"Optimized for Iray" in Product Descriptions. Clarification?
GeoffreyHawkins
Posts: 255
in The Commons
I'm noticing more product descriptions using the phrase "Optimized for Iray" instead of the usual "DAZ Studio Iray material presets."
Is there a distinction between the two? Or are they both essentially saying the same thing? A product either has Iray presets only or has both Iray and 3Delight. I'm just not sure how to interpret "optimization."
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An Iray preset would assure that object renders correctly in Iray.
The Iray rendering system presents a number of challenges including that GPU memory limits are generally more constrained (due to the limitations of the graphics card), no micropoly displacement (which instead can be simulated--to a degree by subdividing), and several other specifics to the design of Iray shaders and lighting models. An object optimized for Iray would presumably have geometry and texture choices in mind when it was created to maximize the results with Iray based rendering while minimizing the limitations imposed by Iray. I think the exact degree to which the specifics what "Iray optimazion" means is less cut and dried, but it would seem to indicate the artist prepared the model and texture with the Iray rendering process in mind, versus adding an Iray specific shader to an existing model. I take to read, "this object was prepared by the artist to maximize the use of the Iray renderer..."
I guess I'm just wanting to know about the product's out--of-box functionality. I'm not a shader mechanic so is the product going to load 3Delight ready? If not, then is it not essentially loading with Iray presets? I can use workarounds on Iray presets and I'm just wondering If "optimized for Iray" would require similar tweaking.
To me "Optimized for IRay" equals "IRay only" equals "nothing to see here, move on!"
That was my initial assumption as well, but why not simply use the standard "DAZ Studio Iray material presets" line in the description?
And for instance - the product description for AntFarm's Bradbury Suspended Rail System uses the 'Optimized for Iray" tag but the also lists "Daz Studio 3Delight Material Presets for Lights (.DUF)". So how exactly does that work? When you apply the 3Delight presets to the light material zones, what is then the status of the non-light material zones?
I asked him in the commercial thread. There are area light presets for emissives, and he said it renders just fine in 3DL. Set look very nice btw.
Over in the commercial threads area AntFarm has stated that the suspended rail system renders fine in 3DLight even though its materials are set up for Iray. I think he mentioned a couple of things that one might want to tweak as an option. But the model is usable in either engine.
I agree that things can be a bit confusing, Antman probably sold this product to me by clarifying that it renders in 3DL. As stated many times in various threads, DAZ loses sales due to not adding info about products, not to mention making tutorials and user's manuals. I don't really get it
Thanks for the clarifiaction. The Bradbury set just went into my cart based on the feedback. I need to check out the Commercial threads more often.
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In my experience this isn't the case Optimised for Iray often means that the 3dl mats look ok in Iray but there aren't dedicated Iray shaders used
Well if there are 3DL mats included, that's a different story, but no mentioning of them in the product description means there will be a lot of fiddeling and tweaking before you actually get to render the stuff in 3DL, that's why I pass on 99% of the new products nowadays. (Since I really don't need them anyway
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Optimized for IRay is a good thing for IRay users, for 3DL users usually not worth the money/trouble.
This is just my personal point of view, others might feel it's worth paying for a product, then spend a couple of days trying to make it look ok. I actually have a number of IRay only products in my runtime, some work ok after some tweaking, others won't work at all without making new maps, material zones and whatnot. I'm pretty much done with it, and I hate returning stuff, that's time consuming for everyone involved.
...with the current GPU price issue, I am avoiding pretty much anything that doesn't specify 3DL materials in the description. The Grand Piano was one exception as I've waited so long for an accurate rigged model (about ten years) that taking time for manually converting materials is immaterial.
While I did "gear up" on Iray shader kits over the last couple years, most were PC+ items so not a major loss. Others that are still on the wishlist will remain there in hope that something breaks on the GPU front, if not I'll simply delete them.