test queue 4x the samps monkaX

.specstory/history/2025-11-01_15-48Z-png-rendering-error-troubleshooting.md

@@ -357,7 +357,6 @@ _**Agent (model default, mode Agent)**_
 
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-
 For SheepIt with tiling, you can't denoise during rendering (denoising needs the full frame), but you can denoise the combined EXR frames afterward if you save the required passes.
 
 ## Render settings for SheepIt + tiling
@@ -412,3 +411,56 @@ This way you get fast tiled rendering on SheepIt and clean denoised results afte
 
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+_**User (2025-11-03 07:09Z)**_
+
+Ach, looks like I can't render splits. this makes splits kind of useless for me... so I can't send this blend with such high samples because it's so long that each machine doesn't get it, but if I split it, I'll just have to denoise it after anyway... is there a better solution for denoising than the compositing solution I devised?
+
+---
+
+_**Agent (model default, mode Agent)**_
+
+
+
+---
+
+
+Given SheepIt’s EXR restriction (no splits), here are practical alternatives:
+
+## Option 1: Render with splits in PNG + enable render-time denoising
+- Render to PNG (splits allowed)
+- In Cycles: enable Denoising (OpenImageDenoise or OptiX)
+- Denoising should run per tile during render
+- Result: already denoised when tiles combine
+
+Note: Verify that SheepIt/Blender doesn’t disable denoising with splits. Test a single split frame first.
+
+## Option 2: Lower samples + better denoising (recommended)
+Modern denoisers work well with fewer samples:
+- Reduce samples (e.g., 128–256 instead of 1000+)
+- Keep denoising enabled during render
+- Render to PNG with splits enabled
+- Benefits: faster renders, workers complete tasks, denoised output
+
+## Option 3: AI denoisers that don’t need passes
+If render-time denoising doesn’t work with splits, use standalone denoisers:
+- Neat Video (plugin for Premiere/AE/Resolve)
+- Topaz DeNoise AI
+- Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop AI Denoise
+
+Trade-off: No denoising passes needed, but single-pass input only.
+
+## Option 4: Hybrid two-pass workflow
+If you need high samples:
+1. Pass 1: Render beauty only with splits (PNG), high samples
+2. Pass 2: Render denoising passes (Normal/Albedo) full-frame, low samples, EXR
+3. Composite: Combine passes in Blender Compositor and denoise
+
+Downside: Two renders, more work.
+
+## Recommendation
+Try Option 1 first: PNG + splits + render-time denoising enabled. If that doesn’t work or quality isn’t enough, use Option 2 (lower samples + denoising). The quality difference with modern denoisers is often minimal, and render time drops significantly.
+
+If you can share sample count and resolution, I can suggest specific settings.
+
+---
+