Itoo Software Forum

Forest Pack => Forest Pro (*) => Topic started by: 3DG on August 30, 2015, 01:48:49 PM

Title: Slow scene load when opening
Post by: 3DG on August 30, 2015, 01:48:49 PM
Hi all, I'd like to know if it's a common issue that, after placing 8-10 different 3d models from library as Xref (not 3d mesh inside scene), the saved scene takes several minutes (5-10 minutes  :o ) to open and sometimes it refreshes very slowly (very few polygons and shaded mode in viewports).

Is that depending from the xref loading that takes so much or something else?

What's the best solution for having many 3d different plants inside the scene without taking so long when opening?
For example: is a good idea to convert first the 3d models in vraymesh then importing vraymeshes into the scene and use them as custom model?

Thanks a lot!

Title: Re: Slow scene load when opening
Post by: Michal Karmazín on August 31, 2015, 10:15:29 AM
Hi,

I would suggest you to check this post (http://forum.itoosoft.com/index.php?topic=3118.msg12062#msg12062), it might be related to the 3ds Max's "Retimers issue". Also, please feel free to send us your scene to support@itoosoft.com and we´ll check it. In case of big file size, please use a web sharing service as WeTransfer (https://www.wetransfer.com/). Thanks in advance.

In following "Should i use meshes or proxies with Forest in V-Ray? (http://forum.itoosoft.com/index.php?topic=2345.0)" post you can find main pros and cons between using meshes (XRefs) / proxies. Generally, there aren't big performance differences (as internally all Forest objects are converted to native V-Ray instances).

Best regards,
Title: Re: Slow scene load when opening
Post by: 3DG on September 10, 2015, 05:46:00 PM
Thank you for your gentle reply. Sorry for taking so long to write you back but I was away from work for some days.

I've already been reading the posts you showed me, but trying to emulate that partial solutions is not soliving the problem for me.
I've checked the scene with the cleaner scripts you suggested, but nothing strange appeared.

Unfortunately is not possible for me to send you the scene because it's very complex and referring to models placed around on lan disks.
I confirm that the problem referes to xref loading, and probably it's slower on presets loading.
I think it's easily to be inspected, because you just need to load 20-30 xref different models from libraries and presets, distribute them on surfaces and see how much time the saved scene will take to be reloaded.

Do you have experience that this problem is solved on 3DS max 2016? (i'm on max 2015 and vray 3.00.07)

Do you have some tangible solution to apply or you're working on solving the problem?

Hope that you solve soon the issue.

Thanks again and waiting for news!
Title: Re: Slow scene load when opening
Post by: iToo on September 22, 2015, 04:46:45 PM
Do you have HQ Plants 1 library ? If so, please test the attached scene and tell me your loading time. It includes 30 XRefs models from HQ Plants.

Here it takes 43 sec. using Max 2015 SP3. I tried merging all objects, but loading time was identical. Same adding several grass presets (i used 9 of the default library), although presets are always merged, not XRef'd.
Using other models (specially the most heavy ones), time may be higher because Forest needs to process them on load, but (theorically) it should not be differences between Merged or XRef.

If you have not HQ Plants we can prepare a similar scene with other library.

Many thanks,
Title: Re: Slow scene load when opening
Post by: 3DG on September 22, 2015, 06:10:04 PM
Thank you for the attached scene, I'd like to test it but I don't have for now the HQ plants collection.
I'm actually using custom models or your free library.

But, as I can see opening your scene, I suggest that you test the same scene with 30 xref models placed on 30 different forest objects (now it seems to be only 1 forest object with 30 plants inside the area). That configuration will follow better my actual setup that's apparentyl causing the issue.

Thanks a lot for your help.
Title: Re: Slow scene load when opening
Post by: iToo on September 23, 2015, 01:58:56 PM
We have repeated the test using 30 FP objects, but loading time is identical. That has sense because models are shared, so they are loaded and evaluated one time only.
I've upload the files, in case someone want to test it. It includes also a test using a XFRef scene, which works fine as well.

We tried also using Forest presets instead trees, but there is not difference (i cannot upload it because contains FP Pro material).

Just to be sure: your XRef models are stored locally or in a network path ? Do you use proxies or standard meshes ?
Title: Re: Slow scene load when opening
Post by: 3DG on September 23, 2015, 02:52:05 PM
The models are in a network path, solved as network disk named with a letter (for example S: ).
My plant database is there so I can reach it with the same path from every PC in the lan, crucial for the lan-rendering time.
The lan is fast 100 mb/s and I've never had loading speed problems before, also with huge .max scenes.
Do you think it could be related?

I have the problem when using the library models loaded as xref (and not "merge into scene").

Also the rendering preload is quick and the rendering time is good; the problem is only about the first load of the scene and sometime whene 3DS decides to refresh the scene after an autosave.

Thanks again
Title: Re: Slow scene load when opening
Post by: iToo on September 24, 2015, 09:50:05 AM
If the network is working well, probably the problem is not related with the network. But at this point, it's good to test all possibilities.
In fact, i would suggest two tests to compare loading times:

1) Copying all models locally, and reassigning them in the Asset Tracking.
2) Removing all Forest objects from the scene, but keeping the models in the scene.

I can imagine several causes for the high loading times:

a) Loading time of the XRef models (this can be checked with test 2). But really from the Forest side, there is not difference between XRef or Merged models.
Both are stored as standard objects in the "forest_templates" layer. In one case as XRef objects, and other as standard meshes.

b) The first time that Forest uses a model, it is analyzed to generate the point-cloud, hierarchy of elements for Forest Color and other data. This process may take some seconds for a heavy model, and may be significative when using tons of different objects. But this step is identical for merged or XRef'd models, because it's done in memory once the object is loaded.

c) Other problems in the scene, not directly related with Forest.

Since we cannot debug directly the loading process in your configuration, these tests may help to isolate the problem.