HELP! Max crashes when I put more than 7-8 lights

[Logitek]

Hello,

 

I have a really annoying problem and I don't know how to work around it

In this large interior scene I'm working on, I MUST put quite many lights. But everytime I put around 8 lights and go back to my shaded viewport, Max crashes (no error message).

Any idea why?

I tried hidding all the lights, but max crashes still...

 

Please help! Approching deadline, level of stress rising!

 

thanks a lot in advance!!

Matt

[Brian Smith]

You really need to put in more details to get a worthwhile answer.

 

Try starting in a clean max file, duplicate the render settings, and merging objects in bits at a time until the error is reached. Start with the lights and go from there...shouldn't take too long to find what's causing the problem, though it might be the file itself, in which case rebuilding will solve the problem.

[Ricardo Eloy]

One thing I would try is to turn off the lights on the viewport to see what happens (CTRL+L). This sounds like a graphics card issue to me, but as Brian said, it's kinda hard to figure anything with so few details...

[Logitek]

thanks Brian, Rick,

 

I would put more details if they were relevent. Unfortunately, I don't think the rest of the scene causes the problem. I also think about a graphic card issue.

I'm still going to attach a WIP render (it's actually the first render I do with this scene...) so you guys know what I'm working on...

 

The only workaround I found so far is to work with only one view (If I don't minimise the viewport, it seems to be ok).

I would try what Brian mentionned (that's the way I usually find the problems), but I really do not have time... well, at the same time I do not have time to wait for Max to restart nor to post messages in here either...

STOP WRITING! get back to work! (subconscient speaking).

 

thanks guys

[Brian Smith]

well if you cant figure out the problem, why not just do away with those lights, use a self illuminating material...from the looks of those lights, they shouldn't be casting light upwards...if you do want them casting upwards, use one direct light shining straight up with a projector map to make light shine in specific areas...you could duplicate this look with 2 total lights if you use GI.