Variance-based adaptive sampling makes renders easier to predict and control.
Chaos Group has released a free upgrade to its V-Ray add-in rendering toolkit for Autodesk 3ds Max. Chaos Group says the update provides 20%-50% faster rendering for most scenes and introduces a new variance-based adaptive sampler (VBAS) for more uniform noise distribution, faster setup, and improved imagery for VR, VFX, and arch-viz workflows.
By default, variance-based adaptive sampling will be on in the new update. Chaos Group says VBAS provides:
- Better sampling of dark areas and faster sampling of overbright areas
- More consistent noise detection
- Final image quality is less dependent on materials and lights settings
- Improved alpha channel sampling –?especially in scenes with depth of field and motion blur
- Works in bucket and progressive rendering modes
Other new features in this update:
New global defaults: Automatic sampling of lights and materials – removing the need to set subdivisions manually
Ray traced rounded corners:
- Perfectly smooth edges at render time with no additional modeling – based on licensed technology from Nvidia
- Advanced edge detection with support for concave and convex surfaces simultaneously (see video)
- Works with separate objects, VRayProxy objects, displaced objects, etc.
New sky model and aerial perspective:
- Hosek sky model to simulate more natural looking skies (see video)
- Ground color option for VRaySun and VRaySky
- Aerial perspective for efficient and realistic atmospheric depth
Triplanar mapping:
- Fast, seamless textures without UVs
- Control over edge blending and texture parameters, including randomization
- Works on procedural geometry
Improved V-Ray clipper with render-time booleans: Supports cutaways using any arbitrary mesh (see cake illustrations and video)
Stochastic flakes: Ultra-realistic materials with sparkle effects like snow, sand, and car paints (see video)
V-Ray 3.3 for 3ds Max is a free update for all V-Ray 3.0 customers.
