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How can I optimize my scene's lighting to reduce render times without sacrificing quality?
Asked on Feb 09, 2026
Answer
Optimizing scene lighting to reduce render times while maintaining quality involves strategic adjustments to your lighting setup and render settings. Focus on efficient light placement, reducing unnecessary calculations, and leveraging render engine features.
Example Technique:
- Step 1 – Use fewer, strategically placed lights to achieve the desired mood and coverage.
- Step 2 – Utilize light linking or exclude objects from certain lights to minimize calculations.
- Step 3 – Adjust render settings such as sampling, bounces, and denoising to balance speed and quality.
Additional Comment:
- Consider using area lights or HDRI maps for efficient global illumination.
- Optimize shadow settings by using softer shadows or disabling them where not needed.
- Experiment with render engine-specific features like adaptive sampling or light portals.
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