos and .MP4 Movie files from the local harddrive when Lumion is done saving the files.
2.3: Verify that the Windows User Account type is an Administrator account. If it is a Standard account, please click on the link below and follow the instructions to change it to an Administrator account:
- External Link: How to change a Windows 10 user account type
Run as Administrator:
If your system administrator does not allow you to use an 'Administrator' account, you will have to right-click on 'Lumion.exe' in the Lumion installation folder and select Run as administrator.
Or, you can right-click on the Lumion shortcut, or the Lumion.exe file in the installation folder, and select Run as Administrator:
2.4: Verify that the Windows User Account has got full read and write permissions for the following folders and that there is sufficient free space for the Photo and Movie files you are rendering:
- (DRIVE):\...Documents\Lumion (VERSION)
- (DRIVE):\...Users\(USERNAME)\AppData\Local\Lumion (VERSION)
- (DRIVE):\...ProgramData\Lumion (VERSION)
- The destination folder you have selected for the Photo or Movie file.
Examples:
- C:\Users\Username\Documents\Lumion 12.0
- C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Lumion 12.0
- C:\ProgramData\Lumion 12.0
Instructions:
- External Link: How to take ownership of files and folders on Windows 10
- External Link: Create a local user or administrator account in Windows 10
See also sections 2 and 3 in this article to ensure there is enough free file space overall for the system to operate:
- Knowledge Base: What file space do I need to download, install and use Lumion?
2.5: Lumion 9.0 and older: Verify that the full path for the following folders does not contain non-Latin characters (e.g. Japanese or Chinese characters):
- (DRIVE):\...Documents\Lumion (VERSION)
- (DRIVE):\...Users\(USERNAME)\AppData\Local\Lumion (VERSION)
Examples:
- C:\Users\Username\Documents\Lumion 9.0
- C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Lumion 9.0
If the Windows User Account name contains non-Latin characters (e.g. Japanese or Chinese characters), please create a new Windows User Account using a name that only contains Latin characters. The account type must be 'Administrator' (not 'Standard').