Rendering a large number of unique objects I've got a script which imports a bunch of hi-resolution models onto a grid. It gives me this:



It's currently got 35 objects (81924 vertices per object), but I'd like to rotate the camera toward the horizon, and arrange many many more objects out to infinity (~1500 of them).

I feel that a simple extension of what I'm doing now is going to run my machine out of memory. And since I only really need hi-res data close to the camera, it's a waste of resources out at the horizon.

What would be a good strategy for rendering many hi-res models in a single scene?
You could group all the brains (Ctrl-G) and then use the brain group in a particle system on a grid which emits from each vertex. Make sure the number of vertices = number of particles. Also be sure to display your models as bounds only, otherwise Blender will try to draw all the detail in viewport. Using a particle system allows me to draw forests of complex trees, so I think brains should work too.

In the picture you see the group of objects in the front and the result of a particle system on a subdivided grid emitting from each vertex in the background.