I use a PC with quad core Intel proc and 4 gig of RAM using XP home for the OS.

I use P7, P7pro, C6.2 and C7.  There is absolutely nothing that runs faster in poser (either flavor) than Carrara (either flavor) on this rig.  Opening runtimes, loading characters, and most definitely rendering.

In addition, I have experienced exactly two crashes with Carrara in the past year.  When I used poser more frequently, it was pretty much a daily occurrence.  Some days it would crash on mouse twitch multiple times before it started up in a somewhat stable fashion.

There must be some significant differences in the Mac coding for one or both that cause either Carrara to slow down, or poser to speed up.

Klebnor

If you're budget constrained, I have found AVG (free) to be useful.  It doesn't get the absolute highest ratings, but seems to do the job for me.  Did I mention its free?

Just google AVG free.

Klebnor

I agree, although its hard to resist dashing off a composed scene when something catches the eye.  I have enough trouble with relatively primitive content, I don't think I'll be trying any human figures for years.  As a relatively recent convert from poser to Carrara, I am still enjoying learning and experimenting with all the available lighting effects.

Playing with render settings is next.

Thanks for all the help and input.

Absolutely!  Lots of head scratching on that one.

I put the full version in my gallery due to size limit on forum.

Klebnor

Still enjoying it, thanks for your concern.

By the way ShawnDriscoll, the word you were looking for was backpedals.

I do not seek a way out, easy or otherwise.  I stand by my posts.  Eovia no longer exists.  Providing boxes and manuals is a high cost strategy in an age where electronic delivery of software is accelerating, and the marginal unit cost of delivery approaches zero.  This choice is up to the manufacturer.  I personally do not want to pay for a manual which will sit on a shelf (when a searchable PDF is available), nor do I want precious financial resources spent on such production, printing, handling and mailing.

Carrara 7 is a serious upgrade, addressing many issues and incorporating significant new functionality.  DAZ continues to devote resources to develop this product for which I am grateful, manual or not.

Brian, the background is a Carrara Terrain and Realistic Sky and in the foreground is a Danie Maforno object and V4.2 with a texture and clothing.

Attached is a render.  You can see that the spotting only seems to affect the skin texture.  I have not touched the skin shaders, and have tried applying different skin textures.

Thanks for the response, sparrownightmare.

That was my first assumption, so I changed textures a couple of times with no change in the spotting effect.  I doesn't seem to be a texture or shader problem.  I also tried changing lights.  I still get this effect.  I wonder if the artifacts are memory related, there's a lot going on in the scene.

Klebnor

Quote - Klebnor back-peddles, too.

Good one!  Absent an actual contribution to the debate, but unable to contain himself, he pitches meaningless nonsense from the sideline.

You must be so proud.

Quote - Look. I just like to work a model, technique, or whatever, on my screen without having to screw around with a .pdf.  Is that wrong??

As far as  attitudes, Klebnor...you DID call me a "Luddite". You DID insinuate that I was "living in another century".

No offense intended, but don't pitch insults, and then act like a victim when you're called out for it.

BTW if this thread is so "silly" (your word was "silliest") WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE?

1 - No, that's not wrong.  Going on a Carrara forum and bashing the current owner for not catering to a diminishing customer requirement is also not wrong.  Expecting that no one will disagree with you is wrong.  Taking statements out of context is wrong.  Exaggerating and creating false quotes is wrong.

2 - I did not call anyone specific a luddite.  If you identified with the behavior, so be it.  Why do you put "living in another century" in quotation marks, when it is not a direct quote?

3 - No offense taken.  Exactly how did I act like a victim?

4 - Point well taken.  No need to shout.  I am here for the entertainment.  Thanks for playing along.

Klebnor, Ein Koenig unter den Bieren

On average, I read about a book a week.  I have for years.  I do not advocate burning books, nor can this be inferred from my posts.

I do not, however, generally read software manuals for enlightenment or pleasure.

Nor do I, when stuck to remember a function or technique, reach for a paper manual.  I open another window and search for what I want, in the PDF manual or on-line.

"only luddites now read printed material?"

Change the context and introduce an exaggerated claim, not made in the original statement, and it makes for a nice easy straw man to knock down, doesn't it?

Morse-coders?  A horse is faster than a riding lawn mower, so why don't we abandon internal combustion vehicles and go back to hay burners.  Very eco-friendly too.  Ironically, a reverent reference to morse code likely is indicative of a luddite proclivity.

Manuals are specifically designed for reference to technical data.  Frankly, I am quite pleased with a software design house that dispenses with unnecessary costs like printing and shipping manuals (and discs for that matter).  This leaves more resources for development, and decreases unit costs.

"Some folks use both hemispheres of their brain, not just one."  Folks is plural, therefore what you meant to say is "Some folks use both hemispheres of their brains, not just one."  Perhaps you were only using the right hemisphere when you wrote that.

This statement, while trite, is true ... in fact most people use both sides of their brains constantly as each side controls motor functions in the opposite side of the body.  It makes walking difficult if you only use one side.

Well, back to Carrara 7.  Look ma, no manual!

Regarding "one crash away from nothing", my experience with DAZ over the years has shown that they bend over backwards to ensure that software which has been purchased is available.  I tend to backup constantly, so this has rarely been an issue, but they reset downloads promptly for users who have problems.

It is difficult to adjust to new methods, but at some time we all look around and realize things have changed and we now accept what was one unthinkable as the status quo ante.

Klebnor mit Spaetzle

This is one of the silliest threads I have ever read.  Please, join us in the 21st century.  When a full color, searchable manual is available, the hard copy is nothing more than fire starting material.  In the old days, we wished for a searchable, electronic manual.   Now it's here, and luddites come crawling out of the woodwork to bawl.

May I invite you to punish DAZ by not purchasing this excellent software - that will teach them a lesson!

Sheesh.