Iray-store clarifcation needed

Random

Can someone clarify what 'Iray' and 'Iray optimized' in the store item description as opposedd to Studio/3Delight means? I have some Genesis 3&8 figures with both 3Delight and Iray shaders included and when I do a 3Delight render the iray shaders don't work. But then I have some plant props that say Iray and they do work with 3Delight renders. And also, does Iray optimized mean they'll work with both types of renders, just better (actually, different) with Iray? Personally, I prefer 3Delight style of render and it's kind of a turn-off that so many of the newer items in the store just say Iray.

JonnyRay

While both Iray Materials and 3Delight Shaders are applied using the Surfaces module of Daz Studio, the underlying technology is significantly different. Studio will do it's best to convert between the two systems based on what rendering engine you're using, but it's doing so using a default approach based on standard surface parameters and naming. So the more complex the Material or Shader is, the less likely you'll get the best results when crossing over.

As a rule, human skin settings are some of the most complex types of surfaces you'll want to render. This is why settings optimized for Iray may fail miserably if they are autoconverted to 3Delight. I generally assume that if the product states it is "Iray optimized" and doesn't list any 3Delight surface settings in the package then the built-in converter is likely to have a harder time with that product.

If you are going to do a lot of 3Delight rendering, the RSSY Iray to 3Delight Converter may be a tool worth investing in. It has more knowledge coded into it regarding common Iray material settings than the built-in Studio converter and so is more likley to get you the results you're looking for. You may still need to tweak the surface settings afterwards though. I suggest if you do, you also do yourself a favor and save the material preset for the object so you can reload it again in the future. :)

For completeness sake, I should also point out that Riversoft and Sickleyield also created a 3Delight to Iray Converter for changing surface settings the other way.

L'Adair

Hi, @Random.

It sure can be confusing. As one who uses Iray, it annoys me to buy a product that indicates Iray materials only to find they are actually 3Delight materials that will also work in Iray!

However, if someone has optimized the 3Delight materials for Iray, they are going to list both Iray and 3Delight material presets in the Details section of the product page. If you only see Iray listed, There is no way of knowing if all the materials will render correctly in 3Delight.

There is a product by RiverSoft Art and Sickleyield that converts Iray to 3Delight: RSSY Iray to 3Delight Converter. I have it, but I don't use 3Delight very much, and I haven't really taken the time to learn how to use the script. But it does come with a fairly comprehensive PDF manual!

Regardless of whether you decide on the converter, or just want to take a chance on a product you like, Daz has a 30-day return policy, so if you buy something and it won't work for you, return it for a full refund.

Random

Thanks guys for your very helpful answers. Much appreciated!