I still haven't figured that out - I scaned my manual's index, and it wasn't mentioned. Is that the size of the squares it renders in, possibly?

Wait, wait. I just figured it out - It IS the squares that FireFly renders in. Changing the bucket size to a smaller square should take up less RAM, but give longer rendering times - but setting the bucket size to larger sizes takes up more less rendering time, but more RAM. Am I right on this?

Err....."but setting the bucket size to larger sizes takes up less rendering time" . That's how that should read.

Yes, you are correct.

seems to be right.but the default setting of 32 seems to be some optimum.tried 64x64 no increase of speed or only a little bit. making smaller i didnt try,think it has something to do,how ff calculates antialiasing.and how its done where one bucket hits the next.

Attached Link: Fire Fly

Thanks for the thread, Nerd.

Thanks for this...considering bucket size was what was killing my render times in Default FF mode...

At the risk of starting an agrument, here is the stock answer: "Read the manual". Specifically, look in the section on Renderings and FireFly Settings.

From the Poser 5 printed manual, chapter 46, "Using The FireFly Render Engine", page 335, paragraph 2: Bucket Size: The bucket is the area being rendered at any one time... Increasing the bucket size increases the area being rendered at once but requires greater system resources. Use caution when enlarging the bucket beyond its default size, and monitor your system resources.

Jhoagland...I have read the manual, and in fact quoted it....in a different thread...but what it says and what it means are 2 different birds.... Because...if you DECREASE the bucket size...it increases your render time, and vice versa... For me, if I see "requires greater system resources", I equate that to mean slower render time, and I think many of us assumed that...but it is just the opposite.

Not to belabor the point, but the manual in this case is correct, it has just been misinterpreted. Perhaps the manual could have been a little clearer.

yes..misinterpreted...a good topic for the future Poser for Dummies book