Attached Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n9R812FEIA

After you've reduced the polygons and replicated all over the place what's left? Well I have found working at 1% of original size (for very large scenes) and 10% of original size (for pretty large scenes) allows you to move around the scene easier.

There is no penalty with editing the models, nothing changes there, although you have to watch the lighting rig. Very small models won't cast shadows. This might mean increasing your shadow accuracy, but I'm not convinced at this stage that that solves all of the problems either.

However the reason you are working with such small sizes, is to get lots of models (probably buildings) in your scene, and for far away shots esp. in 3d animation you (may) get away with less shadow accuracy.

More info and scenes at http://www.facebook.com/scififunk

I think the best way to work with lots of people or buildings or any othe rlarge scene is using layers or Planes.

You need to divide your scen into planes and render them in separeted shots, so use a good composite software to create the whole scene, even shadows need to be rendered as a new layers, o you can control them in the composite  with blending, masks and gradients.

Quote - I think the best way to work with lots of people or buildings or any othe rlarge scene is using layers or Planes.

You need to divide your scen into planes and render them in separeted shots, so use a good composite software to create the whole scene, even shadows need to be rendered as a new layers, o you can control them in the composite  with blending, masks and gradients.

Yes, that is the traditional way of doing it isn't it?

It does bring it's own issues though. You have to use masking (It's called Chroma Keyer in Sony vegas). Trouble with this is you have to blur the edges to disguise the layers, which if not done well makes the whole thing look - well - layered!

The main benefit of actually using models is that the scene can be used from any angle (so can be reused later in the movie) and if (big if) lighting issues with 1% objects can be got around you have achieved a natural look for the scene.

Just my thoughts :-)

Yes the traditional way, but I really like to do the storyboard to dont have to recreate things again. I use Hitfilm for post production and in a month I will show some amazing things with Carrara and live action... for now only the title:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NWJy9NaOpDI

I will look forward to seeing your work.