Many scenes have lots of named surfaces- is there a way to add the gather node to them all in one go?

Maybe a Python script could do it. A request in the Python forum may get someone to write one for you, or someone in here might write one.

they may be able to do it. perhaps it would help them if ya told 'em why ya wanted all surfaces to have the "gather" node.

Quote - they may be able to do it. perhaps it would help them if ya told 'em why ya wanted all surfaces to have the "gather" node.

will do-- the gather node enables the Global illumination solution . . . eg a surface with a gather node "looks" to the scene for ambient light, not just to the identified light sources. Firefly doesn't have the world's fastest GI solutions but its good enough, and less work than hauling the scene into some other app.

no, that's incorrect. activation of GI obviates the need for the "gather" node, which may have been added (and tested, unlike GI) in order for users to have a more fully documented means of faking radiosity.

Quote - no, that's incorrect. activation of GI obviates the need for the "gather" node, which may have been added (and tested, unlike GI) in order for users to have a more fully documented means of faking radiosity.

Oh. Hmmm. Going to have to take a look at this, then . . . I appreciate the tip.

*no, that's incorrect. activation of GI obviates the need for the "gather" node,
which may have been added (and tested, unlike GI) in order for users to
have a more fully documented means of faking radiosity.

Well the Gather node gives you far more control over the GI feel for each surface.  In particular, you can modify the angle, which is very useful for different surfaces.  Also, adding gather nodes on a few materials still provides an acceptable render speed (pick and choose which surfaces need the gather node - not all need it).  Plus you can use the gather node with AO.  And you can tweak the gather node (I sometimes mix it with a ray_traced reflection using an adge_blend).

So IMHO, the Gather node is a viable option than the "secret" GI option in FF.

yeah, I gotta agree there. 300 hrs. per GI render is not viable, at least for me. :lol: