Hi again!

I can't believe your options:

> Antialias = On
> Antialias_Threshold = 0.0
> Antialias_Depth = 9
> Sampling_Method = 2

The meaning of this is:
Do antialiasing (Antialias = On) on *EVERY* pixel (Antialias_Threshold = 0.0),
use the recursive subdivision method (Sampling_Method = 2) and make 9 sub-
divisions (ALWAYS because Antialias_Threshold = 0.0). This doesn't give 9x9
rays per pixel, but (2^9+1) x (2^9+1) = 263169 rays per pixel! (Some of them
are reused at the next pixel.)

Here are the (partial) statistics resulting from rendering a totally empty
scene at 4x3 with different AA settings. Especially look at Samples/pixel,
Peak memory used and PPS (pixel per second).


 -1-  Antialias_Threshold = 0.0, Antialias_Depth = 9

Rendering using command line '+A0.0 +AM2 +R9 -J0.0 -F +W4 +H3'.
Persistence of Vision(tm) Ray Tracer Version 3.5 win32 (.icl)
  Image resolution 4 by 3 (rows 1 to 3, columns 1 to 4).
  Antialiasing.........On  (Method 2, Threshold 0.000, Depth 9, Jitter 0.00)
Scene contains 0 frame level objects; 0 infinite.
Pixels:              12   Samples:         3149313   Smpls/Pxl: 262442.75
Rays:           3149313   Saved:                 0   Max Level: 1/5
Peak memory used:          6476331 bytes
CPU time used: kernel 0.01 seconds, user 3.05 seconds, total 3.06 seconds
Render averaged 3.92 PPS over 12 pixels


 -2-  Antialias_Threshold = 0.0001, Antialias_Depth = 9

Rendering using command line '+A0.001 +AM2 +R9 -J0.0 -F +W4 +H3'.
Persistence of Vision(tm) Ray Tracer Version 3.5 win32 (.icl)
  Image resolution 4 by 3 (rows 1 to 3, columns 1 to 4).
  Antialiasing.........On  (Method 2, Threshold 0.000, Depth 9, Jitter 0.00)
Scene contains 0 frame level objects; 0 infinite.
Pixels:              12   Samples:              20   Smpls/Pxl: 1.67
Rays:                20   Saved:                 0   Max Level: 1/5
Peak memory used:          6476331 bytes
CPU time used: kernel 0.00 seconds, user 0.36 seconds, total 0.36 seconds
Render averaged 33.29 PPS over 12 pixels


 -3-  Antialias_Threshold = 0.0001, Antialias_Depth = 3

Rendering using command line '+A0.0001 +AM2 +R3 -J0.0 -F +W4 +H3'.
Persistence of Vision(tm) Ray Tracer Version 3.5 win32 (.icl)
  Image resolution 4 by 3 (rows 1 to 3, columns 1 to 4).
  Antialiasing.........On  (Method 2, Threshold 0.000, Depth 3, Jitter 0.00)
Scene contains 0 frame level objects; 0 infinite.
Pixels:              12   Samples:              20   Smpls/Pxl: 1.67
Rays:                20   Saved:                 0   Max Level: 1/5
Peak memory used:            60821 bytes
CPU time used: kernel 0.00 seconds, user 0.01 seconds, total 0.01 seconds
Render averaged 1198.32 PPS over 12 pixels


So my suggestions are:

 - NEVER use Antialias_Threshold = 0.0; 0.001 will do the same (at 8 bits
   per color) and save VERY much time if the scene contains areas without
   change in color.

 - If Sampling_Method = 2, Antialias_Depth = 3 is almost always enough. I
   can't think of any use of values >5.


I couldn't reproduce your problem, so what about posting a minimal scene
(1 yellow cylinder, light, camera), .ini file and toolbar command line
settings?

   Sputnik

P.S. more asteroids: http://www.f-lohmueller.de/pov_anim/astr_ani.htm

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