Performance & Optimization
Why the preview slows down, how to set up your browser and computer, and the settings that make a heavy scene run smoothly.
A Slow Preview Does Not Mean a Bad Video
The Studio draws the preview live, as fast as your device can. When a scene is too heavy, the preview draws itself a little lighter for a while (cached glow, thinner trails and effects, lower resolution, and in 3D fewer shadows and reflections) and returns to full quality when there is room. The physics, the seed, the timing and the sound never change.
Exports do not work like the preview. An export draws every frame at full quality, one by one, so a preview that stutters still produces a smooth video. It only takes longer.
Check Your Graphics Status
Help > Graphics in the Studio shows whether your browser is using the graphics card. If it says the software rasterizer is in use, turn on hardware acceleration first: nothing else helps as much. When it is off, the Help button on the rail turns red.
Tip
- Chrome, Edge and Brave: Settings > System > turn on "Use graphics acceleration when available", then restart the browser.
- Firefox: Settings > General > Performance > "Use recommended performance settings", then restart.
- Safari: on automatically.
Set Up Your Computer
Tip
- Laptops with two graphics chips often run the browser on the low-power one. Windows: Settings > System > Display > Graphics, add your browser and set it to High performance.
- Plug in the charger and turn off battery saver. On battery, laptops slow the graphics chip down.
- Keep your graphics drivers up to date and close other heavy tabs.
- Chrome or Edge on Windows give the best preview speed and the most reliable exports. On iPhone and iPad, keep iOS up to date.
Preview Cost Meter and Cost Icons
Physics > Optimization starts with a Preview cost meter, open on every plan. It rates your scene and names its heaviest parts. Sliders that can slow the preview carry a small three-bar cost icon: low, medium ("Can slow the preview on older devices") or high. They only warn; they never stop you.
Tip
- Lower the item the meter lists first. It is almost always the one that matters.
The Settings That Cost the Most
| Setting | Why it is heavy | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Ball count | Every ball is simulated, collided and drawn every frame. | Lower the maximum, or restart the run. |
| Trail length and trail glow | Each trail point is drawn every frame. | Shorter trails or less glow. |
| Ball glow | Glow is one of the most expensive effects. | Lower it while you build, raise it for the export. |
| Break and shatter effects | Many blasts at once add thousands of fragments. | Lower Blast limit in Physics > Optimization. |
| Spectrum, parallax and animated backgrounds | Drawn behind everything, every frame. | Use a calmer background while you edit. |
| 3D modes | A full 3D scene with lighting and shadows. | Set the 3D quality to Low or Medium. |
The Optimization Section
Physics > Optimization holds the engine's performance controls, grouped into General, Turbo mode, Quality limits and Fidelity & detail. The ones worth knowing: Smart render (skips objects that are off screen), Fast spatial hash (less stutter with many balls), Renderer backend (Auto, WebGPU, WebGL or Canvas: leave it on Auto unless you have a reason), Override simulation FPS, Physics quality and Blast limit. Each control's ⓘ explains it.
3D Modes
The first time you open a 3D mode, the Studio warns that 3D is heavy before loading it; nothing 3D is downloaded until you accept. In a 3D mode, the 3D section starts with a Quality picker: Low (fastest), Medium (balanced), High and Ultra (sharpest, heaviest). On a phone, 3D modes heat the device and drain the battery quickly.
Performance Warnings in the Studio
| What you see | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Help button turns red: "Hardware acceleration off: warning!" | Your browser is drawing on the processor instead of the graphics card. | Turn on hardware acceleration and restart the browser. |
| "Performance attention needed: open Help" | Your device does not report a dedicated graphics card. | Nothing is broken. Keep scenes lighter, especially in 3D. |
| Reset lights up: "Performance warning" | The scene has run at a very low frame rate for several seconds. | Undo your last change or lower the heaviest setting. Reset is the last resort; your saves and uploads are kept. |
Quick Fixes for a Slow Preview
- 1Undo your last change with Ctrl + Z if the slowdown started after it.
- 2Lower the settings with a high cost icon.
- 3In a 3D mode, set the 3D quality to Low or Medium.
- 4Close other heavy tabs and plug in your laptop.
- 5Check Help > Graphics and turn on hardware acceleration if it is off.
- 6Press Reset on the rail to return to a light scene.
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