Material editing very slow with VrayHDRI maps

[Alex_M]

I've recently started using VrayHDRI maps for all my textures, not just 16/32 bit HDRI maps, as suggested here on the forums and the help files. What I noticed though is that when I build my materials they update quite a lot slower in the material editor than using the Bitmap map. Material updates are instantaneous with the Bitmap map but I get lags of 2-4 sec. every time I edit a material made with VrayHDRI textures. To the point that it's a pain building and editing materials using the VrayHDRI map. Is there something I can do to get the same performance as with Bitmap?

Software and hardware - see signature.

[nikolay.kusht]

I am not sure that I could reproduce the same results in our environment although I'm using large HDRI maps for the tests. It would be best if you could give us more details and examples so we could try to replicate the issue. You could also send us a test scene along with the assets to support@chaosgroup.com for further investigation.

[Alex_M]

Sorry for the late reply. This problem still happens on my new PC (Threadripper 1950X + GTX 1080 Ti) and the latest version of Vray (3.60.03).

I found that the reason is maps like Output and Falloff and also the Show Shaded Material in Viewport button. So the only way to remove the lag is either to disable the material preview in the viewport or to remove the Output and Falloff maps from the material.

Let me know if you still can't reproduce this and I'll send a scene.

[^Lele^]

what kind of texture file are you loading?
A tiled EXR (did you convert?), a standard bitmap, what size, resolution, format?
And you have these issues under max 2016 sp4, am i right?

[Alex_M]

I'm loading standard 8-bit bitmaps (jpgs, pngs etc). Resolution is within the normal, 2000-4000 px. I'm using Max 2016 SP4, yes.

[^Lele^]

Mh, no repro here either. Very odd.

[Alex_M]

Please see attached a scene for a test. Open it and try changing the Blur parameter in Coordinates. The material editor will freeze for 5-6 sec. If I take the Output map out of the material and leave only the VrayHDRI map, there's no freezing. This problem doesn't happen with the Bitmap map even if there's an Output map present. I also tested this with the Vray Next Beta and the problem in the beta is gone!