Today, Chaos launches V-Ray 6 for 3ds Max, update 2, with new and enhanced support for some of VFX’s most popular file standards. With new support for MaterialX, artists can now complete their USD pipeline, enabling smooth rendering and shader exchanges across teams and tools. Support for the latest USD for 3ds Max version has also been added, bringing users up-to-date with the tool's full capabilities.
This continues a USD/V-Ray development process that began with the release of V-Ray 5 for Houdini and Maya in 2021. Since then, Chaos has embraced the standard, so artists can easily share and dynamically update assets while using its Academy Award-winning ray tracing technology.
Additional Features and Improvements Include:
Faster Workflows
- Chaos Cloud One-Click Submit – Users can now access Chaos Cloud rendering in a click, all without leaving 3ds Max or waiting for a scene to export.
- Faster .vrscene Exports – Get up to 20x faster exports and far smaller file sizes on scenes with immense scattering data. This improvement also accelerates V-Ray GPU’s time to the first pixel.
- Unified V-Ray Lister for 3ds Max – All lights and cameras can now be managed from a single location with this new Lister update. An enhanced user interface will also help users explore new features for bulk adjustments, filtering, searching and more.
V-Ray GPU Updates
- V-Ray Enmesh – Complex geometric patterns can be quickly created over object surfaces to make detailed panels, fences, fabrics and more in an automated and memory-efficient way.
- Faster Animation Rendering – Image sequences can now be rendered up to 4x faster, accelerating everything from AEC marketing to high-end visual effects, as V-Ray GPU now caches bitmaps between frames.
More Realistic Scattering
- Groups Hierarchy – In Chaos Scatter, you can now distribute multiple objects in a group or hierarchy with just a couple of clicks.
- Altitude Variance – Users can now control object distribution based on surface height, helping them achieve natural altitude variances for their vegetation.
- Scatter Orientation – The orientation of scattered items can be adjusted by rotating away or toward a selected object for added realism and control.
V-Ray Frame Buffer (VFB) Improvements
- Chromatic Aberration – This new post-effect helps artists explore distinctive looks and color fringing directly within the VFB, without a third-party application.
- Custom Background Color – Color corrections now include a solid background option, removing the need to load an image.
Lighting
- IES Light Models in Chaos Cosmos – Chaos’ ever-expanding library of ready-to-render assets now helps artists import 3D light models, including IES profiles, in a few clicks. Interiors can now be illuminated faster than ever before.
To see all the new features, explore V-Ray 6 for 3ds Max’s “What’s New” page.
Pricing and Availability
V-Ray 6 for 3ds Max, update 2 is available for 3ds Max versions 2019 – 2024. All V-Ray subscription plans work for all supported host applications, including 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, Houdini, Maya, Nuke, Revit, Rhino, SketchUp and Unreal. Pricing can be found on the Chaos website.
To experience the new benefits of the unified workflow, Enscape 3.5.6 or above and V-Ray 6 for 3ds Max, update 2 or above required.
