Detail Operator
The Detail operator controls how finely strands are approximated - that is, how many segments make up each strand. More segments give smoother, more detailed curves; fewer segments are lighter to compute. Because it can set the viewport and render segment counts separately, the Detail operator lets you work with light, responsive strands while grooming and still get smooth results when rendering.
Why segment count matters
A strand is a chain of straight segments. With few segments, tight curls and sharp bends look faceted; with many, they look smooth. The right count depends on how curved your strands are and how close the camera gets.
Viewport versus render detail
A common strategy is to start grooming at low detail for speed, then raise the detail as the groom nears its final shape. The Detail operator formalizes this: keep a low segment count in the viewport for interactivity, and a higher count for rendering, without changing anything else about the groom. The operator smooths strands using spline interpolation, so increasing detail rounds the existing shape rather than distorting it.
Related
- Hair from Guides Operator - controls hair count, the other major performance lever.
- Hair and Guide Viewport Display - viewport preview options.