Today Maxon of Germany announced that Redshift is available for Apple’s macOS platform, including support for M1-powered Macs as well as Apple’s Metal Graphics API.
Redshift Renderer
Redshift is an award-winning, production-ready renderer. The software offers a rich set of features including ray switches, flexible shading networks, motion blur, AOVs, deep output, layered EXR, and much more.
The new Redshift for Mac supports M1-powered Mac computers in addition to a wide assortment of Intel-based Macs, including those with Thunderbolt eGPUs, the Mac Pro, iMac Pro, iMac and MacBook Pro.
Redshift is a GPU-based renderer and taps the power of your computer’s graphics processing unit (GPU) rather than its CPU like Maxon Cinema 4D’s default rendering engine. While many rival GPU-based renderers are “non-biased” Redshift is actually a biased renderer that enables artists to adjust the quality of individual rendering techniques to get optimal balances between quality and performance for overall production.
Redshift for Mac
Redshift is available for both Intel-based Macs and M1-powered Macs (aka: Apple Silicon-based Macs). Maxon says Redshift for macOS signifies a milestone because it brings cutting-edge cinematic rendering to Mac artists. With native M1-powered Mac support, 3D artists on macOS will experience a substantial improvement in their workflows since the integrated graphics in M1 provide a huge increase in graphics performance combined with low power consumption.
“When Redshift joined the Maxon family in 2019, extending support to our user community on the Mac platform was a top priority,” says Maxon CEO, David McGavran. “So we’re thrilled that creatives working in macOS environments can now take advantage of this powerful and flexible GPU-accelerated renderer built to meet the specific demands of contemporary high-end production.”
A typical frame from the very effects-heavy game cinematic we created for Mythic Legends, an action-packed strategy mobile game by Outfit7, previously took 26 minutes to render per frame. Now it’s rendering in only 58 seconds!
Early testers of Redshift on macOS have reported some significant performance results. James Rodgers, Director at UK-based Lunar Animation reported, “We’re seeing some crazy results when rendering with Redshift on Mac Pro. A typical frame from the very effects-heavy game cinematic we created for Mythic Legends, an action-packed strategy mobile game by Outfit7, previously took 26 minutes to render per frame. Now it’s rendering in only 58 seconds!”
Availability
Redshift for Intel-based Macs will be available this week. Support for M1-based Macs will be made available with the release of macOS Big Sur (11.3). As is typical with Redshift, updates to enhance stability and optimization will be regular and ongoing.
For supported host applications and system requirements, visit here.
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