Microsoft Knowledge Base

• Softimage 3D for Windows NT, version 3.01
• Softimage 3D for IRIX, version 3.50

SYMPTOMS

Your scene, despite having few elements in it, is disproportionately large and heavy. To help diagnose this, remember that the most easily recognizable symptom of a heavy scene is that Softimage 3D runs much more slowly than usual.

CAUSE

By design, one of the Step settings in the Info -> Selection menu cell defaults to a value of 10 when any of the following occur:

• When performing the Surface -> Extrusion function;
• When performing the Surface -> Revolution function;
• When performing the Surface -> Skin function;
• When performing the Surface -> Four Sided function.

RESOLUTION

In the Info -> Selection menu cell, verify the Step settings. If either of the Step settings is at a value of 10, set it manually to a value of 3.

NOTE: This can be done while in any Softimage 3D module except Tools.

Also, when setting mental ray rendering parameters in the mental ray Render Setup dialogue box, it is advisable to use the Adaptive settings, Spatial (units*) or Curvative (units*) values, rather than the Static setting, Parametric (step) value for setting the mental ray rendering parameters.

In this way, neither of the Step setting values in Info -> Selection will default to 10.

REFERENCES

For Softimage 3D, version 3.5 as follows:

Reference Guide: I to Z, Appendices, pages 1346-1362 describe the Surface dialogue boxes mentioned in the text of this article. Reference Guide: I to Z, Appendices, pages 886-889 describe the mental ray Render Setup dialogue box.

If you have any questions concerning the information contained in this article, contact support@softimage.com by email.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

NOTE: Softimage Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation.