Render Pixel Sampler - Revision history

Matt at 04:30, 28 September 2019

2019-09-28T04:30:31Z

Matt at 04:28, 28 September 2019

2019-09-28T04:28:18Z

Matt at 04:26, 28 September 2019

2019-09-28T04:26:11Z

Matt at 04:25, 28 September 2019

2019-09-28T04:25:03Z

Matt at 03:59, 28 September 2019

2019-09-28T03:59:34Z

Matt at 03:59, 28 September 2019

2019-09-28T03:59:03Z

Matt at 03:56, 28 September 2019

2019-09-28T03:56:58Z

Matt at 03:55, 28 September 2019

2019-09-28T03:55:40Z

Matt at 03:53, 28 September 2019

2019-09-28T03:53:37Z

Matt at 03:48, 28 September 2019

2019-09-28T03:48:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:30, 28 September 2019
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	[[Image:RenderPixelSampler_2019-09-27.png\|Render Pixel Sampler]]		[[Image:RenderPixelSampler_2019-09-27.png\|Render Pixel Sampler]]
		+
		+	=== Render Pixel Sampler ===

	The Render Pixel Sampler can be opened from [[Render]] > Quality > "Edit sampling".		The Render Pixel Sampler can be opened from [[Render]] > Quality > "Edit sampling".

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:28, 28 September 2019
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	[[Image:RenderPixelSampler_2019-09-27.png\|Render Pixel Sampler]]		[[Image:RenderPixelSampler_2019-09-27.png\|Render Pixel Sampler]]
−
−
−	~~=== Description ===~~

	The Render Pixel Sampler can be opened from [[Render]] > Quality > "Edit sampling".		The Render Pixel Sampler can be opened from [[Render]] > Quality > "Edit sampling".

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:26, 28 September 2019
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	[[Image:RenderPixelSampler_2019-09-27.png\|Render Pixel Sampler]]		[[Image:RenderPixelSampler_2019-09-27.png\|Render Pixel Sampler]]

		+
		+	=== Description ===

	The Render Pixel Sampler can be opened from [[Render]] > Quality > "Edit sampling".		The Render Pixel Sampler can be opened from [[Render]] > Quality > "Edit sampling".

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:25, 28 September 2019
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	The Render Pixel Sampler can be opened from [[Render]] > Quality > "Edit sampling".		The Render Pixel Sampler can be opened from [[Render]] > Quality > "Edit sampling".

		+	The Render Pixel Sampler is a node containing the parameters for the adaptive pixel sampler. It is contained in the internal network of the Render node. It is safe to delete a Render Pixel Sampler node, but another one may be created with default settings the next time an image is rendered or you press the Edit Sampling button. You should not create additional Render Pixel Sampler nodes as this may result in unexpected behaviour.

	=== Anti-aliasing ===		=== Anti-aliasing ===

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 One of the most important settings for controlling the quality of your image—and the time it takes to render—is the '''Anti-aliasing''' (AA) parameter on the Quality tab of the renderer. This parameter is also shown in the Render Pixel Sampler. The square of the anti-aliasing number tells you the maximum number of primary rays that are traced per pixel of the image, or in other words the maximum samples per pixel. An anti-aliasing value of 3 means that up to 9 samples can be taken per pixel; a value of 8 means that some pixels may take up to 64 samples, and this is usually enough for very good images. Adaptive sampling techniques are used to avoid taking the maximum number of samples where the sampler detects that the contrast between adjacent samples is below some threshold. This can be an effective way to concentrate anti-aliasing work where it is needed most, to increase quality and reduce the render time.
-==== Typical Anti-aliasing Values ====
+===== Typical Anti-aliasing Values =====
 For scenes that are primarily composed just of terrain and clouds, with few or no objects, you may be able to keep AA relatively low - such as 4 or 6 - and achieve good quality. When more objects are included, especially those with fine geometry like plant populations, it is likely you will need to use higher values like 8-12. Always use the lowest value you can as this setting directly affects the number of samples that are taken for every pixel, and can have a large impact on render time. In some cases that render time may be essentially wasted if the amount of aliasing (mostly seen as unnaturally jagged or sharp edges) in a typical render is not particularly high. As always you can test on crop renders to get a good idea of the right values in a shorter time.

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 If you uncheck '''Customise sampling''' these two adaptive sampling parameters will be reset to the default settings for the Anti-aliasing parameter. Each AA value is like a preset that has a different set of defaults.
-==== Technical Details ====
+=== Technical Details ===
 ''The following details apply to the Legacy adaptive sampler. The Robust adaptive sampler is more complex, but it uses many of the same fundamentals''.

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 By default, the '''Anti-aliasing''' parameter is like a preset that controls the parameters of the adaptive pixel sampler. You don't need to know exactly how these parameters are affected by the anti-aliasing preset; we've selected good presets so that you don't need to think about it. However, if you enable '''Customise sampling''' you can precisely control the parameters of the adaptive sampler. These parameters are '''First sampling level''' and '''Pixel noise threshold''' (PNT).
-'''First sampling level:''' This essentially controls how "adaptive" the anti-aliasing is, i.e. the range of possible sampling values, from the maximum number (set by the anti-aliasing value itself, e.g. 8) to the minimum number, which is some fraction of the max. The smaller fraction the minimum value is vs. the maximum, the more adaptive the AA is, and the more potential render time can be saved. However higher levels of adaptivity do have the potential to result in increased noise in some areas or to completely miss some important details in the image. When changing the first sampling level, notice how it changes the minimum number of samples per pixel in the text below the Anti-aliasing slider.
+'''First sampling level:''' This essentially controls how "adaptive" the anti-aliasing is, i.e. the range of possible sampling values, from the maximum number (set by the anti-aliasing value itself, e.g. 8) to the minimum number, which is some fraction of the max. The smaller fraction the minimum value is vs. the maximum, the more adaptive the AA is, and the more potential render time can be saved. However higher levels of adaptivity do have the potential to result in increased noise in some areas or to completely miss some important details in the image. When you change the first sampling level, notice how it changes the minimum number of samples per pixel in the text below the Anti-aliasing slider.
 '''Pixel noise threshold:''' This allows you to control at what point the adaptive sampling system will determine that a given level of identified noise is "too much" and will thus use more samples to reduce noise in that area. More samples = smoother results but longer render time. The higher the PNT value, the more noisy the image can be before more samples are used. In other words the adaptive sampler becomes more "tolerant" of noise with higher values. An important part of this to keep in mind, however, is that the adaptive sampler can only use a maximum number of samples as specified in the main anti-aliasing value, and can only reduce samples by the fraction you set in the First Sampling Level. So you can have a relatively high PNT, but still be using too many samples if your actual AA value is high (e.g. AA 12) and/or the First Sampling Level is conservative (e.g. 1/4).

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 ===== Resetting to default sampling =====
-If you uncheck '''Customise sampling''' these two adaptive sampling parameters will be reset to the default settings for the current AA preset (Anti-aliasing parameter). Each AA preset has a different set of defaults.
+If you uncheck '''Customise sampling''' these two adaptive sampling parameters will be reset to the default settings for the Anti-aliasing parameter. Each AA value is like a preset that has a different set of defaults.
 ==== Technical Details ====

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:53, 28 September 2019
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	'''Pixel noise threshold:''' This allows you to control at what point the adaptive sampling system will determine that a given level of identified noise is "too much" and will thus use more samples to reduce noise in that area. More samples = smoother results but longer render time. The higher the PNT value, the more noisy the image can be before more samples are used. In other words the adaptive sampler becomes more "tolerant" of noise with higher values. An important part of this to keep in mind, however, is that the adaptive sampler can only use a maximum number of samples as specified in the main anti-aliasing value, and can only reduce samples by the fraction you set in the First Sampling Level. So you can have a relatively high PNT, but still be using too many samples if your actual AA value is high (e.g. AA 12) and/or the First Sampling Level is conservative (e.g. 1/4).		'''Pixel noise threshold:''' This allows you to control at what point the adaptive sampling system will determine that a given level of identified noise is "too much" and will thus use more samples to reduce noise in that area. More samples = smoother results but longer render time. The higher the PNT value, the more noisy the image can be before more samples are used. In other words the adaptive sampler becomes more "tolerant" of noise with higher values. An important part of this to keep in mind, however, is that the adaptive sampler can only use a maximum number of samples as specified in the main anti-aliasing value, and can only reduce samples by the fraction you set in the First Sampling Level. So you can have a relatively high PNT, but still be using too many samples if your actual AA value is high (e.g. AA 12) and/or the First Sampling Level is conservative (e.g. 1/4).
		+
		+	===== Resetting to default sampling =====
		+
		+	If you uncheck '''Customise sampling''' these two adaptive sampling parameters will be reset to the default settings for the current AA preset (Anti-aliasing parameter). Each AA preset has a different set of defaults.

	==== Technical Details ====		==== Technical Details ====