Hello I have a querey about the render settings on firefly..

There is lots of advice on the net only to use the option 3rd from the end on render settings I think it is  2 ray trace bounce s 3 pixels .

Ok so I did a render HDRI switched on and it finished in like 30 mins for 1000 x 10??

Then I did one max settings same size took like an hour an the quality was exceptional compared to the first render. I tried this with various charactures and the quality of the render was always so much higher - I just want to know why the advice on net is not too go for a full setting render?

Also all the tick boxes at the side for smoothing etc .... do these reduce or increase quality and please could you let me know with ones are best to tick.

I tried displacement maps it took hours to render and it looked really blurred.

Also I am not sure if 2d motion blur makes any difference?

I always put a ray trace on every single object from pupils, to finger nails... is this wise?

The computer seems to be able to hack whatever I throw at it, so it is not time I am worried about I just want the best setting possible.

Also if I want to print them out on A3 full page... which would be the best resolution settings to use? I want this to look damn good on paper ! I have gone up to 2000 x ???? so far.

I have another question on this forum about blank manual renders any help on any of these subjects gratefully appreciated.  I am new to this and its good to get things right asap :-) 

 Getting Started <- a list of tutorials, lots of good info :)

Thanks but I spent about 3 hours looking through these last night... very imformative they have tought me a lot! have pretty much nailed it the above questions were ones I just can't seem to find answers too.

Especially the ones on resultion, 2d motion blur etc.

A3 print size is 11.7 x 16.5 inches. At the usual 300 dpi, you would need to render at a rez of minimum 3510 x 4950. If you want a really crisp print at 600 dpi, then you would render at 4 times that, 7020 x 9900.

As for speed, make sure you're using 4 threads.

What is your computer system and Poser version?  If you are looking to do serious printing you will need to become knowledgeable in Gamma Correction and proper monitor calibration.  These essentials will make or break your rendered image.

Quote - I am new to this and its good to get things right asap :-) 

Damn damn damn.

Sorry, I'm kicking myself. I just lost a whole raft of explanations that I spent the last 20 minutes writing. I put it on the clipboard to see what updates there had been in the meantime. And now it's not there.

Well, I'm at work and shouldn't be doing this anyway... so I can't write it all again, not right now.

I'm guessing you are using Poser Pro, since you mention switching on HDRI - I assume you mean optimise render output for HDR, just above the gamma correction settings?

There's so much to cover just on the Firefly render engine, and it's clear you have a few misconceptions, which is not surprising since you're new! But possibly your main misconception is that anyone can tell you in a few paragraphs how to "get things right". You have in front of you a whole set of controls, some of which adjust the quality of certain things, some of which just switch certain effects on or off. As you learn about Poser, you will find yourself using all of these controls at various settings at various different times - there is no right or wrong way.

We can help you learn what each of the controls does, and that was the basis of the text I wrote. I'll have to leave it until later now, sorry!

My pc is i7 920 6 gigs ram and poser pro ... Thanks for the last few replies I bought myself a canon 9000 pro printer that churns out some amazing photos, with photoshop I have some real issues with the colour however using easyprint afterwards to actually print colour is fine everything comes out looking sweet. I have not tryed a poser print out yet but I was absolutly stunned at an image I rendered the other day so want to print it.

Wow can the resolution go up to  7020 x 9900? If so Im going to try it. Yes I have four rendering threads enabled. However do I tick the seperate process option?  how much memory should i dedicate?

Oh I do realise how much trial and error it will take to get a great render. I have been using poser pro to animate for about 6 months but have been mainly concentrating on movements/morphing. If I was to render my animations in the same resolution it would take about a year for 5 seconds of footage!

Now that I am doing still images I am putting sick amounts of affects on them and am just craving to know more.

IsaoShi, sounds to me you need a vacation.  Do post that reply; I'm interested about what you have to say.  And Andrew, there will be tons of information here in the forum which will keep you just experimenting with your setup.  Post your images in the gallery, we would like to see the artwork.

I will do shortly I have learned tons of new stuff , pulled off quite a large render last night that screwed up a bit but put it back on today will have to wait until i get home from work

How do I know what dpi I am rendering at 300 or 600?

I suppose it depends on the size of the render... I have one rendering at 7020 x 9900 today... will that fit on an A3 or will it be bigger and I will have to shrink to fit it on ?

To change your resolution, click on the upper right-hand arrow of your preview window to open a menu.  Go down the list to 'Render Resolution', that will open another panel for resolution and dimensions input. 

Now, it is better to render larger than smaller for printing; if you need to down size the image, you can sacrifice the loss of pixel data to accommendate.  Upsizing is not recommended due to programs generating pixels not present in the original image.  Therefore, you get fuzzy, unsharp images on a blow up. 

Render Resolution I have never come across this, why does it not have it in the main render settings?

On Render settings I can change the dimensions but there is no option for resolution.... Can't wait to try this is there a noticeable difference though? because the renders I am doing at 7000x9000 look perfect I cannot imagine on them getting any better!

Right I have now found render resolution. Mine has been set at 72 ! I take it I should be using much higher? Today I rendered a 7000x9000 image and it is so detailed..... would it be considerable more detailed if I had rendered it at 600?

 For printing purposes, stick to 300 dpi.  If you intend to print poster size images then bump it.  However, the higher the resolution the bigger the file size.

I am printing on A3 would it make a difference?

my pic won't post?!

my pic won't post?!