> I speak from experience

Me too, I've tried setting up a grid of point lights, to simulate an
automated grid of area_lights. In cases where you want a very large area of
light, a real grid is best while it illuminates the objects accurately, not
just softening the shadows... But in cases where you need the sun, there is
absolutely no visble gain from setting up a real grid of lights.

In other words, a real grid is good for the blue sky, or a reflecting wall,
or so... Warps idea of a mix between area_lights and a real grid sounds like
a good idea... And speaking of the blue sky, sometimes radiosity provides
this kind of area-light more efficiently than a grid of light_sources.

Good luck,
Regards,
Hugo

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