Reserve raymarched 3D for when depth adds meaning; a flat SDF composition is often stronger

Extending a distance field to 3D and marching a ray through it (raymarch-sdf) yields volumetric geometry, but it is expensive and easy to turn into visual mush. The craft principle is restraint: reach for raymarching only when front-to-back depth genuinely adds meaning to the piece, not by default. A flat 2D SDF composition is frequently the stronger choice, reading more clearly and costing far less. Depth is a deliberate expressive decision, not a free upgrade over a 2D field.

Examples

A 2D SDF logo under radial symmetry reads crisply and cheaply; converting it to a raymarched 3D scene risks a muddy, expensive result unless the depth itself is the point.

Assessment

State when raymarched 3D is worth reaching for versus a flat SDF composition, and give the two reasons restraint is advised.