Render Optimization - Revision history

Standingpad: Clarified sentence regarding cost of removing alpha faces

2025-07-09T05:05:16Z

Clarified sentence regarding cost of removing alpha faces

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:05, 9 July 2025
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	Like glass, the emission shader is often linked to increased noise.		Like glass, the emission shader is often linked to increased noise.

	Alpha transparency may introduce slow down when rendering as Cycles has to execute an object's shader trace a ray when hitting a transparent portion.<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/render/cycles/render_settings/light_paths.html#transparency</ref> In cases where many objects with alpha transparency overlap, such as leaves or grass, it may be beneficial to remove the transparent portions. <ref>[https://youtu.be/8gSyEpt4-60?si=yKZp6k1iYtFfiVPH Blender Guru: 18 Ways to Speed Up Cycles Rendering - Remove Alpha Transparency]</ref> However, ~~this may also be~~ negated by the cost any additional geometry needed to remove alpha transparent faces.		Alpha transparency may introduce slow down when rendering as Cycles has to execute an object's shader trace a ray when hitting a transparent portion.<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/render/cycles/render_settings/light_paths.html#transparency</ref> In cases where many objects with alpha transparency overlap, such as leaves or grass, it may be beneficial to remove the transparent portions. <ref>[https://youtu.be/8gSyEpt4-60?si=yKZp6k1iYtFfiVPH Blender Guru: 18 Ways to Speed Up Cycles Rendering - Remove Alpha Transparency]</ref> However, it's possible that any performance improvement is negated by the cost any additional geometry needed to remove alpha transparent faces.

	Volumetric shaders may introduce additional noise and render time.<ref>[https://youtu.be/8gSyEpt4-60?t=1931 Blender Guru: 18 Ways to Speed Up Cycles Rendering - Remove Volumetrics]</ref> In cases where volumetric shaders are used for god-rays, 2D emissive plans can make a suitable substitute.		Volumetric shaders may introduce additional noise and render time.<ref>[https://youtu.be/8gSyEpt4-60?t=1931 Blender Guru: 18 Ways to Speed Up Cycles Rendering - Remove Volumetrics]</ref> In cases where volumetric shaders are used for god-rays, 2D emissive plans can make a suitable substitute.

Standingpad: Add mention of light tree bug

2025-07-07T20:19:02Z

Add mention of light tree bug

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:19, 7 July 2025
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	Beyond adjusting the sample count, there are alternate settings in Cycles specifically related to sampling. In particular, adjusting [[Adaptive Sampling\|adaptive sampling]] settings to kick in earlier on can reduce render times, at the cost of more noise.<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/4.4/render/cycles/render_settings/sampling.html#adaptive-sampling</ref> Setting the noise threshold to <math>0.03</math> instead of <math>0.01</math> may be a good compromise of quality and render times.		Beyond adjusting the sample count, there are alternate settings in Cycles specifically related to sampling. In particular, adjusting [[Adaptive Sampling\|adaptive sampling]] settings to kick in earlier on can reduce render times, at the cost of more noise.<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/4.4/render/cycles/render_settings/sampling.html#adaptive-sampling</ref> Setting the noise threshold to <math>0.03</math> instead of <math>0.01</math> may be a good compromise of quality and render times.

	Another sampling related setting in Cycles is [[Light Tree\|light tree]], which reduces noise in scenes with a large amount of lights<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/4.4/render/cycles/render_settings/sampling.html#lights</ref>.		Another sampling related setting in Cycles is [[Light Tree\|light tree]], which reduces noise in scenes with a large amount of lights<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/4.4/render/cycles/render_settings/sampling.html#lights</ref>. Note that issues may result from overlapping area lights, though this may be a bug.<ref>https://projects.blender.org/blender/blender/issues/141576</ref>

	==== Light Paths ====		==== Light Paths ====

Standingpad: Fixed light tree link

2025-07-07T18:51:43Z

Fixed light tree link

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:51, 7 July 2025
Line 31:		Line 31:
	Beyond adjusting the sample count, there are alternate settings in Cycles specifically related to sampling. In particular, adjusting [[Adaptive Sampling\|adaptive sampling]] settings to kick in earlier on can reduce render times, at the cost of more noise.<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/4.4/render/cycles/render_settings/sampling.html#adaptive-sampling</ref> Setting the noise threshold to <math>0.03</math> instead of <math>0.01</math> may be a good compromise of quality and render times.		Beyond adjusting the sample count, there are alternate settings in Cycles specifically related to sampling. In particular, adjusting [[Adaptive Sampling\|adaptive sampling]] settings to kick in earlier on can reduce render times, at the cost of more noise.<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/4.4/render/cycles/render_settings/sampling.html#adaptive-sampling</ref> Setting the noise threshold to <math>0.03</math> instead of <math>0.01</math> may be a good compromise of quality and render times.

	Another sampling related setting in Cycles is [[Light ~~Trees~~\|light tree]], which reduces noise in scenes with a large amount of lights<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/4.4/render/cycles/render_settings/sampling.html#lights</ref>.		Another sampling related setting in Cycles is [[Light Tree\|light tree]], which reduces noise in scenes with a large amount of lights<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/4.4/render/cycles/render_settings/sampling.html#lights</ref>.

	==== Light Paths ====		==== Light Paths ====

Standingpad: Remove cost from light tree since it's not relevant

2025-07-07T18:46:56Z

Remove cost from light tree since it's not relevant

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:46, 7 July 2025
Line 31:		Line 31:
	Beyond adjusting the sample count, there are alternate settings in Cycles specifically related to sampling. In particular, adjusting [[Adaptive Sampling\|adaptive sampling]] settings to kick in earlier on can reduce render times, at the cost of more noise.<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/4.4/render/cycles/render_settings/sampling.html#adaptive-sampling</ref> Setting the noise threshold to <math>0.03</math> instead of <math>0.01</math> may be a good compromise of quality and render times.		Beyond adjusting the sample count, there are alternate settings in Cycles specifically related to sampling. In particular, adjusting [[Adaptive Sampling\|adaptive sampling]] settings to kick in earlier on can reduce render times, at the cost of more noise.<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/4.4/render/cycles/render_settings/sampling.html#adaptive-sampling</ref> Setting the noise threshold to <math>0.03</math> instead of <math>0.01</math> may be a good compromise of quality and render times.

	Another sampling related setting in Cycles is [[Light Trees\|light tree]], which reduces noise in scenes with a ~~heavy~~ amount of lights<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/4.4/render/cycles/render_settings/sampling.html#lights</ref>~~, but may cause more noise in scenes with fewer lights~~.		Another sampling related setting in Cycles is [[Light Trees\|light tree]], which reduces noise in scenes with a large amount of lights<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/4.4/render/cycles/render_settings/sampling.html#lights</ref>.

	==== Light Paths ====		==== Light Paths ====

Standingpad: Make portal examples use tabber

2025-07-07T16:42:07Z

Make portal examples use tabber

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:42, 7 July 2025
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	For a long time, light portals were a suggested method of decreasing noise in interior scenes.<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/render/cycles/light_settings.html#render-cycles-lights-area-portals</ref><ref>[https://youtu.be/8gSyEpt4-60?t=458 Blender Guru: 18 Ways to Speed Up Cycles Rendering - Use Portals]</ref> However, in practice, light portals do not seem to make any difference in noise quality, both with large exterior gaps and small exterior gaps, while also slightly increasing render times. For this reason, light portals '''are not recommended''' as of Blender 3.0+. Cycles Legacy (Blender 2.61 to 2.93) may see benefits from portals, but more tests are needed.		For a long time, light portals were a suggested method of decreasing noise in interior scenes.<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/render/cycles/light_settings.html#render-cycles-lights-area-portals</ref><ref>[https://youtu.be/8gSyEpt4-60?t=458 Blender Guru: 18 Ways to Speed Up Cycles Rendering - Use Portals]</ref> However, in practice, light portals do not seem to make any difference in noise quality, both with large exterior gaps and small exterior gaps, while also slightly increasing render times. For this reason, light portals '''are not recommended''' as of Blender 3.0+. Cycles Legacy (Blender 2.61 to 2.93) may see benefits from portals, but more tests are needed.

	<gallery mode="packed" heights="400px" caption="4096 samples, 0.03 noise threshold~~, large gap~~">		<tabber>
			\|-\|Large Gap=
			<gallery mode="packed" heights="400px" caption="4096 samples, 0.03 noise threshold">
	File:Portals Test- Nishita - No Portals.jpg\|alt=Heatmap of sample count in a scene without portals\|Heatmap of sample count in a scene without portals		File:Portals Test- Nishita - No Portals.jpg\|alt=Heatmap of sample count in a scene without portals\|Heatmap of sample count in a scene without portals
	File:Portals Test- Nishita - With Portals.jpg\|alt=Heatmap of sample count in a scene with portals\|Heatmap of sample count in a scene with portals. Note the lack of any major difference to the heatmap without portals		File:Portals Test- Nishita - With Portals.jpg\|alt=Heatmap of sample count in a scene with portals\|Heatmap of sample count in a scene with portals. Note the lack of any major difference to the heatmap without portals
	</gallery>		</gallery>

	<gallery mode="packed" heights="400px" caption="4096 samples, 0.03 noise threshold~~, small gap~~">		\|-\|Small Gap=
	File:Portals Test- Nishita - No Portals Small Gap.jpg\|alt=Heatmap of sample count in a scene without portals and small gap\|Heatmap of sample count in a scene without portals ~~and small gap~~		<gallery mode="packed" heights="400px" caption="4096 samples, 0.03 noise threshold">
	File:Portals Test- Nishita - With Portals Small Gap.jpg\|alt=Heatmap of sample count in a scene with portals and small gap\|Heatmap of sample count in a scene with portals ~~and small gap~~. Note the lack of any major difference to the heatmap without portals		File:Portals Test- Nishita - No Portals Small Gap.jpg\|alt=Heatmap of sample count in a scene without portals and small gap\|Heatmap of sample count in a scene without portals
			File:Portals Test- Nishita - With Portals Small Gap.jpg\|alt=Heatmap of sample count in a scene with portals and small gap\|Heatmap of sample count in a scene with portals. Note the lack of any major difference to the heatmap without portals
	</gallery>		</gallery>
			</tabber>

	In theory, path guiding is a more viable alternative, though only CPU rendering is supported.<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/render/cycles/render_settings/sampling.html#path-guiding</ref>		In theory, path guiding is a more viable alternative, though only CPU rendering is supported.<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/render/cycles/render_settings/sampling.html#path-guiding</ref>

Standingpad: Add interior scene examples

2025-07-07T16:34:26Z

Add interior scene examples

@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 Some scenes may allow for reducing max light bounces further down to <math>4</math> or even <math>3</math>. However, it should be noted that adjustments the range of <math>1</math> to <math>5</math> typically introduce larger changes to the scene than higher ranges.<ref>[https://youtu.be/8gSyEpt4-60?t=307 Blender Guru: 18 Ways to Speed Up Cycles Rendering - Reduce Light Bounces]</ref>
 <gallery mode="packed" heights="400px">
 File:Adaptive Sampling Example - Noisy Image.jpg|8 light bounces|alt=Noisy image of a forest scene
@@ Line 49: / Line 51: @@
 File:Adaptive Sampling Example - 0 Bounces.jpg|0 bounces (direct light only, no global illumination)|alt=Noisy image of a forest scene
 </gallery>
 In addition to max light bounces, there is also stepping rate and max steps. Stepping rate defines how many "steps" is performed in a volumetric object, where lower values allow for more detail, at the cost of render time, and max steps defines how many steps Cycles will perform for volumes before giving up<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/4.4/render/cycles/render_settings/volumes.html</ref>. Depending on the scene, the default value of <math>1</math> may be excessively low, and increasing the rate may allow for performance improvements. In addition, decreasing max steps may also improve render times, at the cost of detail.
@@ Line 58: / Line 71: @@
 Fast GI approximation can also improve render times<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/4.4/render/cycles/render_settings/light_paths.html#fast-gi-approximation</ref>, though it can also drastically change how a scene looks.
 <gallery mode="packed" heights="400px">
 File:Adaptive Sampling Example - Noisy Image.jpg|Without Fast GI|alt=Noisy image of a forest scene
@@ Line 63: / Line 78: @@
 File:Adaptive Sampling Example - Fast GI after 2 bounces.jpg|Fast GI approximation after 2 light bounces|alt=Noisy image of a forest scene
 </gallery>
 ==== Shaders ====

Standingpad: Add cost mention to alpha transparency tip

2025-07-07T14:22:05Z

Add cost mention to alpha transparency tip

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:22, 7 July 2025
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	Like glass, the emission shader is often linked to increased noise.		Like glass, the emission shader is often linked to increased noise.

	Alpha transparency may introduce slow down when rendering as Cycles has to execute an object's shader trace a ray when hitting a transparent portion.<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/render/cycles/render_settings/light_paths.html#transparency</ref> In cases where many objects with alpha transparency overlap, such as leaves or grass, it may be beneficial to remove the transparent portions. <ref>[https://youtu.be/8gSyEpt4-60?si=yKZp6k1iYtFfiVPH Blender Guru: 18 Ways to Speed Up Cycles Rendering - Remove Alpha Transparency]</ref>		Alpha transparency may introduce slow down when rendering as Cycles has to execute an object's shader trace a ray when hitting a transparent portion.<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/render/cycles/render_settings/light_paths.html#transparency</ref> In cases where many objects with alpha transparency overlap, such as leaves or grass, it may be beneficial to remove the transparent portions. <ref>[https://youtu.be/8gSyEpt4-60?si=yKZp6k1iYtFfiVPH Blender Guru: 18 Ways to Speed Up Cycles Rendering - Remove Alpha Transparency]</ref> However, this may also be negated by the cost any additional geometry needed to remove alpha transparent faces.

	Volumetric shaders may introduce additional noise and render time.<ref>[https://youtu.be/8gSyEpt4-60?t=1931 Blender Guru: 18 Ways to Speed Up Cycles Rendering - Remove Volumetrics]</ref> In cases where volumetric shaders are used for god-rays, 2D emissive plans can make a suitable substitute.		Volumetric shaders may introduce additional noise and render time.<ref>[https://youtu.be/8gSyEpt4-60?t=1931 Blender Guru: 18 Ways to Speed Up Cycles Rendering - Remove Volumetrics]</ref> In cases where volumetric shaders are used for god-rays, 2D emissive plans can make a suitable substitute.

	==== Lights ====		==== Lights ====

Standingpad: Changed recommendation for light portals and added examples

2025-07-07T06:46:07Z

Changed recommendation for light portals and added examples

@@ Line 78: / Line 78: @@
 Smaller lights (and by extension smaller beam spread values for area lights) can make it harder for samples to converge in a scene, leading to additional noise.
-For interior scenes, light portals can also be used on near windows to reduce noise from environment light.<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/render/cycles/light_settings.html#render-cycles-lights-area-portals</ref><ref>[https://youtu.be/8gSyEpt4-60?t=458 Blender Guru: 18 Ways to Speed Up Cycles Rendering - Use Portals]</ref>
+For a long time, light portals were a suggested method of decreasing noise in interior scenes.<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/render/cycles/light_settings.html#render-cycles-lights-area-portals</ref><ref>[https://youtu.be/8gSyEpt4-60?t=458 Blender Guru: 18 Ways to Speed Up Cycles Rendering - Use Portals]</ref> However, in practice, light portals do not seem to make any difference in noise quality, both with large exterior gaps and small exterior gaps, while also slightly increasing render times. For this reason, light portals '''are not recommended''' as of Blender 3.0+. Cycles Legacy (Blender 2.61 to 2.93) may see benefits from portals, but more tests are needed.
 ==== Objects ====

Standingpad: Changed galleries to packed with max heights

2025-07-07T04:46:11Z

Changed galleries to packed with max heights

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:46, 7 July 2025
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	Some scenes may allow for reducing max light bounces further down to <math>4</math> or even <math>3</math>. However, it should be noted that adjustments the range of <math>1</math> to <math>5</math> typically introduce larger changes to the scene than higher ranges.<ref>[https://youtu.be/8gSyEpt4-60?t=307 Blender Guru: 18 Ways to Speed Up Cycles Rendering - Reduce Light Bounces]</ref>		Some scenes may allow for reducing max light bounces further down to <math>4</math> or even <math>3</math>. However, it should be noted that adjustments the range of <math>1</math> to <math>5</math> typically introduce larger changes to the scene than higher ranges.<ref>[https://youtu.be/8gSyEpt4-60?t=307 Blender Guru: 18 Ways to Speed Up Cycles Rendering - Reduce Light Bounces]</ref>

	<gallery mode="~~slideshow~~">		<gallery mode="packed" heights="400px">
	File:Adaptive Sampling Example - Noisy Image.jpg\|8 light bounces\|alt=Noisy image of a forest scene		File:Adaptive Sampling Example - Noisy Image.jpg\|8 light bounces\|alt=Noisy image of a forest scene
	File:Adaptive Sampling Example - 4 Bounces.jpg\|4 light bounces\|alt=Noisy image of a forest scene		File:Adaptive Sampling Example - 4 Bounces.jpg\|4 light bounces\|alt=Noisy image of a forest scene
Line 58:		Line 58:
	Fast GI approximation can also improve render times<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/4.4/render/cycles/render_settings/light_paths.html#fast-gi-approximation</ref>, though it can also drastically change how a scene looks.		Fast GI approximation can also improve render times<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/4.4/render/cycles/render_settings/light_paths.html#fast-gi-approximation</ref>, though it can also drastically change how a scene looks.

	<gallery mode="~~slideshow~~">		<gallery mode="packed" heights="400px">
	File:Adaptive Sampling Example - Noisy Image.jpg\|Without Fast GI\|alt=Noisy image of a forest scene		File:Adaptive Sampling Example - Noisy Image.jpg\|Without Fast GI\|alt=Noisy image of a forest scene
	File:Adaptive Sampling Example - Fast GI after 1 bounce.jpg\|Fast GI approximation after 1 light bounce\|alt=Noisy image of a forest scene		File:Adaptive Sampling Example - Fast GI after 1 bounce.jpg\|Fast GI approximation after 1 light bounce\|alt=Noisy image of a forest scene

Standingpad: Add Fast GI examples

2025-07-07T00:27:47Z

Add Fast GI examples

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:27, 7 July 2025
Line 57:		Line 57:

	Fast GI approximation can also improve render times<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/4.4/render/cycles/render_settings/light_paths.html#fast-gi-approximation</ref>, though it can also drastically change how a scene looks.		Fast GI approximation can also improve render times<ref>https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/4.4/render/cycles/render_settings/light_paths.html#fast-gi-approximation</ref>, though it can also drastically change how a scene looks.

			<gallery mode="slideshow">
			File:Adaptive Sampling Example - Noisy Image.jpg\|Without Fast GI\|alt=Noisy image of a forest scene
			File:Adaptive Sampling Example - Fast GI after 1 bounce.jpg\|Fast GI approximation after 1 light bounce\|alt=Noisy image of a forest scene
			File:Adaptive Sampling Example - Fast GI after 2 bounces.jpg\|Fast GI approximation after 2 light bounces\|alt=Noisy image of a forest scene
			</gallery>

	==== Shaders ====		==== Shaders ====