This article will explain the importance of choice between GPU and CPU rendering and guide you through common questions and actions you can take to optimize the performance.
GPU vs. CPU Rendering: What's the Difference?
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) rendering utilizes your device's graphics card, offering faster and more efficient processing for visual tasks. This is particularly beneficial for handling large textures and complex visual effects on our platform.
CPU (Central Processing Unit) rendering, on the other hand, relies on your device's main processor. While it may be slower compared to GPU rendering, it is more genric and doesn't have some same limitations of the GPU, making it a reliable fallback for certain situations.
GPU (hardware acceleration) rendering is generally the best choice for an optimal experience on Magma, unless you encounter specific issues, so most of the time you should leave this setting on.
Automatic Rendering Optimization
Devices vary in their capacity to handle large textures, with many mobile devices having a GPU texture size limit of 4096x4096 pixels. This limitation is crucial because Magma canvases can scale up to 8096x8096 pixels. When a device's GPU cannot support a canvas's texture size, switching to CPU rendering becomes necessary to ensure the canvas renders correctly.
In our latest update, we've implemented a feature that automatically switches your rendering mode from GPU to CPU if your device hardware acceleration cannot support large textures required for some canvases. This change aims to prevent rendering issues and ensure that all users, regardless of their device capabilities, can enjoy a smooth experience on Magma.
Understanding the UI Indicator
The small label in the UI serves as a quick indicator of your current rendering mode:
No Label: GPU rendering is active.
CPU Label with Alert Icon: Your device has been automatically switched to CPU rendering due to limitations.
CPU Label without Alert Icon: You're on CPU rendering by choice or previous switch, with the option to revert to GPU rendering.
Switching back to GPU
While switching to CPU might resolve rendering issues, it might also decrease the performance of Magma app, so it's recommended to switch hardware acceleration back on whenever possible.
If you've switched to CPU rendering — either through automatic adjustment or a manual choice — you can revert this with following steps:
Go to Edit -> Application Settings: This is where the GPU settings reside.
Open "Other" tab and turn GPU hardware acceleration back On: The options you're looking for is called "Enable GPU hardware acceleration
Confirm the changes: Once ready, save the settings - this will cause canvas to reload, and your GPU should be back on.
In some cases the checkbox will be disabled. This generally means, that your current device is not capable of rendering current canvas.
In this case, consider making your canvas smaller or resizing layers to fit within your device's limits. Or, if possible, switch to a more powerful device to get the benefits of GPU rendering.
Troubleshooting and Support
If you're experiencing issues or have questions about rendering modes, here are a few steps you can take:
Check Device Compatibility: Ensure that your device meets the minimum requirements for GPU rendering on large canvases (you can learn the maximum size of textures that your device GPU can handle by visiting this website and checking "Max Texture Size" parameter in the "Textures" section)
Toggle Rendering Modes: If possible, switch between GPU and CPU rendering in the application settings to see if it resolves your issue.
Contact Support: Our team is here to help! If you're encountering persistent issues or need assistance, don't hesitate to reach out for support.