Number of rays

[Anonymous]

Is it correct that the number of rays are the numbers plugged into the sampling values.

So if Camera (AA) is set to 3 then there are 3 rays and 9 samples

If diffuse is set to 2 then there are 2 rays (for diffuse) and 4 samples (for diffuse) then overall there are 5 rays (3 for aa and 2 for diffuse) and 45 samples (2 x 2 diffuse = 4 x 9 aa = 36 + the 9aa = 45)

I read the solidangle stuff on this but it is not clear between rays and samples

thank you

[maxtarpini · Accepted solution]

rays are samples.

every time you shot a camera sample at geometry intersection other rays/samples are shot.

so if you shot 3x3 camera samples and those rays intersect a diffuse surface for any of those a 2x2 diffuse samples are shot. that means you actually shot (3x3)x(2x2)=36 diffuse rays.

then there's ray depth. at any secondary intersection Arnold shots a fixed 1 ray/sample.

that means for any secondary intersection you'll have as many diffuse samples as many camera rays are shot. so if your diffuse depth is 2 for example you'll add another 3x3 diffuse samples, totalling 45 diffuse samples. 54 at depth 3 and so on.

[Anonymous]

@Max Tarpini

thank you (liked, rewarded and accepted)