Luxion Releases KeyShot 4

Irvine, CA --Luxion, a leading developer of advanced rendering and lighting technology and maker of KeyShot, the first real-time ray tracing and global illumination program, has released KeyShot 4, the next generation of Luxion’s groundbreaking rendering and animation solution.

Luxion continues to develop their rendering technology to bring speed and improvements to KeyShot, making it an even more integral part of the product development process, from concept all the way through to sales and marketing. This release builds on the integration and accuracy that sets KeyShot apart from other rendering solutions allowing designers, engineer, marketing professionals, CGI artists, and photographers to create stunning renderings, animations and interactive visuals even faster than ever before.

With KeyShot 4, Luxion announces new approaches to features and greatly improved rendering enhancements that make KeyShot the fastest, most accurate 3D rendering an animation system for the product visual workflow. New “Live Linking” capability allows Creo, SolidWorks, and Rhinoceros users to maintain all part and feature updates made to their models without having to redo any of their work inside KeyShot. Luxion introduces an all new method for applying physical lights, with the ability to turn any object in the scene into a point, area or IES light source. Improved import options give users more flexibility when importing 3D geometry and the ability to work with the actual units of their modeling software. Additionally, users gain the advantage of increased color options through the inclusion of PANTONE, RAL and custom color libraries to create, store and share their own color creations.

More material options come with an exclusive partnership with Mold-tech introducing the first accurate representations of Mold-Tech textures. More realism is seen with improved algorithms for subsurface light scattering within Translucent materials. Increased control over the model and environment is provided with the ability to apply rounded edges to sharp corners, multi-select objects in the real-time window and create ground planes. KeyShot Pro users now have the ability to apply render layers to objects and create Model or View Sets to explore different configurations of product appearances, camera views and environments. Pro users will also experience enhanced HDR editing capability with dynamic environment highlighting and options to tilt and blur HDRI's. The KeyShot user interface now comes with the ability to dock project, library and animation windows. Optionally, models can now be viewed in full stereoscopic 3D on supported 3D monitors, with the use of any stereo-capable graphics card.

Luxion has developed the ability to connect Creo, SolidWorks and Rhinoceros 3D modeling applications with KeyShot in a live session. With this enhancement, users will be able to make a change to the design at any level and send it directly to a running session of KeyShot. The scene inside KeyShot will update automatically and either replace the existing design or add the new design iteration to the existing scene. Live Linking will be included as part of each plugin for KeyShot and can be accessed from the 3D software menu or toolbar area with a single click that transfers the updated SolidWorks model to the KeyShot session. This capability requires a separate plugin which is available free of charge from the KeyShot website.

KeyShot introduces a new approach to creating physical light sources. Import preset studio light models, primitives or any 3D data and turn it into a light with KeyShot light materials. Light materials are easy to apply. Simply double-click on the object and, from the “Type” pulldown, select Point Light Diffuse, Point Light IES Profile or Area Light Diffuse to apply. Since the light materials are applied to objects, lights may be moved, animated or positioned with all visual changes in the scene updating in real time.

KeyShot 4 brings in more options to import data accurately and keep the geometry updated throughout the product development workflow. Users have the choice of keeping the original size, units and location of the model, adjusting the environment to match. Additionally updates to the model can be applied from the 3D modeling software with a click of a button, while maintaining all materials and animations.

The color standards that define the communication of color across many industries are now inside KeyShot. The new color libraries are available through the KeyShot Library window. The color tab contains all preset color libraries and custom color libraries with the same searchable folder-based directory structure used for Materials. Colors are applied in the same way as Materials with a simple drag and drop of the color onto the object. New colors may be created with the KeyShot Color Picker or imported from a list of colors.

In an exclusive partnership, Luxion and Mold-tech deliver the full range of Mold-tech textures for the most accurate representation of Mold-tech textures inside a rendering application. In addition to the accurate representation of the Mold-Tech patterns, Luxion has developed unique technology that will ensure that the scale of the pattern stays true to the size of model to which it is applied. A sample of Mold-Tech plastics is provided with KeyShot with more available via the KeyShot website. Mold-Tech materials feature options to change color, roughness, scale and depth for supported material types along with the existing capability of applying color, specular and opacity maps.

KeyShot's algorithms for subsurface light scattering have been significantly improved for speed and accuracy. Users can now use specular maps with the translucent material to further enhance the realism of the object they are visualizing. In addition, physical light sources can be used for lighting effects. The new subsurface scattering algorithm is about 50% faster than in KeyShot 3.

Speeding the time it takes to add detail to 3D geometry and reducing the files size of imported models has been addressed with the new Rounded edge feature. With this option, users can apply a small radius to sharp edges creating a more realistic look instantly. This option is a a visual enhancement to the rendered graphics without the increase of file size or render times. The Rounded Edges option is available from the objects property tab and allow control over edge radius and minimum edge angle.

The Pro version of KeyShot now features the ability to quickly create and toggle through different iterations of a model with Model Sets and the ability to manage your entire photo shoot from a single file using View Sets. Model sets work at the project's model level allowing duplication of existing models or the import of new models. View sets allow users to save all environment settings, including different environments, backplates and camera angles. Additionally, all environment settings can be save with a camera.

The HDR Editor now offers the ability to add a highlight to the environment by letting the user place it dynamically inside the realtime window. With a simple click on the model, the highlight will be located according to the environment image and may be adjusted by dragging the cursor over the model in the realtime render window. In addition, HDRI's can now be blurred, as well as tilted to achieve the desired lighting effect for the scene. 

KeyShot 4 introduces new rendering options to aid in post production as well. Quickly render out a Depth, Normal or Clown pass along with the full resolution rendering. The Render layer option allows you to easily assign parts to a layer to be rendered out separately.

Run KeyShot in stereo-mode and view your models in 3D right on your screen. KeyShot extends the visual experience with support for stereo capability allowing you to work on your renderings and animations or present them to others in a virtual 3D setting.

A full overview of all new features and enhancements is available here.

KeyShot 4 has been undergoing an extended beta program where customers were able to help shape the product. Here are a few comments that were received from our customers during the beta testing period.

"Developing a software (whether is for rendering or not) always represents big challenges, one if which is how to increase the number of functions, make it more sophisticated while maintaining the same simplicity of use, speed and quality. KeyShot 4 is a brilliant example of how we are getting a lot more capabilities, while the level of simplicity, robustness, quality and speed remains as excellent as we have been getting from Luxion."- Peter Kossev, Pixel Mathematics, Inc.

"In my opinion [the lighting] is a game changer for me. I will be able to add that extra pop to my images before post. I also used the new ground plane, which is another great feature." - Tim Feher, CGI Leader, Interactive Marketing, Chrysler Group LLC

"I must say the new light source materials are a fantastic addition (especially IES support!). I've been reworking a scene that I made in KeyShot 3 by adding IES lights and area lights. The quality of the lighting and the speed of rendering seem are improved significantly from the basic emissive material in KeyShot 3 and I absolutely love the reworked translucent material! I feel that now -using surface color, subsurface color and translucency multiplier- I can get the exact look I have in mind within a few minutes and the diffusion of light materials through translucent objects is amazing.” - Dries Vervoort, Mechanical designer, R&D, Caradon Heating Europe

“Guys, this is VERY COOL!!! So far my favorite are the “area light diffuse.” It helps to create spectacular images. I can gently light specific areas of the object for the perfect look. I also love the render passes. So far, so good, hasn't crashed once. This is really, really GREAT stuff!!!” - Piotr Kolus, Digital Artist, Ars Thanea

KeyShot 4 is available immediately. Pricing starts at $995. As with previous versions, animation capabilities can be added to KeyShot 4 for $500 and interactive KeyShotVR capabilities can be added for $1000.

All customers who bought KeyShot on or after November 23rd, 2012, as well as all customers who purchased KeyShot for Education will receive the upgrade to KeyShot 4 free of charge. All KeyShot customers with subscription will automatically receive the upgrade to KeyShot 4. All other customer can upgrade to KeyShot 3 for an incremental fee. 

Source: Luxion

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.