Chaos has released V-Ray 7 for Houdini, the next major version of the production renderer. The update adds support for 3D Gaussian Splats, a new Houdini-specific volume shader, and improves integration with Solaris, including support for the new Copernicus material framework.
Houdini becomes the latest DCC application to get an integration for V-Ray 7, following 3ds Max, SketchUp and Cinema 4D.
Native support for rendering 3DGS scan data
New features in V-Ray 7 for Houdini include support for 3D Gaussian Splats (3DGS). A new 3D scanning method, 3D Gaussian Splatting generates high-quality reconstructions of real-world objects or scenes from source photos or video. Although there are free third-party add-ons for rendering 3DGS data in Blender, Unity and Unreal Engine, V-Ray is one of the first CG applications to support the technology natively. Chaos tells us that it expects the functionality to appeal to both architectural visualization and VFX studios, particularly as a way of creating detailed background environments.
Lighting and rendering: updates to Light Path Expressions and V-Ray Sun and Sky
The release also adds support for shadows within V-Ray’s Light Path Expressions. Users can now isolate shadows within renders using LPEs for more precise control during compositing. In addition, the V-Ray Sun and Sky system has been updated to support the PRG Clear Sky model used in Corona, Chaos’s other major production renderer. According to Chaos, it generates more realistic lighting effects than the previous model, particularly at sunrise and sunset, and when rendering the sky from greater altitudes. The firefly removal algorithm, for removing bright flecks in renders, has been updated, while V-Ray’s implementation of render denoiser Open Image Denoise now supports a prefilter pass.
V-Ray GPU: initial support for caustics
V-Ray GPU, V-Ray’s hybrid CPU and GPU renderer, gets initial support for rendering caustics. Performance improvements include the option to use system memory for textures, making it possible to render larger scenes without running out of GPU memory. For rendering animation, the update reworks V-Ray’s algorithm for caching bitmaps between frames, speeding up rendering of image sequences “up to 50%” in “some cases”. V-Ray GPU also now supports Apple’s Metal API, which should improve performance on macOS: Chaos says that rendering is “up to 3x” faster on MacBooks with current M4 processors.
VFB: vignetting and freeform render regions
The V-Ray Frame Buffer (VFB), for viewing and editing images rendered in V-Ray, gets a new Vignette Layer, making it possible to apply vignetting effects to renders. The VFB now supports freeform region rendering, making it possible to specify render regions of arbitrary shape to help resolve key areas of an image more quickly. The update also adds a new Filters tab with access to readymade color correction presets.
New, more controllable volume shader
There are also a number of new features unique to the Houdini edition of V-Ray, including a new volume shader for rendering volumetric effects like clouds and smoke. It replaces the previous ‘black box’ solution, which was based on the V-Ray VolumeGrid Shader, and enables artists to build custom shading graphs for volumetric rendering. Other key improvements include compatibility with Light Path Expressions, more consistent handling of motion blur, and Density Falloff and Anisotropy Falloff controls. According to Chaos, the new shader makes rendering volumetric effects “up to 6x faster”. However, it is still an initial implementation, and currently lacks key features including support for deep output, holdouts for volumes, and the option to render fire independently of smoke.
Extended MaterialX support
The update also extends support for the MaterialX material standard, with support for creating and rendering “most” Mtlx procedural textures.
Better integration with Solaris
V-Ray 7 also improves integration with Solaris, Houdini’s look dev and shot layout environment, adding support for Copernicus, the image-processing framework introduced in Houdini 20.5. A new V-Ray Yeti node makes it possible to render cache files generated by Maya hair and fur plugin Yeti in Solaris. The GUIs for the Toon Material and Toon Effect have been reworked, simplifying toon shading. Other changes include support for motion blur on the hair procedural and the option to apply color corrections from the VFB to the output of Hydra render delegates within Solaris. Chaos has also introduced Apple Silicon support in the V-Ray Hydra delegate, which should improve performance on current Macs with M-series processors. Outside the core software, assets from Chaos Cosmos, the online asset library available with all V-Ray subscriptions, can now be used within Solaris. The integration does not yet support the new features introduced into Chaos Cosmos in other editions of V-Ray 7, like asset variations and luminaires.
V-Ray for Houdini is a production-proven CPU & GPU rendering software for high-end VFX and animation. It comes with all the tools artists need to render amazing-looking procedural effects. Seamlessly integrated into Houdini, it enables smooth scene exchange and iterations with other DCC applications through full support for USD and a fully-featured V-Ray Hydra Delegate for Solaris.
V-Ray 7 for Houdini introduces cutting-edge technology and powerful new features, enabling you to build and render more realistic scenes faster than ever. Enjoy easier shader creation, even more seamless shader exchange, next-level creative control, and more.
New to V-Ray for Houdini? You’re in the perfect place! Our beginner-friendly tutorials will take you through the essentials, equipping you with the knowledge necessary to render stunning stills and animations for your projects. Join us as we explore the V-Ray render engine’s interface within SideFX Houdini. Learn how to add the V-Ray Toolbar to the Houdini shelf for quick access to essential tools, settings, and objects. Discover how to start production and interactive rendering, explore the V-Ray Frame Buffer and the Chaos Cosmos asset library UI. Additionally, we delve into creating various light types and materials, navigating nodes, settings, and more.
Chaos Czech a.s. is part of Chaos Group, and specializes in developing easy to use, powerful and affordable software for 3D computer graphics and visual effects. Our technology helps artists and designers create photoreal imagery and animation for design, television, and feature films. Corona Renderer is widely used in arch-viz, automotive and product design, and also features VFX capabilities.
Owner: Chaos Czech a.s.
Product Name: V-Ray 7
Version: 7.00.10 Official release – Date: Jan. 28, 2025
Supported Architectures: x64
Website Home Page : http://www.chaosgroup.com
Languages Supported: english
System Requirements: Windows *
Software Prerequisites: pre-installed Houdini 19.5 to 20.5
Size: 3.5 Gb
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