Sometimes POV files render 1 line (or one pixel) at a time. Other times they
render in what I think is called mosaic preview mode. This seems to run much
slower, but I can't find out how to turn it off. Is there a command I can
put in the POVRAY.INI file to make sure it always renders one line (one
pixel) at a time? or do I have to modify the .POV file or the includes or
some obscure menu item. I am using POV-Ray 3.6 and I spent the last hour
looking for the answer to this simple question in the help files and online.
Thanks to any kind soul who will post the answer to this here. Byeee.

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The Mosaic preview is used in two cases:
1. When you're using Mosaic Preview
2. When you're using Radiosity

Look at "3.1.2.3.4 Mosaic Preview" for the mosaic preview. ;-)

As for Radiosity: the pretrace-setting determine with which resolution to
start and how detailed to go. This is done for some prepasses on the scene
to collect radiosity samples. You could switch it off using pretrace_start 1
and pretrace_end 1, but the rendering time won't be that much shorter, as
POV-Ray will have to do all radiosity calculations in the final pass,
whereas it lowers the settings somewhat on the first passes (look for
low_error_factor).

Regards,
Tim

-- 
"Tim Nikias v2.0"
Homepage: <http://www.nolights.de>

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"Tim Nikias" <JUSTTHELOWERCASE:timISNOTnikias(at)gmx.netWARE> wrote:
> The Mosaic preview is used in two cases:
> 1. When you're using Mosaic Preview
> 2. When you're using Radiosity

  Gargl. I should have waited a bit before answering: I never figured that
one could use a Mosaic Preview without radiosity. Sounds useful to set
right the lights. Apologies for my imprecision.

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