Rendering tests in Apophysis 7X

I recently started using Apophysis 7X. Probably as many others before me, setting the parameters for rendering quality can be a challenge.

I'll keep this simple. Each test I made had only one variable changing. Each test shows what was changed, you will be the judge of what works best for you. Sometimes the difference is quite small, sometimes quite big. Check it out below.


Test one, Filter Radius:
Tests included Filter Radius: 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 0.9

Images were rendered at:
Size: 1024x768   Quality: 1000   Oversample: 2

Comparison between different filter radius settings.

Findings: 

• The higher the filter radius value, the softer the edges of the lines will be. (0.9 being best)
• Difference in time is minimal at the size tested (5 second difference between highest and lowest value)
• Difference in -+0.1 is minimal. Make larger increases/decreases to notice a difference.

FILTER TESTS STATS

--- Rendering "Fae2-1-1000.jpg"" ---

  Size: 1024x768

  Quality: 1000

  Oversample: 2, Filter: 0.1

  Total time: 8 minute(s) 7.27 second(s)

--- Rendering "Fae2-2-1000.jpg"" ---

  Size: 1024x768

  Quality: 1000

  Oversample: 2, Filter: 0.2

  Total time: 8 minute(s) 10.52 second(s)

--- Rendering "Fae2-5-1000.jpg"" ---

  Size: 1024x768

  Quality: 1000

  Oversample: 2, Filter: 0.5

  Total time: 8 minute(s) 8.99 second(s)

--- Rendering "Fae2-9-1000.jpg"" ---

  Size: 1024x768

  Quality: 1000

  Oversample: 2, Filter: 0.9

  Total time: 8 minute(s) 12.63 second(s)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Test two, Oversample:

Tests included Oversample: 1, 2, 3, 4

Images were rendered at:
Size: 1024x768   Quality: 1000   Filter: 0.5

Comparison of oversample settings

Findings: 

• The more oversample you have, the faster it renders (16 second faster between oversample 4 and 1)
• *I* couldn't find much difference in image quality (at least under these test settings)
• Needs to be tested in conjunction with another variable

OVERSAMPLE TESTS STATS

--- Rendering "Fae1-5-1000.jpg"" ---

  Size: 1024x768

  Quality: 1000

  Oversample: 1, Filter: 0.5

  Total time: 8 minute(s) 21.58 second(s)

--- Rendering "Fae2-5-1000.jpg"" ---

  Size: 1024x768

  Quality: 1000

  Oversample: 2, Filter: 0.5

  Total time: 8 minute(s) 8.99 second(s)

--- Rendering "Fae3-5-1000.jpg"" ---

  Size: 1024x768

  Quality: 1000

  Oversample: 3, Filter: 0.5

  Total time: 8 minute(s) 8.92 second(s)

--- Rendering "Fae4-5-1000.jpg"" ---

  Size: 1024x768

  Quality: 1000

  Oversample: 4, Filter: 0.5

  Total time: 8 minute(s) 5.18 second(s)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Test three, Quality Density:

Tests included Quality Density: 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000

Images were rendered at:
Size: 1024x768   Oversample: 2   Filter: 0.5

Comparisons between quality density values

Findings: 

• Difference in quality density drastically affects time
• It is most noticeable in dark areas with light flame strokes 
• Difference between 2000 and 4000 (under these settings) is not that much, might be worth going 2000 to save time.

QUALITY  DENSITY TESTS STATS

--- Rendering "Fae2-5-200.jpg"" ---

  Size: 1024x768

  Quality: 200

  Oversample: 2, Filter: 0.5

  Total time: 1 minute(s) 39.83 second(s)

--- Rendering "Fae2-5-500.jpg"" ---

  Size: 1024x768

  Quality: 500

  Oversample: 2, Filter: 0.5

  Total time: 4 minute(s) 4.83 second(s)

--- Rendering "Fae2-5-1000.jpg"" ---

  Size: 1024x768

  Quality: 1000

  Oversample: 2, Filter: 0.5

  Total time: 8 minute(s) 8.99 second(s)

--- Rendering "Fae2-5-2000.jpg"" ---

  Size: 1024x768

  Quality: 2000

  Oversample: 2, Filter: 0.5

  Total time: 16 minute(s) 17.46 second(s)

--- Rendering "Fae2-5-4000.jpg"" ---

  Size: 1024x768

  Quality: 4000

  Oversample: 2, Filter: 0.5

  Total time: 32 minute(s) 30.84 second(s)

Fixing skin in Vue imported from Daz

One of the first things I noticed when exporting my character from Daz to Vue, was that the skin looked really bad! my characters looked like made of plastic.  

I looked at this tutorial "OPTIMIZING POSER & OTHER ITEMS FOR VUE"  and found great information with useful tips! 

On this post I just highlight quickly what i need to remember to set up next time I import. If you want to read more detailed all the useful things they have over there, I really recommend it. But for now ill put here the quick list for what I have done. I have tweaked to what works for me so feel free to do what you think works best for your models and your scenes.

On Material Editor for EACH skin material :

1. Highlight color to WHITE
2. check Variable Highlights - Edit Function - Link Highlight to map (grayscale)
3. set Global Intensity and Global Size to 10%
4. Bump - Edit Function - Link Bump to texture map (grayscale) - Depth to 0.01

For the lips (after applying the previous changes:

1.  Change the Overall Color to the tone you want (in a very light tone)
2. set Global Intensity to 80% and Global Size to 50%

For the face and neck I use Global Intensity at 35% Looks nicer I think.

Don't mind the quality, left is on ultra and right is on broadcast.

RENDER QUALITY

One more thing I'll add here is the comparison of the quality of the renders, so you can choose  what works best. The renders were the same size (the full image not the strips I show) and the time in the image is how long it took to render, so you can compare quality versus time. Those images were rendered before Skin adjustments. Actually no material adjustments at all.

*I* personally dont think the quality difference between broadcast and Ultra is that huge (at least for my hobby purposes) and I dont think its worth 3 times the time. but every once in a while its nice rendering the full quality. You choose.

Anyways, have fun!