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Chaos Group Unveils New Core Algorithm for V-Ray 3.3 for 3ds Max

Introduction of variance-based adaptive sampling makes renders easier to predict and control.

LOS ANGELES -- Today, Chaos Group releases a free upgrade to V-Ray for 3ds Max. This update features 20-50 percent 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.

Variance-Based Adaptive Sampling 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 

In addition, V-Ray 3.3 for 3ds Max includes over 25 new features and updates. 

New Features 

New Global Defaults  

  • Variance-based adaptive sampler enabled by default 
  • 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 
  • Works with separate objects, VRayProxy objects, displaced objects, etc. 

New Sky Model and Aerial Perspective 

  • Hosek sky model to simulate more natural looking skies 
  • 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 

Stochastic Flakes  

  • Ultra-realistic materials with sparkle effects like snow, sand, and car paints 

Updated Features 

Global Illumination 

  • More robust handling of reflective GI caustics, better light propagation, and more natural illumination of interior scenes 
  • Distributed light cache for faster calculations with distributed rendering 

GPU Rendering 

  • More texture nodes – MultiTexture, VRayMultiSubTex, ColorCorrection, etc. 
  • Proxy objects with hair and particles 
  • VRayFur and VRayPlane objects 
  • Light include/exclude lists 

Progressive Sampler 

  • Dynamic noise threshold leads to more uniform noise distribution 
  • Improved sub-pixel filtering 
  • Improved CPU utilization 

Volume Rendering 

  • Faster volume rendering with probabilistic sampling 

Geometry 

  • Faster rendering of proxy objects and instances

V-Ray 3.3 for 3ds Max is a free update for all V-Ray 3.0 customers. Login at chaosgroup.com to download.

Source: Chaos Group

Jennifer Wolfe's picture

Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.