Wednesday, November 20th, 2024Posted by Jim ThackerChaos ships Corona 12 Update 1 for 3ds Max and Cinema 4Dhtml PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Chaos has released Corona 12 Update 1, the latest version of its production renderer for 3ds Max and Cinema 4D.The update adds a new live link to Vantage, Chaoss GPU ray tracing renderer, improves Coronas handling of caustics, and adds a new AI-based render upscaler.New Vantage Live Link transfers changes made in 3ds Max or Cinema 4D to VantageUpdate 1 extends Coronas integration with Vantage, Chaoss GPU-based ray tracing renderer, introduced in Corona 12 earlier this year as a way of exploring large scenes in real time.The new Vantage Live Link automatically applies changes made to a scene in 3ds Max or Cinema 4D to a Vantage viewport, providing a GPU-based alternative to Coronas native interactive rendering.However, it does not make it possible to render animations created in 3ds Max or Cinema 4D in Vantage: something originally planned for the update, but now moved back to a future release.Better, faster rendering of caustic light patternsUpdate 1 also improves Coronas handling of caustics.Caustics are now displayed more accurately through smoke and fog, since Corona now displays the reflected and refracted light rays they generate as they pass through volume materials.In addition, a new Caustics Multiplier makes it possible to adjust the brightness of caustics in renders, with the option to control the effect on surfaces and in volumes separately.Caustics also now render faster: Chaos doesnt put a figure on the speed boost, but caustics should look around twice as good, in terms of noise removed, in the same render time.New Auto Exposure and White Balance settingsOther new features include automatic Exposure and White Balance when rendering a scene.The changes made to the render settings can be baked into a scene, or the controls can be left active, adjusting renders dynamically over the course of an animation.New GPU-agnostic AI render upscaling systemThe update also introduces a AI-based image upscaling, making it possible to render images at quarter the final resolution, then upscale them, speeding up rendering four times.Although the underlying technology is developed by NVIDIA, the SDK is hardware-agnostic, and also supports AMD and Intel GPUs.However, the output is not temporally stable: in the video above, Product Manager Tom Grimes notes that it will have flicker, so its only suitable for tracked animations.Updates to Chaos Scatter and direct CXR export from Cinema 4DChanges to existing features include a new set of readymade distribution maps for object scattering system Chaos Scatter, which provide preset scattering patters.It is also now possible to save files in Corona EXR (.cxr) format directly from Cinema 4D, making it possible to generate CXR files during batch rendering.New collaboration features in Chaos CloudOutside the core application, Corona now supports the new collaboration features in Chaos Cloud, Chaoss cloud rendering service.The functionality makes it possible to share images with clients directly from the VFB, make and review text-based comments, and handle image versioning.Users can also create virtual tours of projects, using Hotspots to act as navigation points, although unlike in V-Ray 7, you have to place them manually: Corona doesnt yet set up Hotspots automatically.But shouldnt this be Corona 13?The release is a departure from the normal version numbering for Corona and indeed, when it was originally announced earlier this year, it was scheduled to be Corona 13.Chaos now plans to release a second update, Corona 12 Update 2, in the second quarter of 2025, with Corona 13 itself due later in the year.Price and system requirementsCorona 12 Update 1 is compatible with 3ds Max 2016+ and Cinema 4D R17+. The software is available subscription-only. Chaos Solo subscriptions are node-locked, and include access to the Chaos Cosmos online asset library; Chaos Premium subscriptions are floating, and also include Phoenix, Chaos Player and Chaos Scans.Corona Solo subscriptions cost $59.90/month or $394.80/year. Corona Premium subscriptions cost $72.90/month or $514.80/year. Additional Corona Render nodes cost $172.Read an overview of the new features in Corona on Chaoss websiteFind more details of the new features in Corona 12 Update 1 in the online documentationHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest NewsChaos ships Corona 12 Update 1 for 3ds Max and Cinema 4DArchitectural renderer gets new live link to Chaos Vantage, better volumetric caustics, and new AI-based render upscaling system.Wednesday, November 20th, 20245 key features in Blender 4.3Now available: read our pick of the new features in the open-source 3D software, from Grease Pencil 3 to updates to Eevee and Cycles.Tuesday, November 19th, 2024BiteTheBytes releases World Creator 2024.3Big update to the real-time terrain generator adds new snow and debris simulation tools, and changes pricing and licensing.Tuesday, November 19th, 2024Free tool: Reallusion's Blender Auto Setup pluginNewly rebranded plugin transfers 3D characters, shaders, rigs and animation from Character Creator and iClone to Blender.Monday, November 18th, 2024Download VFX Assets' free 2D Cloud Textures PackGet 125 free cloud textures on black backgrounds for background compositing in VFX or motion graphics projects. 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