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How to Optimize 3ds Max Scene With Many Polygons to Speed Up Rendering

How to Optimize 3ds Max Scene With Many Polygons to Speed Up Rendering-01

When inexperienced 3D artists create complex scenes in 3ds Max, they make lots of mistakes. Cluttered and heavy scenes are one of them. Visualizers create and add objects using too many polygons, which later on slows down rendering. It may take up to 30 minutes to open the file only. Besides, such visualizations are difficult to edit and modify. When there are too many unnecessary details, it’s easy to mess up.

At our studio, we use tried and tested rendering optimization approaches. They allow us to optimize 3D models by reducing polygon count and layers. In this article, we are going to share some practical optimization tips we rely on.

What are Polygons?

All objects in 3ds Max consist of small areas called polygons. A polygon looks like a closed sequence of three or more edges that are connected by the same surface. Polygons create the renderable surface of the modeled objects enabling 3D artists to customize them. You can add more edges to create a complex object, move them to change the shape, or delete. The elements like walls or ceilings have fewer polygons, whereas sophisticated objects (e.g., a closet) consist of multiple elements.

Note that you can add native 3Ds Max objects to a scene or upload them from other applications like SketchUp or ArchiCAD. The imported objects will also add up to the total polygon count in the 3Ds Max scene.

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How Do Polygons Affect Rendering?

When you create a 3ds Max file, a polygon count is the first thing to keep in mind. The more dots a 3ds Max scene has, the slower the rendering software operates. A 3ds Max scene loaded with elements requires a lot of time to open and process. Polygon rendering takes video card and RAM resources and, therefore, can slow down your work and affect the final result. Extra elements clutter your 3ds Max scene and, in some cases, may even distort the image.

That’s why it’s so important to be careful with the polygon count and run rendering optimization. Optimized images take less space and allow you to generate better renders in less time.

Top Polygon Rendering Issues (+ Rendering Optimization Solutions)

Optimization is not only about adding fewer polygons to objects. You need to upload objects with a square grid, properly locate them in the 3ds Max scene, and follow some other practices. They will help you avoid the common issues with multiple polygons in a 3ds Max scene.

Common Issues That Can Mean a 3ds Max Scene is Overloaded With Polygons

If you face any of these issues, it means your visualization needs rendering optimization and includes too many details. Watch out for these markers:

It takes up to 20 minutes to open the file
A scene that includes too many complex objects will strain your hardware and open very slowly. Each complex object has hundreds or thousands of polygons that affect visualization. The increased load time may also mean your video card is outdated, or the added animation paths and motion clips are not supported.
Discover Other Common 3D Visualization Issues
The walls and the ceiling aren’t solid and have thin-walled elements
Thin-walled elements with a one-polygon thickness and poorly cut walls affect the quality of lighting. When walls consist of separate elements that are not properly joined, the light is displayed inaccurately. It may also penetrate the wall, which increases rendering time. The software starts calculating the lighting inside it.
Surfaces duplicate or overlap
When the render doesn’t work as expected, there may be a problem with duplicate surfaces that create excessive polygons. They have dots and edges that make your visualization too heavy.

Troubleshooting for Rendering Optimization

Now, it’s time to talk about the ways to handle visualizations with many objects. The best approach is to be careful with polygons from the start. Finding the balance between the look of the object and its complexity is the must-have of rendering optimization. Yet, it’s also important to avoid other mistakes that decrease the effectiveness of 3ds Max software.

Here’re the main tips based on our experience:

  • Mind the polygon count creating a file to know your limits
  • Don’t use walls and ceilings from SketchUp or ArchiCAD. It is better to create them in 3ds Max based on drawings. Thanks to this, the walls and ceilings will be displayed with a minimum polygon count
  • Walls mustn’t include thin-wall elements or consist of several separate parts
  • Imported models must always have high quality. Make sure there are no hidden elements that result in excessive load
  • Check the visualization for duplicate or overlapping surfaces
  • Create complex models in 3ds Max instead of importing them from other 3D modeling solutions. The models should also have a square grid
  • While modeling, use snaps and set the floor to the zero level. It allows avoiding flying objects in the visualization and makes it more realistic
  • Filter different objects into specific layers to easily view them
  • Delete objects that are not used in the final render
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