SubD Displacement Level, SubDivision Level, Render SubD Level. Which do I use and why?

AnotherUserName

Im wondering if someone could explain these to me. I have SubD Displacement level over in the surface groups and SubDivision Level and Render SubD Level over in the parameters tab. I believe that they have something to do with bringing out detail in the models, but I dont know what combinations I should use or why.

KindredArts

AnotherUserName said:

Im wondering if someone could explain these to me. I have SubD Displacement level over in the surface groups and SubDivision Level and Render SubD Level over in the parameters tab. I believe that they have something to do with bringing out detail in the models, but I dont know what combinations I should use or why.

Subdivision level is how many times the quad polygons are subdivided, thus smoothing the model and bringing out HD details if there are any.

Render Subd does the same thing, but it only shows at render time, which saves the viewport for slowing down.

Surface subd is only for displacement. Its how many times the model is subd'd on top of the normal subd to show displacement detail. Surface displacement actually deforms the mesh, unlike normal maps.

Richard Haseltine

KindredArts said:

AnotherUserName said:

Im wondering if someone could explain these to me. I have SubD Displacement level over in the surface groups and SubDivision Level and Render SubD Level over in the parameters tab. I believe that they have something to do with bringing out detail in the models, but I dont know what combinations I should use or why.

Subdivision level is how many times the quad polygons are subdivided, thus smoothing the model and bringing out HD details if there are any.

Render Subd does the same thing, but it only shows at render time, which saves the viewport for slowing down.

Surface subd is only for displacement. Its how many times the model is subd'd on top of the normal subd to show displacement detail. Surface displacement actually deforms the mesh, unlike normal maps.

The surface setting is an override - you will never get a lower level than the Rednertime SubD in Iray, but if the Displacement SubD is higher on any surfacve then that level will be applied to the whole model.

Render SubD is used by Iray, plain SubD is used by the viewport and by the exporter - which makes it the relevant value for Octane and, I think, LuxRender via Reality.

Brugan

Render SubD is that thing certain unammed PA's like to default at 5 to literally make your video card cry like a baby then melt.

Just sayin'

AnotherUserName

Thanks everyone.