Documentation: How to Install and Use the Cycles Y Add-On

Introduction

The Cycles Y Add-On is designed to significantly accelerate your rendering times in Blender, allowing you to focus more on creativity and less on waiting. This guide will walk you through the installation, configuration, and optimal usage of the add-on.

System Requirements

• Blender Version: 2.80 or higher (latest stable release recommended)
• Operating System: Windows, macOS, or Linux
• Hardware:
  • GPU: NVIDIA GPU with OptiX support for maximum performance gains
  • CPU: Multi-core processor recommended

Installation Steps

1. Download the Add-On

• Purchase and Download:
  • Visit the Blender Market page for the Cycles Y Add-On.
  • Purchase the add-on and download the CyclesY_Addon.zip file to a location on your computer.

2. Install the Add-On in Blender

1. Open Blender.
2. Navigate to Edit > Preferences.
3. In the Preferences window, select Add-ons from the left-hand menu.
4. Click the Install... button at the top of the window.
5. thats all due to being installed as a module

4. Restart Blender

• Important: Restart Blender to ensure all changes take effect.

Configuration and Usage

1. Set Cycles as Your Render Engine

• At the top of the Blender interface, switch to the Render Properties tab (camera icon).
• Under Render Engine, select Cycles.

2. Enable GPU Acceleration

a. Set Device to GPU Compute

• In the Render Properties tab, locate the Device option.
• Change it from CPU to GPU Compute.

b. Enable OptiX (For NVIDIA GPUs)

• Still in the Render Properties tab, under Cycles Render Devices, select OptiX.
• Note: Requires an NVIDIA GPU that supports OptiX.

c. Verify GPU Selection

• Go to Edit > Preferences.
• Select System from the left-hand menu.
• Under Cycles Render Devices, ensure your GPU is selected.

3. Adjust Render Samples

• Due to improved denoising in Cycles Y, you can reduce your render samples.
• In the Render Properties tab, adjust the Sampling settings:
  • For Render, set the samples to half of your usual amount.
  • For Viewport, adjust as desired for interactive previewing.

4. Optimize Performance Settings

a. Enable Memory Tiling

• In the Render Properties tab, expand the Performance section.
• Enable Memory Tiling to handle large scenes more efficiently.

b. Set CPU Threads to Max

• Under Performance, set Threads Mode to Fixed.
• Set Threads to the maximum number your CPU supports.

Using Cycles Y Features

Real-Time Previews

• Enjoy faster viewport rendering for real-time feedback.
• Make adjustments on the fly and see immediate results.

Optimized Rendering

• Render your scene using F12 or Render > Render Image.
• Experience significantly reduced render times without compromising quality.

Tips for Best Results

• Update Drivers: Ensure your GPU drivers are up to date to maximize performance.
• Scene Optimization: Optimize your scene by reducing unnecessary geometry and using instances.
• Regular Updates: Check for updates to the Cycles Y Add-On for the latest features and improvements.

Support and Troubleshooting

Common Issues

• Add-On Not Appearing: Verify that the installation steps were followed correctly and that you are using a compatible Blender version.
• No Performance Improvement: Ensure GPU acceleration is enabled and that all settings are configured as per the instructions.

Getting Help

• Discord Support: Reach out to theEXTREMEcoder on Discord for assistance.
• Community Forums: Join discussions with other users for tips and support.

Updates

To update to the latest version:

1. Download the Latest Version:

   • Visit the Blender Market page and download the newest CyclesY_Addon.zip file.

2. Install the Update:

   • Follow the same installation steps. Blender will replace the old version with the new one.

3. Restart Blender:

   • Restart Blender to apply the update.

Contact Information

• Website: patreon.com/CyclesY
• YouTube: @ballerscience
• Support: Contact theEXTREMEcoder on Discord

Enjoy faster rendering and unleash your creativity with the Cycles Y Add-On!