This week Chaos Group released V-Ray Next for SketchUp, boosting the speed and simplicity of SketchUp’s premier external renderer.
Chaos Group has four years of R&D behind V-Ray Next technology and now these features and capabilities are reaching the world’s most popular 3D modeling application. This new version is also immediately compatible with SketchUp 2019, as well as versions going back to 2016.
01 – V-Ray Next for SketchUp includes new ADL lighting technology and a new NVIDIA AI Denoiser.
“We are extremely pleased to see that a flagship renderer is available immediately after the launch of SketchUp 2019. The latest release, coupled with V-Ray Next, is a highly compelling solution for designers pursuing striking photorealistic visuals,” comments Jack McCarthy, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Trimble.
V-Ray Next for Sketchup
V-Ray Next technology in this new renderer for SketchUp possesses V-Ray Scene Intelligence, which can automatically analyze a 3D scene for what it needs at the start of a renderer moving some of the work that an artist might do up front. It uses the new Adaptive Dome Light (ADL) for more accurate, image-based environmental lighting that is up to 7x faster. The ADL is exceptionally fast when working with interiors, and removes the need to add Portal Lights at windows and openings.
A new NVIDIA AI denoiser is also embedded in V-Ray Next for SketchUp, and finding the ideal camera exposure is simplified; once the scene loads Auto White Balance and Exposure return the right settings.
Faster Performance
V-Ray Next for SketchUp is 30-50 percent faster across the board, says Chaos Group. Additional increases come from the ADL, updated materials and better GPU rendering. Chaos Group says V-Ray Next is now the fastest way to produce a photorealistic image from SketchUp. The GPU renderer along is over 200 percent faster. It can also accelerate effects in rendering like fog and atmosphere effects.
V-Ray Next for SketchUp is tightly integrated into SketchUp. A new Scene Interaction Tool now provides direct access to any level of the SketchUp hierarchy, enabling designers to interactively adjust materials and lighting whenever an object is selected. The V-Ray Toolbar has also been included, providing new access to top tools and other simplifications and UI improvements.
02 – V-Ray Next for Sketchup is out and delivering 200 percent faster performance and a host of new features.
There is also a new asset management system to help users find and track V-Ray assets using a custom library that can be shared across SketchUp projects. New is that any setting change will now result in a live preview, helping designers experiment with lights, materials, textures, all in one place.
Additional Features Include
- New Lighting Analysis Tools – Now easier to visualize a scene’s real-world illumination values in lux or foot-candles.
- New Metalness Material Properties – A new addition to the standard V-Ray Material offers improved compatibility with Substance Designer and PBR materials.
- Color Correction Curves – Fine-tune texture colors right in SketchUp without heading back to an image editor.
- Material ID & MultiMatte Render Elements – Render 2D masks of 3D objects for quick fixes in Photoshop and other image editors.
- Improved V-Ray Scenes and Materials Exchange – Fluid asset transfers from other V-Ray applications (Rhino, Revit and 3ds Max).
For a full list of new features, please visit: chaosgroup.com.
Pricing and Availability
V-Ray Next for SketchUp is available now and is compatible with SketchUp 2016-2019. A full Workstation license is priced at $790, with upgrades available for $395. Annual licenses are available as well, for $350 per year. For a free 30-day trial, click here.