On 1/7/2016 8:33 AM, clipka wrote:
> Mike Horvath <mik### [at] gmailcom> wrote:
>> I want to create a spiral lamp element sort of like a CFL. Which will
>> render faster, a series of point lights along the curve, or making the
>> object emit light? Thanks!
>
> That depends on whether you're using radiosity anyway, how close the lamp is to
> the visible portions of the scene, and whether it is the main light source.
>
> Generally, scenes illuminated by comparatively small emissive objects require
> exceptionally "expensive" radiosity settings. The "importance" mechanism can be
> used to counter this to some degree, but not completely.
>
>
> That said, using an excessive number of point light sources can also slow down a
> render tremendously. You might instead want to think about using an arrangement
> of 1-dimensional area lights approximating the lamp's shape.
>
>
>

So, area lights are cheaper than an equally sized array of point lights?


Mike

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