Pixar has released a new version of its renderer. This release incorporates noise reduction technology developed by Disney researchers that dramatically reduces the time to generate images with physically-based rendering. Read on for more.
New features in RenderMan 20:
- Denoiser for physically-based rendering that is capable of reducing render times from 2x to 10x, and can handle shots with extreme motion blur and depth of field
- Visualizer Integrator – a new integrator for viewing a scene as RenderMan “sees” the geometry, showing wire-frames, surface parametrization, normals, etc., useful for turntables and portfolios
- Marschner Hair – an advanced model for simulating hair and fur that provides four specular components, including a unique backscatter control for creating realistic results
- Physical Camera – can simulate optical properties like tilt-shift focus, lens distortion, chromatic aberration, vignetting and more
- Intuitive Holdout Workflow – makes it straightforward to capture shadows, reflections, and other elements to combine them with a background plate during interactive rendering
- New Lights, Light Localization for reducing noise for multiple direct lights, new API for light filter plugins
- Volumes – improved performance of volumes in RenderMan RIS, including the ability to overlap volumes
- Support for Maya Fluids in RIS
Free Non-Commercial RenderMan is now upgraded to version 20. New tutorials and workflows are available. RenderMan 20 is compatible with Maya 2014-2016 and with Katana 2.0, and with various operating systems (including Windows, Linux and Mac OS X).
The renderer is available commercially as individual licenses with volume discounts or through custom site licensing packages tailored for each customer. Pixar’s annual maintenance program provides access to ongoing support and free upgrades. More on Pixar’s website.
