In a fresh V8/V9 installation the default sample count for Raytraced is 1000.
IMO this is way too much.
Could it be made 100 or even 50?
Especially as the Denoiser postprocesses by default?
Hi Charles,
This was already tried and reverted. The current 1000-sample default is intentional as of Rhino 8. Users who want a lower default can adjust it manually in the Raytraced viewport HUD or via Document Properties > Rendering. The argument for keeping it high is that without a bundled denoiser, 100 samples produces visibly noisy results on complex scenes.
This issue has significant history:
- The default was changed from 1000 to 100 RH-73847 in April 2023 (Rhino 8 WIP), confirmed on both Windows and Mac.
- A follow-up issue RH-75425 argued that 100 samples was inadequate - producing grainy results without a denoiser.
- The decision was made to revert back to 1000 in July 2023 (confirmed in 8.0.23198.00305), citing poor user experience at 100 samples.
Hi Japhy
Thanks for all the details.
Document Properties > Rendering
Yes that’s the problem: *Document* Properties.
Means with every new model, the value is the fixed 1000.
The only way I see to change it in *Rhino* Options is via Advanced - RhinoCycles.Samples.
Or is there another method that I just can’t find?
Hi Charles -
Only every new model that is based on a template with that value set.
It sounds like you want to modify your default template…
-wim
Too easy 
Feature suggestion:
Some render settings can be changed or added to by putting a txt file into the Rhino folder. Like for the default resolutions in the render settings dropdown, the user can put a file named “render_sizes.txt” into the folder C:\Program Files\Rhino 8\System. In there are your resolutions that will then show up in the dropdown.
I think this is a simple and easy way to change or add defaults. Maybe this simple custom txt file method could be extended to work for more settings. Would also be a simple way for the user to change the default sample count.