Instances or one mesh?

[rashed]

Hello everybody I am working on a big scene (theme park) and there is around 140 street lamp model in the park, my question is which is better for scene and RAM management: to attach them all as one Edit Poly or keep each one separate with them being instanced ofcourse?

 

Thanks

[cg_Butler]

Good question!

 

I would always go with instances rather than attaching them all together. Just in case you need to change the model. You can also save them out and XREF them in so your scene runs smoothly, or turn their visibility in to a bounding box.

 

If you use VRay or Mental ray create a proxy from one on the lamps and then instance that proxy, that's the best way by far.

[Stephen Thomas]

Instance is better for file size, if you have compress on save enabled. However sometimes having less objects in the scene can be better for viewport navigation. I would go for instances and 'display as box' if that's an issue though.

[Scott Schroeder]

The question is what method is better on your sanity if the design changes? It is far easier to change instances or do a clone and align on all 140 objects if they want a completely different style.

 

Instances, xref's, proxies are all the best way to go.

[Fooch]

Proxies. Display as box

[rashed]

thank you all for your replies ill consider them all