Variable caustics (new): Path Tracing vs Photon Tracing

[nuno1980]

Hello. I use Octane Render 2022.1 demo despite my Licensed Customer.

We know - the definition of "Variable caustics" is direct+indirect lights reflected and/or refracted on any glossy (not diffuse) ground:
- (almost) 100% focus of lights direct+indirect reflected and/or refracted -> between 0% and 2% roughness of ground
- low to high blur of lights direct+indirect reflected and/or refracted -> between 2%~95% roughness of ground
- bit or little visible of variable caustics on 95%~99% roughness of ground.
-> Can you understand this?

Difference between my 2 images rendered about variable caustics at 0.09 (9%) roughness of ground:
- At Path Tracing (PT) kernel - I apologize for noises but I needed very, very long number of samples per pixel

- At new Photon Tracing with denoiser - quick direct+indirect caustics = only 20 seconds on my RTX 4090 but unfortunately, this is not any variable caustics visible at less than 0.3~0.4 (30%~40%) roughness of ground

-> But this new kernel seems to be NORMAL.

--> I'll post to add new image at PT kernel in this night when the new image will be rendered (the camera little moved to right from camera original (see 1st image)).

[nuno1980]

--> I'll post to add new image at PT kernel in this night when the new image will be rendered (the camera little moved to right from camera original (see 1st image)).

Sorry for later.

See the difference between 2 images (this new and 1st) about caustics "animated" while the camera is moved due to the variable caustics.

[nuno1980]

Hello, guys.

Watch about "Variable vs almost non-variable caustics at... the real life" but not on computer:
https://youtube.com/shorts/j1Awp-IA3C4

Best regards.