Which is faster -- individual objects or same number in population?

[gregsandor]

I have a lot of telegraph poles to place.  Will I take a hit in render time if I hand place them versus using several masked populations (one for each direction they face) or will they render in about the same time?

[Henry Blewer]

The population now has an array function built in. Just adjust the a,b below the spacing inputs. A painted shader may help also.

[gregsandor]

Spacing isnt the concern; I always use them with painted masks to control placement, but here it is the rotation that I care about:  some will be at 0 some at 90 some at 50.   How does the new array control operate? I guess I could use that instead of a mask to create lines of poles?

Will hand placed individual objects render in about the same time as equivalent sized populations?

[Henry Blewer]

There is a rotation settings also. In the population settings, go to the rotation tab. The rotation of the objects can be set there.

[bobbystahr]

Spacing isnt the concern; I always use them with painted masks to control placement, but here it is the rotation that I care about:  some will be at 0 some at 90 some at 50.   How does the new array control operate? I guess I could use that instead of a mask to create lines of poles?

Will hand placed individual objects render in about the same time as equivalent sized populations?

I'm only guessing but I'd say you'll take a huge hit placing individual poles as opposed to a pop which is one polygon mesh object, invisible to the render at 0/0/0. instancing as many as you've specified...

[Oshyan]

The population will be much lower in memory use, generally speaking. But these being simple "poles", they may not be very high poly or high memory use anyway.

- Oshyan