Howdy folks :biggrin:

I'm wondering about irradiance maps, are they effected my your renders size? If I render a small preview of a static scene, save the irradiance map, then load it to render the large final image, will the quality be the same? if they are resolution indepenate, that would be a real time saver on the final render.

Thanks!
-David

Hi David, The irradiance map uses whatever fidelity settings you have when you do the first render and save it. So, if your settings are producing good low res results, it will translate to high res well. Irradiance maps are an ideal time saving tool for multiple renders from the same scene with changes only in camera position - animations included. You probably now this but I have to say it anyhow: if you add something or move objects in your scene besides a camera, the irradiance map becomes invalid for good results.

Ah, ok, so then if i render a high quality 640x480 image and save the map, then i could load the same one and render at like 3000x4000 or something and have the same lighting quality?

Indeed. :-D However, be advised that imperfections visibile at 3Mx4M may not be readily seen at 640x480 ;) "Little things" are easy and quick to remedy in post render though.

Awsome! :woot:

Thanks!

Basically it is a photon map.

Oh yes, works great! :thumbupboth:

I rendered a 400x500 of a scene with full Global on, took almost 2.5hrs. I Had saved the irradiance map, loaded it to use and rendered the exact same pov again same size and it took 7 minutes.

Sweeeeeeeeeet!

Thanks!
-David