A great feature that was working like a charm in Poser 13.0.339 below was to attach a 3D Texture node to a Volume, especially for making Clouds. Since Poser 13.1 up this feature is totally broken, meaning that what took seconds to render now will take Hours, or causing poser to hang. the problem occurs to any Root surface you try using with the Volume attaching a node that contains a 3D Texture. I think this is a pretty Important feature in poser for great effects, for now if it needs to be used you need to run Poser 13.0.339 below in order to make it possible using the Volume node with 3D Texture features. 

No more great Clouds or ghost effects in Poser 13.1 Superfly up, I was sincerely hoping that this Issue has been fixed since it has already been mentioned after the first update to 13.1 the latest two Updates did not fix the Volume Node so hoping that it will come on the next update until then just have to stick with Poser 13.0.339 if there is a need of special effects in the renders.

"I know Fog can still be done with other options but this will not be the alternative or a excuse not fixing the issue" 3D Texture sure is a Important feature making Volume effects without the need of additional props.

Making it understandable here is a sample of a render made in Poser 13.0.339 using the Volume feature for a fogy cloudy atmosphere. The render took 1min 34sec 2000 x 1080.... Poser 13.1 up would take almost an hour rendering the same setup if you cancle the render in P 13.1 it takes 2 min not like in P 13.0.339 in just a second, You also experience a Pc hang if trying to render Volume effects in Poser 13.1 up

Rendered using the Volume feature in Poser 13.0.339 .... not possible anymore since Poser 13.1 up

Hi this is a pretty cool way of adding fog in Superfly, thanks for sharing. Take a look at my setup below, this example is using a box primitive scaled to 2000%, Poser 13.1.518. It renders in a few seconds for me.
The clouds node is from 3D textures / clouds.

Yes exactly the type of setup used, actually one of these, but after the 13.1 updates it is causing a mayor slowdown that is making it almost impossible using such a setup. but still it works fine in the Poser 13.0.339.0 and bellow versions ! So if having a Optix render setting on High there is no way having such a render in 2 min if using Poser 13.1 above. Even runn a full clean up of Poser then a reinstall, resulting to be always the same. 

The example above, if I'm not mistaken, was with preset optix fast, but high worked too. Yes an hour may be too much for the resolution you mentioned, considering a good modern PC.

Does it happen on totally new scenes too? Like doing something similar to mine, a simple box with a single prop or figure?

Maybe something has changed with the lights interaction? I used just HDRI in my example.

@ EVargas nice of you taking your time to investigate :)

Yup Tried every variable every time a full new setup, even changing the Primitives used, went through the whole 3D Texture Line, with each the same issues also used all sorts of lights including Environment lightning . If it is a Driver issue, well that could be a problem finding the NVidia version that is working :( At least it still works in the older P13 versions, but hoping for a solution .... 

The Issue was mentioned already back in October and the solution was to use the new PrincipledVolume, well this does for sure not replace the ability of 3D textures :)

https://www.renderosity.com/forums/threads/2981929/slowdown-in-poser-131449-in-some-cases

So I do not seem to be the only one experiencing the Issue.

If this is reproducible, why not submit a bug report?

ok I tried to reload the GPU Nvidia drivers 2 clean installs Game and studio , Crenels in Poser reloaded the Issue could not be fixed ..... 

@Rhia474

I think the Issue already has been reported over a month ago .... It is also to see how many users are having the issue, if it is just me and a few then it might be a setup problem, if majority encounter the same issue then it is for sure a  Poser problem, allot of times when Reporting a bug then the search starts on the end user machine before it even falls into consideration to check if something is not working right with the program. So first trying to exclude a personal Computer issue, witch I doubt that it is the case meanwhile. Users usually always search in first hand if it is there problem not related with the program used. 

Seems also that there were not much talking after the first report of the issue, so either none is using the feature of clouds or do not bother about it, or it is not a global issue that only a few encounter. Alternative is just run a older version, same if you need older Py scripts, it is getting to normality with Poser keeping every single version in order to work.

Just to say, If I make a creation, then I need Poser 11 ... there I have the Simple material room = Fast basic texture setup, I have the essential Py scripts for creations that do not woks in New versions, so stuck on 11 for creations .... then poser 13 for renders and compatibility, further texture setup, Special effects need Poser 13.0.339.0 Superfly works just fine for Promo renders, but well Firefly is broken in this version, can't render with the Backgrounds these change to 1:1 .... this issue has been fixed in Poser 13.1.449 except of the discrepancy of the Firefly render. so back to poser 11 to render correctly in Firefly. Rendering in Superfly ok need to open 13.1 up, if with clouds or 3D textures then 13.0 .... Preview renders using the Tear off option in Poser 13 still not working giving a black Image then again back to P11 .... with time a user knows what works in witch version but actually this should not really be happening all the time else ending up with 10 additional versions every year :)

Ooookayyyyy! Another reason for delaying purchase.  Bugs not gone ye5. 😢

I will see if this is reproducible for me tonight as i have the newest version.

Made a test to be sure using the CPU instead of GPU High setup on Poser 13.0.339.0 and Poser 13.1.518 for about 40 sec render excluding a GPU Bug

Poser 13.1.518 made 2 samples in 44 seconds a fan liftoff and overheating of CPU

Poser 13.0.339 made 86 samples in 40 seconds CPU says cool no fan liftoff

this means that the new releases take over 40 times longer to render then the old version before 13.1 if using Volumes in combination with 3D textures, worst case would be globally using 3D textures. Not a GPU Bug for sure now. The test was made just with a Simple Cube as Cloud carrier no other stuff loaded. CPU and GPU show a a major slowdown on P13.1 up ....

@Rhia474 Yes would be nice to see if or how many others having the same issues .... 

@Sunfire as soon as it is confirmed not to be just my issue then will send them the link to this thread ....

This pretty much confirms what I wrote in another thread.

Setup similar to Evargas:

Using Poser 13.0.339 and Poser 13.1, in their "OptiX Ultra Caustics" variants: 48 second for one and 217 for the other, and up to almost 340 seconds if I use Ali's HR-247 hair to compute.

I ended up buying smoke objects for some scenes 

Y-Phil posted at 2:16 PM Mon, 30 October 2023 - #4477046

This pretty much confirms what I wrote in another thread.

Setup similar to Evargas:

Using Poser 13.0.339 and Poser 13.1, in their "OptiX Ultra Caustics" variants: 48 second for one and 217 for the other, and up to almost 340 seconds if I use Ali's HR-247 hair to compute.

I ended up buying smoke objects for some scenes 

I actually was working on a Atmosphere Package with primitives including alternative Lights, slowly building it up to redistribute for Poser 13 already for a while, A little like a Microcosmos, like the Camera Bot, G-Drone that was made as a alternative Poser camera, the Cam Head light was also a very popular helper. But since the release of P13.1 it was not possible considering a free Atmosphere release if not supported by newer Poser versions. I was really  hoping it to be just a temporary issue or " Is it just me Issue " but now already the latest 3 updates are showing the same slowdown ....

Such a Package is sure worth Gold for a good publicity that poser 13 sure would need, no matter on what poser community site it will be placed. It shows what Poser is capable off and attracts new customers and poser users. It just needs to work else the whole efforts for a good package is just a reminder of what poser was capable of doing.  

I agree with others saying about the support ticket, it would be the best route to investigate, and keep track of it.

Just to share another example from my setup, hdri is simons_town_harbour_4k from Poly Haven, the hair is just a native Poser strand based hair, figure La Femme 2 Pro.

Poser 13.1.518, same box primitive 2000%, superfly preset optixfast 1000x1000, time 40s (I timed between clicking render and the bar disappearing). My PC info in signature.

Here I'm using the clouds texture to drive the density on the PrincipledVolume node. It looks better in my opinion, also when seeing from above. It takes a little longer to render but with more control and better output I think.

There could be chance that the introduction of the PrincipledVolume node might have either changed or broken something with the Volume settings.  All variables need to be examined and then presented to Support for further investigation.

Could whoever posted the support ticket with a fake use name and fake email try again. Maybe with a real email address? I need to get a scene that demonstrates the problem. Can't do that with a fake user.

Sooner or later they will get the attention of this problem in the thread, it is the best way giving info about the issues more people can express the issues they are confronted with at one place, rather then having to exchange loads of e-mails trying to explain detailed issues. Actually it is pretty clear especially for a Poser programmer. Not difficult finding as it concerns the whole 3D Texture section in combination with Volume. So the Volume node seems to be the main issue. Other nodes in combination with 3D texture are not affected in speed. Sure strange that the issues just started after the first 13.1 release 

nerd posted at 7:34 PM Mon, 30 October 2023 - #4477058

Could whoever posted the support ticket with a fake use name and fake email try again. Maybe with a real email address? I need to get a scene that demonstrates the problem. Can't do that with a fake user.

Fog-01 Download

Fog-02 Download

hope this helps .... you will notice the render time difference right away on my side i can get lunch while it renders in Poser 13.1.518 in Poser 13.0.339.0 it is less then a min

OK It's not the 3D Textures but anything plugged into the Density input of the ScatterVolume node. I'll pass this on the the devs so we can get it fixed. If I disconnect the tile (a 2D texture) from the density input it renders in about 5 seconds. Plug it back and it's 5 minutes.

I reiterate, have someone look to see if the problem is associated with the PrincipledVolume node.  That is the only major change that was introduced into Poser 13.1.518.

hborre posted at 10:02 AM Tue, 31 October 2023 - #4477087

I reiterate, have someone look to see if the problem is associated with the PrincipledVolume node.  That is the only major change that was introduced into Poser 13.1.518.

ok it has been added in Poser 13.1.432 - 2023-08-03 - Hardware Preview works better with Cycle shader plus Principled shader node but many other changes also happen ....

I am sure they will find the cause and break something else :) I tip on gamma and pixel shift that was causing problems since the beginning ....

Ive received a response from the support: two other methods to explore the way to create fog: either through the Atmosphere node, or using the PoserSurface node and a Volume node:

Note the checkmark on the atmosphere node or it will do... nothing 

And just in case, the Volume node is here:

Example using the Atmosphere node:

Not slow but wrong results to make Fog .... Using the Volume way will just Place the clouds on the surface of the Primitive not simulate Fog inside, If changing some settings i experienced a hang with strange effect on the primitive casting a heavy shadow on the ground ..... I prefer how it was working before poser updated to 13.1 so if they just offer a lesser quality as option then will just make these effects using a prior poser version 

using the method mentioned with the Volume node I got this result first

changed some settings and got this .... after the change a hang on the material that could not be changed anymore

My expectation is more in this direction just how it was working Poser 13.0.339.0 rendered in less then a minute, sure you can still do it in Poser 13.1.518 but only if you plan taking a break until it is done rendering.  Any way it is now in the hands of the support finding the best solution sometimes things come then they go leaving space for new things ..... The big thing that is bugging me, every time there is a update you can start all over finding new way's and the old just seem stop working the way it was supposed to be working, Sure a very difficult situation for a poser creator that is trying to make releases supporting the new P13 features if they just last up to the next update .... ( Short lifespan of products )

Volume node works fine; same with the Atmosphere, just need to tweak settings to get density you want, I think.

Render Settings:

163 seconds:

Volume node works fine; same with the Atmosphere, just need to tweak settings to get density you want, I think.

163 seconds:

ok I think I found the issue and could fix it with the usual primitive fog setup .... seems that there is something hanging in the render settings that is causing the slowdown, will have to make some more tests with other scenes !

Rendered in less then 30 seconds Optix High setting Poser 13.1.518

Note that when I submitted th problem, Charles responded that they will investigate and correct for the next release. The Volume node and the Atmospheric ones are solutions in-between, if I understood correctly.

Slowly getting there .... It seems that there is a conflict  in Poser 13.1 up, I was able to speed up the setting or slow them down

Here is a sample of the setup used that took forever after the update of Poser 13.1 up ( Still does ) but It can be fixed without support, I might upload a Pz3 Fix fog file when getting a good speed balance.

This is the latest setup I tested with the fix. With the Box Fog

Using the sample that , I think, hborre shared at the time .... a good option of many that are giving good results with the 3D Cloud tex node

This is the final render Optix High 1500x2000 ++ rendered in 1min 37sec

Note that when I submitted th problem, Charles responded that they will investigate and correct for the next release. The Volume node and the Atmospheric ones are solutions in-between, if I understood correctly.

easy fix for poser 13.1 up 

just set the Atmosphere " Volume_Density " to 1000 this will speed up the render back to max, Do not turn it on if you use the Primitives as Smoke or Fog objects, save your setup this should keep it that way and you will not encounter other speed loss with textured models you have that might get in conflict with this error, as I am pretty sure that many other material and model setups are affected causing a render slowdown.

sorry meant that you have to set the Volume_StepSize to 1000 not the Volume_ Density :)

This is the Fog cube used with the Fix as Pz3 file that will set Poser to render fast. You can set up the Materials in the Cloud Box to your preferences depending on your Scene. it will also set the Volume_StepSize to 1000 .... but best would be you have this setting saved into your Preference when loading Poser in case other material settings are affected .

FogSmoke SpeedFix P13.1 Up Download 

Great work. I tested a picture with and without fog. The background and lighting is the HDRI Secluded Beach in 8K from Poly Heaven.
Thanks

Rendersettings:

The Image:

Holy crap! Off-topic, but is that Chakan?!

Holy crap! Off-topic, but is that Chakan?!

Still off-topic, but I've got to ask, where did you get him?

CobraBlade posted at 5:42 PM Sun, 10 December 2023 - #4478910

Still off-topic, but I've got to ask, where did you get him?

sorry but not allowed to drop a link where one could get this poser model, they do not like this in here ....