[Josephus Holt]

First, I'm working on some interiors which take longer to clear than exterior renders. So let's say I have 12 hours to render a scene, is there any noticeable difference in noise between letting it run for 12 hrs straight to get the max SL and between let's say four three-hour renders that are merged...assuming all done on the same machine.
I'm asking this because I distinctly remember someone mentioning before that he gets better results with running several renders up to SL 15 which went pretty quick and then merging them rather than letting it run out longer in the render.
Joe

[Bubbaloo]

It will be "about" the same. Minimal difference. But... why not render it for 12 hours on all of those computers?

[kami]

I'd suggest the "split-up" if you got a complex indoor render with artificial lighting and environment light (sun+sky).
Because sun+sky needs much more render time to create a noise-free render, you can render it separately to SL 20, while the image with all those artificial lights might already be clear enough at SL 15.
I also see the advantage especially when you got lights which only influence a small part of a scene and don't need much time to clear up.
If you do a Multilight-Rendering (or even without multilight switched on), every emitter gets the same piece of the render power (my impression) and some lights just need more power

[Josephus Holt]

It will be "about" the same. Minimal difference. But... why not render it for 12 hours on all of those computers?

I'm talking about only one computer...if I had more I would definitely do the coop render.
@Kami....this is an interesting approach, will try that.

[Bubbaloo]

Oh, I see. On only one computer. Sorry, I misread the first post. Well, then those 2 methods will share the exact same result, theoretically.

[rusteberg]

Oh, I see. On only one computer. Sorry, I misread the first post. Well, then those 2 methods will share the exact same result, theoretically.

yes mam' they most certainly will

[Bubbaloo]

ma'am

[tom]

On a single computer it will always be better rendering it in a single session. Making sequential renders to be merged will not be as successful as a single run. It may not be easy to notice the difference with two sessions but many. So, I suggest you to render it in a single session.

[Josephus Holt]

On a single computer it will always be better rendering it in a single session. Making sequential renders to be merged will not be as successful as a single run. It may not be easy to notice the difference with two sessions but many. So, I suggest you to render it in a single session.

Thx Tom for the definitive answer.

[rusteberg]

ma'am

really?... huh....