Mild Engine releases Mild Tracer Render 2.6

 
Initially posted on 5 November 2021. Scroll down for information of the Light Tracer Render 2.6 update.

Mild Engine has launched Mild Tracer Render 2.0, the most recent model of its physically based GPU renderer, out there as a each business product for Home windows and macOS, and as a free browser-based service.

The replace provides help for IES lights, mesh lights, clear shadows, and a brand new caustic mode; provides shadow and reflection catchers for product renders; and reworks the software program’s dealing with of coated supplies.

A phyically primarily based GPU ray tracer for internet and desktop
First launched in 2019 as an experimental browser-based renderer, and pitched because the “world’s first bodily primarily based GPU renderer for internet”, Mild Tracer Render is an unbiased GPU ray tracer.

Over the previous two years, it has acquired a standalone desktop version, which runs on Home windows and macOS, and grown steadily in performance, notably for architectural and product visualisation.

Mild Tracer Render imports fashions in normal 3D codecs together with OBJ, FBX, Collada and glTF, and CAD knowledge in STEP/IGES format and Rhino’s 3DM format.

The software program helps the Disney Principled materials mannequin broadly utilized in different DCC software program, and comes with a library of over 300 readymade PBR supplies.

Though initially designed for HDRI-based lighting, it’s more and more supporting different lighting workflows. Render options embody render passes, submit results, filmic tonemapping, and CPU and GPU denoising.

Being primarily based on WebGL 2.0, the software program is hardware-agnostic, working with each AMD and Nvidia GPUs: Mild Engine says that it’ll run on “virtually on any GPU produced after 2012-2013”.

New in model 2.0: IES and mesh lights, shadow and reflection catchers, and correct caustics
Key adjustments in Mild Tracer Render 2.0 embody help for IES and mesh lights, growing its usability in architectural visualisation workflows.

For product visualisation, the replace introduces shadow and reflection catchers, to assist combine rendered 3D objects into photographic backplates or solid-colour backgrounds.

Different adjustments embody a brand new mode for rendering caustics results primarily based on path guiding, and higher dealing with of shadows solid by clear and translucent objects, as mentioned on this blog post.

Dealing with of coated supplies like automotive paint and varnished wooden has additionally been reworked, with the previous clear coat mannequin changed by a brand new bodily appropriate layered mannequin.

Workflow enhancements embody the choices to retailer and swap between digital camera views; to cover objects from the render digital camera, however permit them to proceed to contribute to scene illumination; and a brand new modelling widget for including 3D primitives to a scene, primarily supposed for mesh lights.

 
Up to date 24 December 2021: Mild Engine has launched Light Tracer Render 2.2.

New options within the replace embody a bodily solar and sky system primarily based on the Hosek-Wilkie mannequin, additionally supported in render engines like OctaneRender and Blender’s Cycles renderer.

Mild Tracer Render additionally now helps PBR supplies following the specular-glossiness workflow, in addition to the extra frequent metallic-roughness workflow, routinely changing parameters on import.

As well as, the replace provides help for materials layers and a brand new bodily believable bloom submit impact.

 
Up to date 5 March 2022: Mild Engine has launched Light Tracer Render 2.3.

The replace reworks the software program’s animation toolset, with customers now capable of loop or retime imported animation tracks from a devoted Animation tab, or apply readymade digital camera animations.

Customers may now import and export skeletal animations in glTF format, in addition to FBX format.

As well as, it’s now attainable to import fashions in PLY format and SketchUp’s SKP format; and to import vertex color knowledge – for instance, floor colors from ZBrush’s PolyPaint toolset – in glTF and PLY information.

Different adjustments embody new built-in libraries of studio gentle set-ups and PBR supplies – the latter from on-line CC0 materials library ambientCG – and a brand new Shade Correction widget for grading rendered output.

 
Up to date 20 June 2022: Mild Engine has launched Light Tracer Render 2.3.2.

The replace focuses on the net version of the renderer, which will get “virtually all” the brand new options from the desktop model, together with the brand new libraries of PBR supplies and studio gentle set-ups.

As well as, the brand new model options “important enchancment” of the UI when used with contact screens, and is now suitable with the cell version of Apple’s Safari browser, making it attainable to make use of on iPads.

In response to Mild Engine, the net version will even run on iOS and Android telephones, with “acceptable efficiency” on the most recent cell processors, though the small display measurement makes it more durable to make use of.

 
Up to date 27 July 2022: Mild Engine has launched Light Tracer Render 2.4.

The replace provides a brand new physics-based format system primarily based on Guerrilla Video games’ Jolt Physics library, making it attainable to put objects in a scene, and have them settle naturally beneath gravity.

Workflow enhancements embody the choice to edit the scene hierarchy and adjustments to choice behaviour: by default, clicking on an object now selects your complete object, not part of it.

 
Up to date 11 October 2022: Mild Engine has launched Light Tracer Render 2.5.

The replace reworks the software program’s animation toolset, with new options together with the choice to create digital camera animations by connecting saved digital camera views right into a clean digital camera path, as proven above.

The adjustments additionally make it attainable to automate frequent duties, like rendering a number of digital camera views from a scene, or rendering a mannequin in a number of totally different CG environments.

Different adjustments embody help for ground projection of HDRI environment maps.