Recommended minimum system requirements:

 

 

These requirements apply only for the program itself with a clean project. As with other CAD programs, the actual system requirements are highly dependent on the complexity of the materials you are working with.

If you place many complex 3D models, use a graphic file of tens of megabytes as a background, then you need a very powerful computer.

But you can simplify your materials and do the same job on a weak computer.

 

New versions of VideoCAD usually work faster than older versions when comparing the same projects. But new versions have new tools that require new resources. These tools can be disabled when they are not needed. The speed of generating images in 3D (3D Video, 3D World) was significantly increased in VideoCAD11, and the speed in 2D (Graphics window) was significantly increased in VideoCAD14.

Practical tests of VideoCAD14 showed the ability to work with the simultaneous display of several thousand 3D models and hundreds of cameras with the most complex type of projections of view areas (accurate lens distortion + gradient fill + shading from obstacles + projections on two levels + high resolution from above + camera rotation around its axis).

To accelerate complex graphics, VideoCAD14 loads the generated objects into the video card memory, so the maximum number of objects in a project depends on the capabilities of the video card. It takes some time for objects to load into the video card, so with a big project there may be a temporary slowdown immediately after opening the Graphics window, 3D World window and 3D Video. Once all objects are on the screen, these objects start updating from the video card memory and the graphics reach their maximum speed.

 

The performance of the program does not depend much on the number of cameras in the project. Projects of hundreds of cameras are efficiently done in VideoCAD. At the same time, if you do wrong things, you can feel a lack of performance with just one camera.

 

VideoCAD provides accurate and powerful tools, but it does not control the load from their use. For comfortable and efficient work, you need to learn how to manage the load on the program. VideoCAD provides tools for such control.

 

Long program startup

 

Due to the need to initialize a large number of 3D models, a database of camera models and build complex menus, the program may take up to several minutes to launch. A long startup time does not indicate a lack of performance after launch.

 

The main reasons for the slowdown of the program:

 

1. Tools for modeling camera parameters in the 3D Video window

 

The tools of modeling illumination, depth of field exposure, rolling shutter, animation, modeling resolutions, motion blur, modeling lighting and sensitivity, compression, PiP, lens distortion, interlace, real resolution over screen size ... The illuminators also require computing power.

VideoCAD allows you to use these tools even simultaneously for precise complex modeling of cameras and scenes. But the speed of generating images when using them will be drastically reduced. Complex precision instruments require a lot of resources. Simultaneously open 3D Video and 3D World windows slow down the program too.

 

These tools are for special simulations only and should be disabled during normal camera placement work.

 

You can quickly turn on and off all image processing in the Main menu of the 3D Video window>Speed>Disable image processing. The Redraw 3D image only by clicking item can be used to exclude unnecessary redrawing of the 3D Video window.

 

2. Too many details

 

It should be understood that any object, construction, and especially a 3D model, will require resources every time the images are updated in 2D and 3D. Each 3D model that you have included in the project will take time to load and will increase the launch time of the program. The more beautiful the 3D model, the more resources it requires.

 

You can roughly estimate how "heavy" a 3D model is by the number of faces it consists of. The more faces the model contains, the more resources are required to process it. You can see the number of faces on the Status bar (parameter faces=) if you position the mouse cursor over the 3D model on the layout.

 

 

If you get too carried away with decorations and details, then you can feel the lack of performance pretty soon.

If you notice that the program has become slow, then there are probably too many details.

 

The refresh rate of the image in the Graphics window strongly depends on the number and types of objects on the layout. The least resources are required for drawing lines and line-based constructions. More resources are required for drawing fills and polygons, solid fills for camera view areas (especially gradient fills), 3D models pictures (especially with high-resolution projections) and texts.

 

The work can be significantly accelerated by hiding long-drawn objects on an invisible layer. You can show this layer during the creation of the output pictures and get all the beauty conceived.

 

3. Shadow calculation

 

Considerable resources may be required for shadow calculations. VideoCAD calculates shading very accurately, without simplifications, you can be sure of the correctness of the result. But with each change on the layout, VideoCAD must calculate and add shadows from each face of constructions and 3D models that are in the view area of the active camera. And if there are a lot of these faces, the program may even freeze. So, the problem is also connected with point 2 (Too many details).

You can significantly ease the load on the program if you disable shadow calculations during normal operation. You can always recalculate shadows from all cameras later. It is better to turn off the shadow calculation from 3D models. You can flexibly control the calculation of shading from certain objects through layers, line types, setting of types of 3D models and individual instances of 3D models.

 

4. Large view area drawing areas

 

In some camera positions, the projection of view area is infinite in length, and hence in area. A large area can be occupied by the projection of view areas of PTZ and Fisheye cameras.

Despite the fact that an infinite view area on the screen can be limited by obstacles, shading is calculated over its entire area, and with a large number of obstacles, calculating and drawing small details of shading can require a lot of resources. To eliminate this cause of slowdown, limit the length of infinite and excessively long camera view areas using the Maximum distence of drawing view area.

 

5. Complex background

 

The background can be too complex, require a lot of drawing resources and slow down the program. Typically, CCTV design does not require many details on the background. If the program starts working much faster with hidden background, it is recommended to simplify the background. It might be better to rasterize complex vector background during design time.

 

Try using the Picture tool to load the Background. The Picture can complement and replace the Background for less complex layouts. But unlike the Background, which can store and display high-resolution vector drawings, the Picture converts vector drawings into raster textures and loads them into the video card memory, so it works faster than the Background, but has a limited resolution, use more memory and has not special tools.

 

6. A large number of cameras with accurate modeling of lens distortion

 

Accurate modeling of lens distortion requires resources and when a large number of cameras with distortion are displayed on the screen at the same time, there may be delays in redrawing the screen in 2D. With a large number of cameras in the project, it is recommended to accurately model distortion only for selected cameras. For most cameras, it is recommended to use Simplified Distortion Modeling, which requires much less resources.

In the Options box, you can switch the way distortion is modeled in the entire project at once

 

7. Using GDI+ in the Graphics window

 

The ability to use GDI+ is left in case of video card failure, for image export or work under virtual machines. Move the 2D graphic interface switch to the OpenGL position and the speed of the program's graphic part will increase significantly.

 

8. Antivirus and other guard programs

 

Antiviruses can significantly slow down programs. If you experience a lack of performance even with clean projects, try disabling your antivirus and adding VideoCAD to the list of trusted applications.

 

See also: Errors in rendering 3D images