German 3D software developer Chaos has just announced the release of its Vantage 2 visualization software. This is a markedly significant upgrade to what was already one of the world’s most realistic real-time visualization tools.
Unbelievable speed
Boasting nearly 20 major new features, Vantage 2 has become as powerful for VFX as it is for architectural visualization. As a result, it provides fast and easy access to photorealistic animations and scene explorations.
Chaos Vantage 2 image created by BrickVisual. Image:Chaos/BrickVisual.
BOC Studio founder, Dương Thanh Nguyên, tells us:
“Vantage’s speed is just unbelievable. 20K images are taking 20 minutes. This is especially helpful because our clients are looking for fewer iterations and faster feedback. Vantage helps us interact with them more effectively, so they can explore their projects, see changes and make important decisions faster — even while collaborating online.”
Vantage original concept
The original Vantage was designed to help users to explore large-scale 3D scenes in a fully ray-traced, real-time environment. Unlike traditional real-time methods, the import process was relatively simple. Consequently, there is no geometry to optimize, UVs to unwrap, or lighting to bake. Essentially, Vantage 2 builds on the simplicity Vantage 1.
Basically, Vantage 2 adds new features that make it more powerful and easier to use. For example users simply drag and drop a V-Ray scene or Live-Link into Vantage 2, while working within their favorite 3D creation tool.
“In 3D, you tend to wait for quality and people accept this, even when it disrupts their whole flow,” explained Chaos Senior Product Manager, Simeon Balabanov, “With Vantage 2, we are giving them quality, speed and flexibility in one place, so they can respond to any creative idea or client request.”
Vantage 2 features
With Scene States, artists can use non-destructive scene variations to explore different styles, moods, and camera angles. Each state can easily be saved and cycled through with a click, making it easier for teams to determine which lighting, materials, or post-processing effects will appeal most to their intended audience.
To enhance realism, Vantage 2 now features a variety of new animation capabilities. These include support for deforming meshes, AXYZ’s Anima 4D People, and eye-catching VRay vrscene file effects. Until now, these effects were only available in V-Ray itself.
Deforming Meshes will be particularly striking for artists, as they can create the type of natural movements you often see in human bodies. They bend and contort realistically as different bodyparts move. VFX artists will also enjoy access to real-time Playblasts. These are packed with detailed lighting and shader information.
Additionally, the inclusion of Render Elements has prepared Vantage 2 for the world of production rendering. This requires careful composites to achieve the best look. Therefore, rendered output can now be split into their back-to-beauty components for real-time editing, in post. Consequently, this allows more artistic effects and quick integration with live-action footage.
Another handy feature that Vantage 2 offers is Scattering Fog. Basically, this sets the mood for your scenes with realistic environmental effects, including god rays and light shafts through windows. It also emulates streetlights and volumetric fog, including realistic light scattering.
Other new features in Vantage 2 include:
- AMD GPU Support. Vantage 2 can run on DXR-compatible AMD graphics cards, providing more hardware flexibility.
- Camera Grouping with States Override. For over-the-shoulder discussions with clients, Vantage 2 offers better and more structured grouping cameras and assigned states.
- Chaos Scatter. Users can distribute millions of 3D objects in just a few clicks. Consequently users can create forests, fields, and crowds without weighing down the scene.
- HDR Monitor Support. Pick up every color and detail of a project thanks to new HDR monitor support.
- Light Creation and Placement. Users can create different light types directly within Vantage 2.
- Mesh Lights. Full and efficient support for Mesh Lights has been added to VRay vrscene files, thus enhancing the artistic lighting possibilities authored with V-Ray.
- Multiple UV Channel Support. Sophisticated materials, such as stacking labels and decals, are now supported via multiple UV channels.
- Nested Scenes. VRay vrscene files referenced within other vrscene files are now supported in Vantage 2. This enables more scene assembly scenarios between various 3D creation tools.
- New Animation Effects. All animated materials, textures, and lights within vrscene files work seamlessly in Vantage 2, from flickering and fading lights to moving tiling offsets.
- NVIDIA AI Denoiser with Upscaling. Quickly denoise high-quality images or take them from HD to 4K without adding more rendering time.
- NVIDIA RTXDI. Pack scenes with dynamic lights without worrying about performance or resource constraints.
- Orthographic Cameras. Easily create plan, elevation, and axonometric renderings with orthographic camera projection.
- Quality Presets. Users can now set the quality and interaction speed of their visualization with a single slider.
- Refined user interface. Vantage 2 UI now has a more modern look and feel. This makes it easier to access key tools and features.
Pricing and Availability
To sum up, Vantage 2 is available now for Windows 10 (version 2004 or newer). Moreover, Chaos designed Vantage 2 for DXR-compatible NVIDIA and AMD GPUs. Current V-Ray users that already have a Premium or Enterprise subscription will have full access to Vantage 2. This lasts until their current subscription expires. New Vantage licenses will include both Vantage 1 and Vantage 2.
- For Vantage 2 pricing information, please click here.
- Chaos is offering a thirty day free trial of Vantage 2 here.
About Chaos
Chaos develops 3D visualization technology for architecture, engineering, construction, and media, as well as entertainment, product design, and manufacturing. Its software creates intuitive and powerful workflows for designers of all types. In 2022, Chaos merged with Enscape and acquired Cylindo. The company’s product portfolio now includes:
- V-Ray, a physically based renderer honored with an Academy Award and an Engineering Emmy.
- Enscape, a high-quality real-time rendering and virtual reality plugin.
- Corona, a high-performance photorealistic rendering engine.
- Cylindo, a 3D furniture product visualization platform for commerce.
Chaos is now the largest global 3D visualization company with more than 700 employees. Its head office is in Karlsruhe, Germany, with offices around the globe. Please click here for more information.