Performance and Proxy Issues with GrowFX Wind Animation – Need Optimization Advice

[M.Nabil]

Hi,
I'm relatively new to GrowFX, and I’ve been encountering some performance and workflow challenges—particularly when applying wind animation to trees and shrubs.

1. Performance Issues:
   Even on a high-end workstation, the GrowFX calculation (especially when enabling wind modifiers) is extremely time-consuming. The progress bar often takes a considerable amount of time to complete, which slows down the entire workflow.

2. Exporting to Animated Proxy:
   When I convert the animated GrowFX objects into Corona Proxies for rendering, the export process is very slow—sometimes taking up to 8 hours for a 600-frame animation. Additionally, the resulting proxy files are extremely large (around 40 GB), and in some cases, the mesh becomes distorted mid-animation.

3. Questions:

   • Is this kind of performance and file size normal when working with high-poly animated vegetation in GrowFX?

   • Should I always aim to animate lower-poly versions of the vegetation for proxy generation?

   • Are there any best practices or optimizations (within GrowFX or during proxy export) to reduce calculation time, file size, and avoid mesh distortions during animation?

Any advice or recommendations from experienced users would be greatly appreciated.

Animated_MT_PM_V31_Albizia_julibrissin_01.max

[M.Nabil]

Hello ;
@Eduard
Is there any update on the issue mentioned ? 
Thank you

[Eduard]

Hi M.Nabil,

 

Sorry for the delay in replying, I downloaded your file and we're still trying to find and fix the bug.
I see the problem, but we're still investigating.

 

Thanks for understanding!

[Eduard]

Hi M.Nabil,

 

We checked your file and fixed some bugs in both versions 2.1.0 and 1.9.9.
I sent you an update, you can check it.

 

Thanks for your bug report!