Visual Effects Tutorials -

Create Microscopic Cells with NeXus in INSYDIUM Fused

Michele — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 14:37:40 +0000

Bob from INSYDIUM uses NeXus modifiers in NSYDIUM Fused to create stylized animated microscopic cells in this week’s Top Tip Tuesday. Bob generates thin tendrils with nxFluids in PBD mode, adjusting the External Pressure settings. Then he adds the nxConstraints modifier and adjusts the Surface Tension and Forces layers for control over the simulation behavior.

More from INSYDIUM

INSYDIUM Fused Annual Subscription

All INSYDIUM products in one collection

INSYDIUM Fused gives you the ultimate toolkit to create mesmerizing particle effects, realistic terrains, animate plants – and more! With this powerful collection of plugins and products at your disposal plus an array of assets just waiting for you to discover them, there’s no limit to what creative solutions can arise. Plus with technical support available any time should anything come up along your artistic journey – you’re guaranteed success in completing even the most complex projects easily.

The INSYDIUM Fused Annual Subscription provides the Fused license on an annual basis. The full collection is only available if your license has Maintenance or you have a Subscription.

Learn More

INSYDIUM Fused Perpetual License

INSYDIUM's collection of Plug-ins, Products, and Benefits

Plus with technical support available any time should anything come up along your artistic journey – you’re guaranteed success in completing even the most complex projects easily.

Learn More

INSYDIUM Fused Perpetual License

12 Months Maintenance for Fused Users

INSYDIUM Fused Annual Maintenance, existing users get 12 months of Technical Support and instant access to exciting new features for Fused.

If you purchase Fused perpetual, the first 12 months of Technical Support and Updates are included. With this in mind, to continue to receive Technical Support and Updates, you must purchase the INSYDIUM Fused Annual Maintenance.

Learn More

The post Create Microscopic Cells with NeXus in INSYDIUM Fused appeared first on .

PolyFold Abstract Geo with INSYDIUM Fused MeshTools

Michele — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 16:57:00 +0000

This week’s Top Tip Tuesday from INSYDIUM features Bob Walmsley using MeshTools PolyFold in INSYDIUM Fused to create and animate intricate abstract geometry on a basic Torus object. He establishes the foundational folding animation using mtPolyFold from MeshTools. To enhance the visual appeal, he incorporates multiple MeshTools features. mtShellGen adds depth and polygon caps, while mtInset on the caps produces pointed extrusions. Finally, mtSubdivider smoothens the entire structure, resulting in a captivating animated creation.

Creating Epic Title Animations with Sapphire

Michele — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 16:11:00 +0000

John Dickinson, Design Director at Boris FX, breaks down an epic fantasy title animation created with Blender and After Effects with Boris FX Sapphire and Continuum.

Get the video artists’ most coveted tool, Sapphire!

Available as a perpetual license or annual subscription.

Boris FX Sapphire Perpetual License

UStylize Footage Fast With Boris FX Sapphire 2024

Introducing Boris FX Sapphire 2024 – an all-in-one plugin package that lets you create stunning organic looks that would be unmatched by any other effect tools. Featuring over 270 effects and 3000+ presets, this plug-in offers great control and image quality, allowing you to produce the kind of visuals that will keep your audience coming back for more. You will also benefit from its powerful Effect and Transition Builder, and enjoy the convenience of integrated tracking and masking with the Academy Award-winning Mocha. With Sapphire, you can save time and effort in your creative projects and focus on what matters most – delivering an impact that will capture the attention of your audience. Get Boris FX Sapphire 2024 and unlock the full potential of your creative projects.

Learn MoreTry Boris FX Sapphire Perpetual License for free!

Boris FX Sapphire Annual Subscription

Stylize Footage Fast With Boris FX Sapphire 2024

Learn MoreTry Boris FX Sapphire Annual Subscription for free!

Boris FX Continuum Annual Subscription

The Swiss Army Knife of Plugins

Meeting tight turnarounds just got easier. The post-production industry’s most complete plugin collection delivers nearly 350 creative effects in 20 categories, 4000+ presets, built-in Academy Award-winning Mocha planar tracking and masking, a Beat Reactor that drives VFX to music, and the FX Browser. Busy editors and artists rely on Continuum to get the job done.

Learn MoreTry Boris FX Continuum Annual Subscription for free!

Boris FX Continuum Perpetual License

The Swiss Army Knife of Plugins

Learn MoreTry Boris FX Continuum Perpetual License for free!

The post Creating Epic Title Animations with Sapphire appeared first on .

Maxon Livestreams from SIGGRAPH 2024 Day 3 is today!

Michele — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 14:07:47 +0000

Watch Maxon’s livestream from SIGGRAPH 2024 featuring artist presentations and the latest news and updates on Maxon One. SIGGRAPH is the premier conference and exhibition for computer graphics and interactive design. The conference takes place in Denver July 30-August 1.

Maxon Presenter List

Bookmark this page to watch the presentations live,
or come back later for the archive.

Maxon // SIGGRAPH 2024 // Day 1

July 30, 2024

Maxon // SIGGRAPH 2024 // Day 2

July 31, 2024

Maxon // SIGGRAPH 2024 // Day 3

August 1, 2024

Maxon One

Cinema 4D, Forger, Red Giant, Redshift, Universe, and ZBrush in One Bundle!

Introducing Maxon One – the ultimate subscription package for 3D artists and motion designers looking to bring their creative projects to life. With Maxon One, you gain instant access to an award-winning 3D animation tool with Cinema 4D as well as Red Giant Complete’s full collection of powerful tools for editing, VFX, and motion design. Plus, with ZBrush included in the bundle, you have the freedom to model sophisticated illustrations limited only by your imagination. Finally, the ultra-fast GPU renderer Redshift for Cinema 4D is also included. Now you can push the boundaries of what’s possible and take your creativity to a whole new level with a single all-encompassing package. Unlock the full potential of your creative brilliance with Maxon One!

Learn MoreTry Maxon One for free!

Maxon Cinema 4D Subscription

3D computer animation, modeling, simulation, and rendering software

Maxon Cinema 4D is a professional 3D modeling, animation, simulation, and rendering software solution. Its fast, powerful, flexible, and stable toolset make 3D workflows more accessible and efficient for design, motion graphics, VFX, AR/MR/VR, game development, and all types of visualization professionals. Cinema 4D produces stunning results, whether working on your own or in a team.

Cinema 4D 2024 provides unmatched speed and performance for the most sophisticated creative scenes. Rigid Body Simulations can now interact with all existing forces, pyro, cloth, and soft bodies. Pyro shines with a hot new feature that allows fire to be emitted from particles and matrices. And the new Vertex Normal tools offer artists unparalleled precision to perfect surfaces.

Learn MoreTry Maxon Cinema 4D Subscription for free!

Redshift by Maxon

Redshift Now Available as Subscription

Redshift is the world’s first fully GPU-accelerated, biased renderer built to meet the specific demands of contemporary high-end production rendering in C4D. Tailored to support creative individuals and studios of every size, Redshift offers a suite of powerful features and supports complex, advanced shading networks and texturing capabilities as required for production-quality rendering. Redshift has the features and uncompromising quality of a CPU renderer, but at GPU rendering speeds.

Learn MoreTry Redshift by Maxon for free!

Red Giant - Annual Subscription

Get all the tools from Red Giant at one low price with Red Giant.

Maxon Red Giant is the leading provider of visual effects and motion graphics tools, offering innovative and powerful solutions for filmmakers, editors, motion designers, and visual effects artists. Red Giant tools empowers artists, filmmakers, and designers to bring their creative visions to life.

Get all the Red Giant tools for filmmaking and motion graphics. You’ll enjoy access to Trapcode, Magic Bullet, VFX, and Universe – each designed with innovative features that make it easy to craft eye-catching visuals!

Learn MoreTry Red Giant - Annual Subscription for free!

Universe

Video transition and effects plugins for editors and motion graphics artists

Red Giant Universe is a collection of 89 GPU-accelerated plugins for editors and motion graphics artists. Stylize your footage. Create motion graphics. Add transitions and effects. In addition, find text generators and lots of presets.

Learn MoreTry Universe for free!

ZBrush Subscription

The All-In-One Digital Sculpting Solution Designed for the Pursuit of Art

ZBrush sets the industry standard for digital sculpting/painting. With customizable tools that can shape, texture, and paint virtual clay in real time with instant feedback, you’ll have unprecedented access to an endless range of precise digital creations.

Learn MoreTry ZBrush Subscription for free!

The post Maxon Livestreams from SIGGRAPH 2024 Day 3 is today! appeared first on .

Faster 3D Camera Data & OCIO Color Matching in Mocha Pro for After Effects

Michele — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 15:59:17 +0000

In this Mocha Pro tutorial, Ben Brownlee guides you through efficient camera data transfer and color consistency techniques between Mocha Pro and After Effects. Discover two methods for importing camera data: the traditional approach and a new option within the Mocha Pro plugin.

Additionally, you’ll learn the significance of color profile management to ensure consistent visual appearance across both applications. With the introduction of a new color management system (OpenColorIO) in After Effects 2024, you can sync it with Mocha Pro’s viewer preferences, enabling seamless color matching.

Learn about Boris FX Mocha Pro 2024.5, released last week. This update introduces new 3D camera solve tools and export options that save you tons of time!

Check out Boris FX Mocha Pro!

Available as an annual subscription or a perpetual license.

Boris FX Mocha Pro - Annual Subscription

The Academy Award-winning planar tracking toolset

Boris FX Mocha Pro brings world-renowned planar tracking, rotoscoping, object removal, and image stabilization capabilities, not to mention its groundbreaking PowerMesh technology. It comes as no surprise then that it was recognized with both Academy Award and Emmy acknowledgment for its contribution to the film & TV industry; from Oscar-nominated VFX films all the way down to small indie projects. Mocha Pro has become an essential asset in the visual effects and post-production workflows of some of Hollywood's biggest studios. See Mocha Pro in global hits including The Mandalorian, Stranger Things, Avengers: Endgame, and many more.

Learn MoreTry Boris FX Mocha Pro - Annual Subscription for free!

Boris FX Mocha Pro - Perpetual License

The Academy Award-winning planar tracking toolset

Learn MoreTry Boris FX Mocha Pro - Perpetual License for free!

Get it all with Boris FX Suite

Boris FX Suite

The Ultimate Visual Effects Package

With the Boris FX Suite, you can have ultimate creativity and cutting-edge technology at your fingertips. Get the best of award-winning tools such as Sapphire for visual effects, Mocha Pro for planar tracking and Optics to revolutionize rotoscoping - all accessible with one incredible annual price point! Unlock a world of possibilities with just $1,295 per year.

Boris FX Suite Includes:

• Continuum – The world’s most complete plugin toolkit
• CrumplePop – Easy to use, AI-drive audio restoration plugins
• Mocha Pro – Award-winning planar tracking & masking
• Optics – Cinematic effects for photos
• Sapphire – The essential visual effects suite
• Silhouette - Roto, Paint & Compositing
• SynthEyes – Fast 3D tracking and matching moving toolset

Learn More

The post Faster 3D Camera Data & OCIO Color Matching in Mocha Pro for After Effects appeared first on .

Matrix Particle Attract with INSYDIUM Fused

Michele — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 14:56:58 +0000

In Today’s Top Tip, Bob explains how to use the mograph Matrix Particle object as custom attract points for particles using INSYDIUM Fused. For this purpose, he uses the NeXus nxAttract modifier, then ads nxPush to create dynamic movement.

Seamless After Effects Workflows with Mocha Pro 2024.5

Michele — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 17:12:55 +0000

Learn about Mocha Pro 2024.5‘s enhanced After Effects integration and streamline your 3D tracking workflows. Effortlessly transfer 3D tracking data from the plugin directly into your After Effects composition. Discover how the seamless new OCIO profile support ensures consistent color representation between Mocha Pro and After Effects, enabling you to deliver visually stunning projects with ease.

What’s New in Mocha Pro 2024.5

Check out Boris FX Mocha Pro!

Available as an annual subscription or a perpetual license.

Boris FX Mocha Pro - Annual Subscription

The Academy Award-winning planar tracking toolset

Learn MoreTry Boris FX Mocha Pro - Annual Subscription for free!

Boris FX Mocha Pro - Perpetual License

The Academy Award-winning planar tracking toolset

Learn MoreTry Boris FX Mocha Pro - Perpetual License for free!

Get it all with Boris FX Suite

Boris FX Suite

The Ultimate Visual Effects Package

Boris FX Suite Includes:

Learn More

The post Seamless After Effects Workflows with Mocha Pro 2024.5 appeared first on .

The Basics of Camera Tracking with GeoTracker for Nuke

Michele — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 17:51:37 +0000

In this tutorial, learn about using 3D object tracking for exporting a camera track with GeoTracker for Nuke. The video dives into camera settings and automatic focal length estimation when you are unsure of the camera parameters. Learn to work with a zoom shot and finally how to export the results of the 3D object track as a camera track.

The post The Basics of Camera Tracking with GeoTracker for Nuke appeared first on .

Particle Neighbor Spawn in INSYDIUM Nexus

Michele — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 14:04:44 +0000

Bob from INSYDIUM has a great tip for using NxQuestion in INSYDIUM Nexus, a tool included in INSYDIUM FUSED, to create an attractive Particle Neighbor Spawn.

In the tutorial, he uses an nxQuestion rig to spawn particles, the number of spawned particles correlates to the number of neighbor particles. He adds a second neighbor spawning question, creating a self-feeding system, which grows networks of spawned particles. A third nxQuestion prevents particles from escaping the object volume. Finally, he adds other NeXus modifiers to create a gorgeous, deceptively simple animation!

How to Choose the Right 3D Rendering Software UPDATED July 19

Michele — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 17:02:30 +0000

In the world of professional 3D animation, archviz, and design, creating stunning visual experiences is paramount. Selecting the right 3D renderer can significantly impact quality, efficiency, and creative potential. In this blog post, we will delve into the crucial factors that you, the professional artist, should consider when selecting a 3D renderer. Make a well-informed decision that aligns perfectly with your needs and artistic vision. Get ready for an informative and captivating read!

Featured Image

Photo by SIMON LEE on Unsplash

Updated 18 July 2024

This is a living document. There is a vast amount of information here and updates come out so often. We will try our best to keep it updated, nonetheless, some information may not be fully correct or out-of-date. Please let us know if something is incorrect so that we may update the article or product information

Update Log

To view the update log, scroll to the bottom of the page.

Choose the right 3D rendering software for your needs

A standalone 3D renderer vs. the bundled renderer

The 3D renderer bundled with your 3D animation software is fine for basic tasks and visualizations. However, if you’re looking for advanced functionality and performance, a standalone 3D renderer is better for many 3D artists and designers. Why is that?

Focused development. Dedicated teams generally develop standalone 3D renderers. They are focused on implementing the latest rendering techniques and technologies.
Advanced capabilities. Standalone renderers include more options and customizations catering to specific industries and artists’ needs. These options give the artist more control over lighting, shading, materials, and other rendering parameters.
Continuous development. Developers of standalone 3D renderers tend to have a faster development cycle and frequent updates that improve performance, introduce new features, and fix bugs.
A large ecosystem. Some renderers support multiple host integrations, plugins, scripts, cloud integration, collaboration tools, and more.

How to Choose the Right Standalone 3D Renderer for your needs

Choosing the perfect 3D rendering software for your needs can be intimidating, but there are some factors to consider to help you make an informed decision. Doing your homework upfront will ensure you choose the best tool for your needs, and save you money and time.

Below, read some tips on finding the right tool for what you need for the job.

1. Narrow down your list to your industry

Some industries require the use of a specific 3D application. For example, if you work with architectural design and use 3ds Max, you may need a specialized renderer for architectural visualization, like V-Ray. Different types of projects, such as television ads, automotive product design, 360° panoramas, VR, or game development, require different rendering capabilities, too. Eliminating software outside of your industry will narrow the pool of choices immediately.

If you’re new to the industry, ask what other professionals use. If you don’t know anyone personally, find a user forum for the industry and ask.

2. Compatibility and Integration

Now that you’ve narrowed your list, ensure your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements for components like your current operating system, CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage for the renderer you choose. If you’re using a Mac, you can cross those Windows-only tools off your list.

In addition, make sure that the renderer is compatible with your existing versions of 3D software and tools. In other words, if you’re running an older version of 3ds Max or Cinema 4D and have no plans to upgrade your host, ensure the renderer supports that version.

Compatibility is crucial to maintaining a smooth workflow. You want to easily transfer files, materials, and settings between different applications.

3. Download free trials & demo versions

Once you’ve narrowed the field to 2-4 3D rendering programs, download free trials. This will determine whether the renderer presents the range of features you need. I recommend that render the same scene in multiple or more 3D renderers and compare render quality, lighting, shading, speed, etc. Does the software allow you to fine-tune settings to achieve your preferred artistic style and aesthetic?

4. Choose the tool with features that meet your design objectives

According to Ilustraviz.com, “While a good 3D Render is definitely all about the overall form and silhouette, details do matter.” Look for a 3D renderer that offers detailed rendering, realistic lighting and shadows, accurate proportions, lifelike textures and materials, versatile lighting setups, scalability for objects, stunning post-production effects, impressive speed, and, of course, quality. More on rendering quality in point 5.

Determine whether the 3D renderer has the flexibility, customization, and personalization options needed. Can it handle a wide range of materials and textures? Does it support advanced lighting and particle effects? Look for a renderer that provides robust features and the ability to tweak settings to achieve your desired artistic style and aesthetic.

5. Rendering Quality vs. Rendering Speed and Efficiency.

Rendering software will devour your computer’s resources. Rendering speed can vary significantly between different rendering tools, and, as you know, efficiency is essential to meeting project deadlines and maximizing productivity. Ideally, you want a balance between rendering speed and rendering quality. Test rendering speeds by rendering the same project with similar settings in multiple renderers. As you try a few different tests, note render speeds.

Renderers employ different algorithms and techniques, resulting in vast differences in lighting, shading, texture, and overall visual fidelity.

What to look for:

Look at your render tests and examine the results for the following list from Top Things to Look at in a 3D Render for your project from Plus Render.

Extensive Detailing. Is it photorealistic? Zoom in to look at the small details, curves, and more.
Lighting and shadows. Do the lights and shadows look realistic or fake? Check both the dark and light areas.
Proportionality. Are the elements in your 3D rendering producing natural-looking proportions?

In addition, read user testimonials and ask for recommendations from other artists in the field.

Also determine whether the software has features to streamline your workflows, such as distributed rendering, GPU acceleration, and support for network rendering.

NEW What Is PBR (Physically-Based Rendering)? A complete guide from Chaos

6. Cost and Licensing

Rendering software will have an initial cost if it’s a perpetual license, plus ongoing maintenance costs. However, subscription licensing is currently the most common licensing option for 3D rendering software. If you plan to expand your team or projects you also will need to find out if the licensing is scalable. More about Types of Licenses.

7. Learning Curve and Support

Some renderers, like Corona, are as simple as drag and drop. Others, like V-Ray, have a steeper learning curve, requiring time and effort to become proficient. Discover whether the 3D rendering software has learning resources such as tutorials, documentation, and active user communities. Additionally, find out if the developer provides reliable technical support, in case you find any issues or challenges during your creative projects.

3D Rendering Software

Note: Pricing and system requirements are accurate as of the publishing of this article. We will keep this document updated when we get around to it. Please check for current versions.

Comparison Chart – Quick Reference

Renderer	Developer	Current Host Support	Developed for	GPU / CPU Based	Offline / Real-Time / Interactivity	Bias / Physically Accurate	GI Method
Corona Renderer	Corona	3ds Max Cinema 4D ARCHICAD (alpha) Blender (add-on in development)	Architectural visualization Automotive and product design, Television ads and title sequence	CPU	Offline rendering with support for interactive rendering	Unbiased & Biased	Intel Embree Ray Tracing Kernels
Cycles 4D	Insydium	Cinema 4D with X-Particles	VFX	GPU/CPU	Offline (Real-time Preview)	Unbiased	Path Tracing
Enscape	Chaos	SketchUp Rhino Revit Archicad Vectorworks	Architectural design BIM managers Viz specialists	GPU only	Real-Time	Partially physically accurate	Multibounce
finalRender	Cebas	3ds Max Maya (beta)	VFX	Hybrid, GPU (Nvidia CUDA) or CPU	Offline	Unbiased	Physically Based (Spectral) Wavelength Simulation
Maxwell	Next Limit	Standalone with plugins for: Maya 3ds Max Softimage Form•Z Modo Nuke Rhino ArchiCAD Revit Sketchup	VFX CGI Animation Architectural & product visualization	Hybrid - See Maxwell for details.	Offline	Unbiased Delivers physically accurate models	A variation of Metropolis light transport
Redshift	Redshift	Maya Softimage 3ds Max Cinema 4D Houdini Katana	VFX Animation	Hybrid - See Redshift for more information)	Offline	Biased, not physically accurate	Ray Tracing
RenderZone	form•Z	Form•Z	Form•Z users	Hybrid or GPU (NVIDIA CUDA)	Offline	Unbiased & Biased	Ray Tracing
V-Ray	Chaos	3ds Max Maya Cinema 4D SketchUp Revit Rhino Houdini Nuke Unreal Blender	Professional artists and designers in architecture, games, animation, VFX, and VR.	CPU, GPU, or Hybrid	Offline rendering with support for interactive rendering	Unbiased (optional) Fully physically accurate	Path Tracing
Vantage	Chaos	3ds Max Maya Cinema 4D	Archviz artists VFX artists	GPU (RTX) only	Interactive	All supported features are physically accurate	Real-time Ray Tracing
Unreal Engine	Epic Games	Blender Maya 3ds Max Modo Cinema 4D ZBrush others	Game developers, Film & TV, Broadcast and live events, Animators, Architectural and Automotive designers, Simulation developers	GPU/CPU	Real-Time	Biased	Ray Tracing, Path Tracing, and Lumen

Individual Standalone Renderers

Autodesk Arnold Render

Toolfarm no longer carries Autodesk products

Cebas finalRender – UPDATE

trueHybrid technology – bringing the power of CPU and GPU together! finalRender for 3ds Max is the perfect choice for 3d artists and studios alike wanting the maximum in image quality and photo-realism, without experiencing a brain melt when setting up complex scenes for rendering! And no compromises.

Cebas finalRender True Hybrid – The Details

Current Release	21 April 2024
Platforms	Windows
Host Support	3ds Max 2022-2025
License options	Workstation Network license GPU license
Price	The first option is a 1 Year Workstation License, with an MSRP of $294.00 (Toolfarm Price: $279.30) Second, a 1 Year Unlimited Network License, MSRP: $294.00, Toolfarm Price: $279.30 Lastly, a 1 Year Unlimited CUDA GPU License, MSRP: $294.00, Toolfarm Price: $279.30

cebas finalRender

finalRender is a photographer’s dream come true

cebas finalRender is a comprehensive, true Hollywood quality rendering engine that supports GPU rendering or pure CPU, as well as both technologies at the same time. finalRender’s trueHybrid’ technology allows the user to experience all the power within ONE application

Learn MoreTry cebas finalRender for free!

finalRender in the News

Chaos Corona – UPDATE

Intuitive, easy-to-use rendering engine optimized for designing high-quality, ultra-realistic projects that can be used for still images and animations.

Chaos Corona – The Details

Current Release	Corona 12 for 3ds Max, Released on July 2, 2024 Corona 12 for Cinema 4D – Released on July 2, 2024
Platforms	Windows (3ds Max, Cinema 4D) macOS X (Cinema 4D only)
Host Support	3ds Max Cinema 4D
License options	Subscription licensing in tiers
Price	Solo: $358.80/yr Premium: $478.80/yr

Chaos Corona

Realism without the headaches.

Chaos® Corona is the only renderer created specifically for high-end architectural visualization. Be an artist, not a technician, and achieve photorealism with greater ease than other rendering software.

Explore the key features in Corona for 3ds Max and Cinema 4D.

Works with Autodesk 3ds Max version 2016-2025 or MAXON Cinema 4D R17-2024.

Learn MoreTry Chaos Corona for free!

Corona in the News

Chaos Enscape

Fast real-time renderer for high-quality 3D visualizations and immersive interactive 3D scenes in real-time.

Chaos Enscape – The Details

Current Release	4.02.11 22 May 2024
Platforms	Windows 10 and higher
Host Support	Autodesk Revit SketchUp Rhinoceros Graphisoft Archicad Vectorworks
License options	Subscription node-locked Subscription floating licenses
Price	Annual Node-Locked License: $514.80 – Recommended for individuals and smaller teams. Annual Floating License: $898.89 – Recommended for individuals and teams who want maximum flexibility. Upgrades are available. *U.S./Canada sales only

Chaos Enscape

Industry-leading real-time visualization

Enjoy the convenience of having your visualization plug-in right at hand with Chaos Enscape! This revolutionary software integrates seamlessly into popular design tools, so you can quickly and easily generate stunning real-time visuals in no time. Leave tedious workflows behind and make every stage of the design process enjoyable.

Note: U.S. and Canada sales only.

Learn MoreTry Chaos Enscape for free!

Looking for an academic license?

Chaos Enscape - Education

Industry-leading real-time visualization - Education

Note: U.S. and Canada sales only.

Learn MoreTry Chaos Enscape - Education for free!

Enscape in the news

Chaos Vantage – UPDATE

High-quality standalone visualization tool for V-Ray artists who want to quickly explore and present their work in a fully ray-traced environment. Explore your most complex V-Ray 3D production scenes ray traced in real-time. Take advantage of a 100% ray-traced environment to handle massive scenes and produce results as close to reality as possible. Unlike any other real-time game engine alternatives Vantage can keep up real-time frame rates even with massive scenes.

Current Release	2.5.1 11 July 2024
Platforms	Windows 10 and higher
Host Support	3ds Max Maya Cinema 4D
License options	Subscription node-locked Subscription floating licenses
Price	Monthly Floating License: $108.90/Month Annual Floating License: $658.80/Year *U.S./Canada sales only

Chaos Vantage

High-quality scene exploration in real-time.

Explore your most complex V-Ray 3D production scenes ray traced in real-time. With Chaos® Vantage, there are no time-consuming conversions. Simply drag and drop your complete V-Ray scene into Vantage and start exploring. Quickly create high-quality visualizations or pre-visualizations for architecture, film-making, automotive and more.

Note: U.S. and Canada sales only.

Learn MoreTry Chaos Vantage for free!

Vantage in the News

Chaos V-Ray – UPDATE

V-Ray is the industry standard visualization tool for producing physically accurate and photo-realistic images. Built for artists, designers & jacks-of-all-trades, our 3D rendering software helps you visualize anything imaginable. Undoubtedly, you will save time and create your best work with tech from Chaos.

V-Ray also seamlessly integrates into several hosts with one license, including 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, Houdini, Maya, Nuke, Revit, Rhino, SketchUp, and Unreal.

Current Release	See Table below
Platforms	Windows Mac Linux
Host Support	3ds Max Maya Cinema 4D SketchUp Revit Rhino Houdini Nuke Unreal Blender
License options	Solo License Annual Subscription (Fixed license on one computer) Premium License Annual Subscription (Floating license on any computer.
Price	Solo License Annual Subscription: $466.80 Premium License Annual Subscription: $694.80 *U.S./Canada sales only

Host	Version/Build	Release Date	Notes
V-Ray for Cinema 4D	6.20.02	16 April 2024	Details Release notes
V-Ray for 3ds Max	6.20.06	2 April 2024	Details Release notes
V-Ray for Maya	6.20.02	30 May 2024	Release notes
V-Ray for NUKE	5.20.00	2 Dec 2021	Release notes
V-Ray for Houdini	6.20.02	15 Feb 2024	Release notes
V-Ray for Revit	6.10.04	14 Feb 2024	Release notes
V-Ray for Rhino	6.20.04	28 May 2024	Release notes
V-Ray for SketchUp	6.20.04	28 May 2024	Release notes
V-Ray Next for Unreal	5.10.01	27 Jan 2022	Release notes
Softimage	3.0 (previous version)
Discontinued – V-Ray Next for Katana	4.10.02 – Discontinued as of 20 Jan 2022	26 Mar 2019	Release notes
Discontinued – V-Ray Next for MODO	4.12.01 – Discontinued as of 20 Jan 2022	24 Apr 2019	Release notes

Chaos V-Ray

The one renderer that does it all.

With Chaos V-Ray, the creative possibilities are endless. From bold designs to captivating stories and mesmerizing art—no matter your vision. This remarkable renderer will bring it all together with photorealistic images and animations that feature unparalleled clarity.

So unleash your imagination! Whether you use 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, or Houdini for every step of your 3D journey, V-Ray allows users worldwide to craft stunning visuals in their favorite applications.

Purchase a single V-Ray license to access all V-Ray integrations, including 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, Houdini, Maya, Nuke, Revit, Rhino, SketchUp, and Unreal.

Note: U.S. and Canada sales only.

Learn MoreTry Chaos V-Ray for free!

In Depth: Why Should I Use V-Ray?

In summary, V-Ray is a powerful 3D rendering system built for designers, architects, and jack-of-all-trades. To be sure, click to learn about how artists use V-Ray. To emphasize, there are many examples and trial versions for every field!

Why Should I use V-Ray?

Recent Chaos V-Ray News & Updates

form•Z RenderZone

Add photo-realistic rendering with global illumination, ambient occlusion, and radiosity effects to form•Z! Single user license of RenderZone plugin for form·Z 10.

Form•Z RenderZone – The Details

Current Release	v10.0.1, 12 February 2024
Platforms	Mac Windows
Host Support	Form•Z
License options	Perpetual license for form•Z Pro or Core
Price	MSRP: $395.00, Toolfarm Price: $375.25

Learn more

INSYDIUM Cycles 4D – EOL

From INSYDIUM: Cycles 4D is EOL, we’ve stopped developing Cycles to focus on the other products within INSYDIUM Fused and to expand development beyond Cinema 4D.

Cycles is an unbiased GPU/CPU render engine developed by the Blender Foundation and made available under the Apache 2 licensing system. Cycles 4D is a dedicated bridge plugin allowing Cinema 4D users to access the Cycles rendering engine directly inside Cinema 4D without t an external application.

Insydium Cycles 4D – The Details

Current Release	Build 559, Update 1 December 2022- Supports Cinema 4D R19-2023
Platforms	Mac* Windows
Host Support	Cinema 4D with access to X-Particles
License options	Perpetual license with and without Maintenance Subscription
Price	Sold as part of INSYDIUM Fused Fused Complete (No Maintenance): $1,995 License + 12 Months Maintenance: $890 Annual Subscription: $435.00

*Cycles 4D does not support Apple M Series.

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Cycles 4D in the News

Maxon Redshift – UPDATE

Redshift is a powerful GPU-accelerated renderer, built to meet the demands of contemporary high-end production rendering. In other words, Redshift is tailored to support creative individuals and studios of every size. In fact, Redshift offers a suite of powerful features and integrates with industry-standard CG applications.

Redshift – The Details

Current Release	3.6.04 (2024.07) – July 17, 2024 [Release notes]
Platforms	Mac Windows
Host Support	Maya Softimage 3ds Max Cinema 4D Houdini Katana
License options	Redshift is a licensed per machine with no limit on the number of GPUs*. To clarify, there is no distinction is made between workstations and render nodes. In other words, 1 license is good for 1 machine.
Price	Annual Subscription: $264 Also sold as part of Maxon One.

GPU/CPU Notes:

As of the 3.5 release in April 2022, users can now render with Redshift inside Cinema 4D. The rendering can be in CPU or hybrid mode, which uses CPU and GPU, without a separate Redshift product subscription.

Redshift CPU, which uses just the CPU
Redshift XPU lets users render a hybrid, with CPU and GPU simultaneously.
Note: Users can also still render with the GPU.
Please see the system requirements for GPUs for all operating systems.

Redshift by Maxon

Redshift Now Available as Subscription

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Maxon One

Cinema 4D, Forger, Red Giant, Redshift, Universe, and ZBrush in One Bundle!

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Redshift in the News:

Maxwell Render – UPDATE

To summarize, Maxwell is legendary for its quality and realism. It delivers great results via a simple set-up, which lets you focus on lighting. Now, Maxwell easily integrates a powerful denoiser (by Innobright’s Altus), while preserving texture and geometry details, effectively saving a lot of time. You can obtain your images around two to six times faster, depending on the scene for a similar amount of detail. Instead of rendering your images to a high sampling level, allow the denoiser to work with lower levels.

Multi-GPU Rendering / Hybrid Rendering?

*** Maxwell renders on GPU or CPU, or you can render both simultaneously. They do not seem to use the term “hybrid rendering” in their manual or marketing materials, however, so it is unclear if it’s not the same or not the same terminology.

Maxwell also has a feature called Multi-GPU, introduced in Maxwell 5, which allows users to use two or more graphics cards while rendering. This is Windows only, however. From the Maxwell system requirements, “Graphics cards that support CUDA platform (Nvidia), running on Windows. No AMD or Intel will work, sorry. This means GPU engine is not supported for Mac, as they don’t use Nvidia cards.”

Maxwell Render – The Details

Product	Version & Release Date	Release Notes
Standalone	v5.2.1.49 – 06 Jul 2021	Release notes
3ds Max	v5.2.2 – 08 Jun 2023	Release notes Added support for 3ds Max 2023 and 2024
Maya	v5.2.2 – 15 Jun 2023	Release Notes Added support for Maya 2023 and 2024
Cinema 4D	v5.2.5 – 07 Mar 2024	Release notes Added support for Cinema 4D 2024
Rhino	Version 5.2.6.7 – 08 Jul 2024	Release Notes
form•Z	v5.2.1.1 – 06 Jul 2021	Release notes Built for Maxwell Render 5.2.1.49
Sketchup	Version v5.2.4 – 29 Apr 2024	Release Notes Added support for SketchUp 2024
Archicad	v5.2.4 – 23 Nov 2023	Release notes Added support for Archicad 27
Revit	v4.2.5 – 05 Jun 2019	Release notes Added support for Revit 2020.
Modo	Discontinued

Platforms	Mac Windows
License options	Node-locked or Floating licenses
Price	Starting at $595, depending on the host.

Next Limit Maxwell | Studio

Independent scene editor with a full 3D environment

Maxwell Studio is a sophisticated independent scene editor with a full 3D environment, offering an alternative workflow for those Maxwell Render users that work with 3D or CAD applications for which there are no Maxwell plugins.

Learn MoreTry Next Limit Maxwell | Studio for free!

Maxwell Bundle

All in one & one for all

The Maxwell | Bundle contains all Maxwell plugin integrations and Maxwell | Studio in one product.

One Maxwell | Bundle license equals one license seat in either of the products included – Studio, Rhino, Cinema 4D, 3ds Max, SketchUp, Maya, ArchiCAD or formZ.

One license to switch between and use as needed. One day you could be using Maxwell | SketchUp, and on the next – Maxwell | Studio or the plugin for Cinema 4D.

Learn More

Maxwell in the News:

Maxwell Render exporter for Blender

While there doesn’t seem to be official support for Blender, there are some tools that you can try. I have not tried either of these so these links are informational.

Otoy Octane

Previously, we’ve left Octane off the list because we do not sell it. A couple of people recently asked us why we are snubbing Octane. We are not snubbing it. We think it’s a great product and would love to carry it. However, we’re not going to put the energy and time into keeping it updated here since we do not sell it, and it’s tough enough to keep what we do sell up to date. Hopefully, we’ll be able to add it to this list in full detail! We’d like that very much!

Unreal Engine

Define rule-breaking physics, create lifelike characters, or animate the movement of a single blade of grass—and render it all at the speed you can dream it. Epic Games originally designed Unreal Engine to give them the creative freedom they always wanted as developers. Today, their goal is to push the boundaries of innovation with every release so that only you, not your tools, get to decide the limits of what’s possible.

Nanite is UE5’s virtualized micropolygon geometry system. In UE 5.4, the experimental new Tessellation feature delivers fine details such as cracks and bumps, added at render time, without altering the original mesh.

In addition, variable rate shading (VRS) via Nanite compute materials brings substantial performance gains. There’s also support for spline mesh workflows—great for creating roads on landscapes, for example. In addition, a new option to disable UV interpolation enables vertex-animated textures to be used for World Position Offset animation. In other words, the AnimToTexture plugin now works with Nanite geometry as of v5.4.

Epic Games Unreal Engine – The Details

Current Release	v5.4, April 2024
Platforms	Mac Windows
Host Support	Blender, Maya, 3ds Max, Modo, Cinema 4D, ZBrush, and others
License options	If you’re using Unreal Engine for commercial purposes, have generated more than $1 million in the past 12 months, and are not creating a game or application that relies on engine code at runtime and will be licensed to third party end users, then a seat license fee is required. Includes Annual license to Unreal Engine, Twinmotion, and Reality Capture.
Price	Free for individuals and businesses with revenue under 1M in the last 12 months. $1,850 for individuals and businesses with revenue exceeding 1M in the last 12 months

NEW – What is the Best External Render Engine of 2024: A Comprehensive Overview – Pixel Lab gives its opinion on the topic.

Updates from 2024

16 July 2024: Chaos Corona, Enscape, Vantage, and V-Ray for Cinema 4D are recently updated. Redshift, and Maxwell for Rhino have also had updates.
7 June 2024: Chaos Enscape, V-Ray, and Vantage updates. Cycles 4D is EOL. Redshift updated.
1 May 2024: Added Unreal Engine, updated form•Z RenderZone to v10, Maxwell Render plugin updates, and Chaos updates.
15 April 2024: Updates for Redshift, Chaos Products, Removed Arnold
20 April 2024: Updates for Redshift, Chaos Products, and Arnold
21 February 2024: Updates for Redshift, Chaos V-Ray for Houdini and Maya, and Autodesk Arnold
7 February 2024: Added articles about renderers and PBR, updated V-Ray, Redshift
8 January 2024: Added product news listing feature to updates. Updated Redshift, Arnold, Chaos, V-Ray, Chaos Corona, Chaos Enscape, and Chaos Vantage.

Updates from 2023

26 September 2023: Updates for Redshift, V-Ray for SketchUp & Rhino, Chaos Vantage, and Arnold Render.
28 August 2023: Updates for V-Ray Vantage Arnold Render
29 June 2023: Moved 3D Rendering Terminology to FAQ. Complete overhaul of the article. Product updates include Corona 10 for Cinema 4D & 3ds Max, V-Ray for Houdini, Added Chaos Vantage, Plus Arnold and Redshift Updates
5 June 2023: Chaos Corona 9 Hotfix 3; Chaos V-Ray 6 Update 1 for Rhino, SketchUp
19 May 2023: Lots of updates
- Chaos V-Ray 6 for Maya & Cinema 4D, Update 1
- Chaos Enscape v3.5 – Visualization Assets Enhancements
- Maxon May 2023 Release Brings AMD GPU Support for Redshift.
- cebas finalRender Drop 4 – RTX Speed Blast + Unlimited Trial
- Arnold also had a point update.
25 April 2023: Added Enscape
3 April 2023: V-Ray for 3ds Max, Redshift, and Arnold all updated in March
13 February 2023: V-Ray for Cinema 4D hotfix update. Autodesk Arnold update.

The post How to Choose the Right 3D Rendering Software UPDATED July 19 appeared first on .

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How to Choose the Right 3D Rendering Software UPDATED July 19

Updated 18 July 2024

Update Log

In this Article

Choose the right 3D rendering software for your needs

A standalone 3D renderer vs. the bundled renderer

How to Choose the Right Standalone 3D Renderer for your needs

1. Narrow down your list to your industry

2. Compatibility and Integration

3. Download free trials & demo versions

4. Choose the tool with features that meet your design objectives

5. Rendering Quality vs. Rendering Speed and Efficiency.

What to look for:

Related

6. Cost and Licensing

7. Learning Curve and Support

3D Rendering Software

Comparison Chart – Quick Reference

Individual Standalone Renderers

Autodesk Arnold Render

Cebas finalRender – UPDATE

Cebas finalRender True Hybrid – The Details

cebas finalRender

finalRender in the News

Chaos Corona – UPDATE

Chaos Corona – The Details

Chaos Corona

Corona in the News

Chaos Enscape

Chaos Enscape – The Details