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By sonic7 - 6 Years Ago
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Hi...
Any idea what might be causing these 'black pixel' type squares appearing?
I've taken the following steps attempting fix this issue...
● Turning the lights and other light related settings 'on' and 'off' one at a time (trying to isolate the problem).
● Re-open the project after shutting down iClone 7.2
● Re-boot the PC
None of the above solved the issue.
The only thing that (predictably) toggles this issue on and off - is checking / un checking the Depth of Field's 'Activate' box.
Also:
● Larger black squares (but fewer of them), appear on iClone's 'preview' window. (see pic 1)
● The rendered out image has smaller (and more numerous) squares.(see pic 2)
● When resizing the preview window the position of the squares changes randomly.
Close examination of pic 2 shows that the squares only appear INSIDE the DOF blur range; ie: in front of and behind the 'IN FOCUS' plane.
It seems that the blur calculations are messing up somehow.
Strange thing is that I've played with the DOF before going back a couple of weeks - and no trouble as of then. (Don't have those files tho).
Any clues?
EDIT: Also, the spots on the rendered out image (pic2) - actually more closely resemble circles - which is interesting because I had the 'Bokeh Type' set to Circle.
When I select a different Bokeh shape (say 'star'), - the black shapes in the preview window will resemble stars. - Definately changes with Bokeh shape....
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By sonic7 - 6 Years Ago
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OK ... I've done some more testing ....
The following scene was created in iClone 6.5, rendered as .BMP - and an iClone project file was also saved.
That exact project file was then opened in iClone 7.1 and rendered out as a .BMP
That exact project file was then opened in iClone 7.2 and rendered out as a .BMP
Absolutely NO adjustments were touched at any time.
This is an EXACT comparison of how these 3 versions of iClone 'handled' this scene.
If you enlarge (zoom in) on iClone ver 7.1 and ver 7.2 pics, you'll see what those versions have done to this scene....
This is a very real problem.
(also, the 'later' the version of iClone, the longer the render time became).
 
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By 4u2ges - 6 Years Ago
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Your GPU with 0.5GB VRAM is not up to the task.
Please see system requirements for iClone:
https://www.reallusion.com/iclone/download.html#system-requirements
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By sonic7 - 6 Years Ago
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Thanks 4u2ges for your reply ....
Am I missing something here - (bearing in mind I'm not too tech savvy)
My system (laptop) is:
Acer Aspire E15 (E5-523G-90QW)
AMD Dual-Core Processor A9-9410 (Turbo to 3.5 GHz)
AMD Radeon R5 M430 (2 GB Dedicated VRAM)
8 GB DDR4 Memory
Steve.
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By 4u2ges - 6 Years Ago
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Steve, iClone reports only seeing 0.5GB VRAM (according to the very first screenshot).
AND 5 M430is on the other hand is an entry level adapter and most likely is not supported by iClone.
You were getting away with it in iClone 6. But iCLone 7 is much more demanding, when it comes to video processing.
You may open a support ticket with RL, but I am pretty sure you would get a similar answer from them.
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By sonic7 - 6 Years Ago
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Ahh ... now I see where you got that figure from 4u2ges.
Well isn't that strange, 'cos the laptop has the following sticker on it ...
So ......... I guess the failed DOF renders - tend to agree with the .5 GB 'reported Video memory'.
But it doesn't explain the 'sticker on the box' though ...
I guess I'll have to either:
1. Drop back to using version 6.5 (but l'll loose certain other ver7 features) ... OR
2. Upgrade my PC to something more capable ... OR
3. Get the desired 'shallow DOF' look by using a different work flow?.
Mmmm .... decisions, decisions ....
◇◇◇ The difference between winning and losing is most often not quitting. ◇◇◇ - Walt Disney
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By sonic7 - 6 Years Ago
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Well persistence has seemingly paid off ....
Finally - I was able to get the DOF result I was looking for. (And to think - I was just about to turf my Laptop! .... well - not really).
So this 'issue' - getting weird black blobs in my rendered files is manifest when rendering LARGE POLY scenes ....
In my case, (given I'm on a 2GB VRam laptop) - it happened with a scene of 825,000 polys.
Now here's the work around. I 'laundered' the 825,000 poly scene through 'MANTIS LOD' (A low cost Decimator, coming in different forms. I went for the 'stand alone' version rather than as a 'plugin' variety. - $30 is all it cost me). I just set the slider to 50% - ie: I dialed the model back to around 400,000 polys - exported it, opened it in iClone7.2. (that is; from within the 3DXchange front door).
The previous version of the scene was still open in iClone7.2 so I simply 'hid' the old mesh so that the new version now displayed alone.
I then rendered it out with the DOF 'ON' - and bam ! - the black blobs were gone!
Feeling a bit braver I tried again - this time I used MANTIS at 90%, shedding just 10% of the polys .....
Got it into iClone, rendered with DOF - and bam ! - it worked again.
I had a 'gut' feeling by now - what if I just sent it through MANTIS and left the slider at 100% (no decimation)...
Yes - bam ! - worked again!
So what's going on here? - don't really know for sure...
All I know is that when trying to render this scene originally, the ONLY setting I could use on my laptop WITH THIS PARTICULAR FILE was the 'PREVIEW' setting, - anything else ('Final Render', 'Super Sampling 2x2', 'Super Sampling 3x3') - would all result in black blobs on my output image.
Somehow, MANTIS is dishing up the file (even with NO decimation) in a way that iClone is happy with. Something's altered.
Obviously I'll need to do further testing (when I get time) - so DON'T rush off and buy MANTIS based on MY results.
Suffice to say that in this particular case, when importing a largish DAZ set, AND engaging the DOF in iClone7.2, the difference between success and failure all came down to MANTIS laundering.
Here's my render .... It's my first attempt at getting a 'Cine-Style' look out of iClone. (I'm far from happy with it - seems 'blotchy' somehow - maybe the bricks - don't know; the reds don't seem right 😞 - but I got to start somewhere ...
◇◇◇ Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. ◇◇◇ - Arthur Ashe
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By Famekrafts - 6 Years Ago
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I am having the similar problem but only part of the mesh is getting blackened, in my case skirt and hair and I have 8 GB VRAM.
So this could be some other problem even though the scene is a high poly mesh. I am trying to render and check how the final render looks like but it clearly shows in the dof region that both skirt and hair are for some reason not getting read by the camera dof which is weird.
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By sonic7 - 6 Years Ago
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Hi Famekrafts....
I don't have enough technical 'depth' to point to a cause for this.
I tend to work 'intuitively' and I have a 'gut feeling' about this problem (assuming it's the same problem as I had).
I don't think it's to do with the number of polys as much as the 'way the file is structured'.
If you've got (any) other software that you can run your scene components through (ie: import then export) - well you might get lucky...
In my case it was MANTIS that helped me out.
But 'Autodesk' have an app called 'Autodesk FBX Converter' (I think it's free too 😃)
It imports 3ds, dae, dxf, fbx and obj ..... and it can export dfx, obj, dae, and a host of fbx formats (2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013).
Maybe play with some of those conversions? ....... (all the best, - sorry I can't be more helpful - hope you get it to work!).
Steve.
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By Kelleytoons - 6 Years Ago
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sonic7 (3/30/2018)
Well persistence has seemingly paid off ....
Finally - I was able to get the DOF result I was looking for. (And to think - I was just about to turf my Laptop! .... well - not really).
So this 'issue' - getting weird black blobs in my rendered files is manifest when rendering LARGE POLY scenes ....
In my case, (given I'm on a 2GB VRam laptop) - it happened with a scene of 825,000 polys.
Except -- you really should ditch that laptop. The answer is still the same, you are trying to do something with a woefully inadequate resource. Your "workaround" is to then reduce your scene until it's something your laptop can handle, but that answer is the same for anything (IOW, you can always reduce things to a point where even an underpowered system can handle things).
It's the black squares this time, next time it will be something else (maybe an inability to run Popcorn FX -- who knows?). But as long as you realize your system limitations and understand you will run into all sorts of issues I guess you can live with that (for me I returned the laptop I bought and got another, more powerful one, although truth be told laptops are NOT the place to run iClone -- I just have that machine in case I want to play in the bedroom. For anything serious my Titan XP graphics card is my go-to).
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By sonic7 - 6 Years Ago
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@ Kelleytoons - ... hello my friend from Florida !
Yes .... (as you say) ...Your "workaround" is to then reduce your scene until it's something your laptop can handle
That's what I was prepared to actually do! (I'm limited (dissability pension) - so there's always constraints financially - (unfortunately)).
Yes if it came to that - I would have to ... but, as it turned out, that 'laundering' trick did work, and yes (this time 'round at least, there wasn't a problem for my laptop. Yes, in the future it may not be the case - but I have got to do the best I can with what I've got - unfortunately....
That's not to say things can't change - I mean really, IF I was to find out that my future endeavors with that "MOCAP" device (the kinect v2) - was to fall flat on it's face due to an under capacity laptop - then yes, I'd probably 'bite the bullet' and upgrade - but at the risk of my wife's 'displeasure' due to the misappropriation of funds! 😉
But yes, my friend Kelley, if finances weren't a problem - I'd love to splash out and get a really decent desktop (wouldn't we all), - but I really DO like the laptop approach (ie: take it with you where ever you go)...
(I like talking with you)...
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By Kelleytoons - 6 Years Ago
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I just don't want you to be too disappointed down the road -- 7.2 (and further point updates) are going to be more and more demanding on our resources. But, like you say, you have to do what you can with what you have.
I don't think mocap will be an issue with your laptop -- I still use a VERY old laptop as part of my iPisoft mocap system and it works very well (that particular Dell laptop isn't half as good as yours). Kinect capture isn't very demanding as long as it can at least run the software for it.
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By sonic7 - 6 Years Ago
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Yes, as you say - I've noticed the difference between versions 6 and 7 re: system requirements.
I appreciate what you say about not wanting me to be 'disappointed' down the road ... yes we'd all like to perhaps have the best with what's available and I must admit that when you 'can't afford' the latest version of some app - it can leave you feeling - well - flat .....
I'm glad to hear your words about the mocap system requirements not being too high - to be honest, I've been 'sweating a bit' as to whether my laptop will be up to the task of handling the mocap ... BTW ... I really do thank you for getting me 'inspired' regarding mocap - Even if I do have to upgrade - I'm looking so much to this feature !!! - your friend - Steve.
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By sonic7 - 6 Years Ago
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◇◇◇ Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. ◇◇◇ - Charles R. Swindoll ...
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