Corona Render 12 release: GPU rendering and no more nerve-wracking games

Have you ever wondered how companies establish themselves as global leaders in their niche? We believe it involves “consuming” their competitors especially those aspiring to similar dominance. While the latest startups are still seeking funds to realize their dreams, others are already offering mutually beneficial terms – in other words, they seek to merge or collaborate. A similar story has happened more than once with Chaos Group, which recently “befriended” Enscape and acquired Cylindo along with AXYZ.

By the way, back in 2017 the company also acquired the renowned rendering engine Corona Render originally created by Czech developers. The management of this tech giant, already under the wing of the famous V-Ray, promised to develop both projects in parallel. Few believed in a successful outcome, but… to be a global leader in your niche, you must also keep your word. Through experience, we identified this as a second criterion.

So, what’s the result? As devoted 3D enthusiasts, professionals creating high-quality visualizations and fans of good news, we firmly shake hands with the Chaos Group team, who have announced updates to Corona Render! And with that, we’re excited to share the new features (spoiler: integrations included).

Priority integration focus is architectural visualization

Corona Render continues to be compatible with a limited number of 3D modeling programs – specifically integrating with 3Ds Max and Cinema 4D (from versions 2016 and 17 onwards, respectively). Previously listed among its few drawbacks was “does not utilize GPU for rendering” a point that can now confidently be crossed off. Rendering processes will not only become faster but also more versatile (or universal, if you will) presenting greater opportunities for those with less powerful computers tackling complex high-quality projects.

All this is made possible through integration with Chaos Vantage – software offering full ray tracing in real-time mode. Regardless of project scale (or the intricacy of its details), users can now view, adjust camera positions and potentially animate 3D scenes. However, the full potential of Chaos Vantage for mind-blowing special effects is expected in the 13th release temporarily overshadowing architectural visualization as the main focus of experimentation (which we’re not opposed to).

Harmony of decals with materials – realistic rendering

With the update and support of Corona Decals, there’s no longer a need to puzzle over how to seamlessly integrate a branded beverage label with its bottle. Any object can now perfectly mimic not just the geometric shape (for instance, square walls suitable for hanging posters are straightforward), but also seamlessly blend into glass or concrete textures with their rounded, convex or rough features.

This not only unleashes the technical potential of projects but also fosters the creativity of 3D artists, which later manifests in intriguing details in renders. Moreover, it’s a way to stand out among competitors (similar to using a watermark on an image to claim authorship). Additionally, the Corona Pattern modifier deserves mention allowing for the replication of invented patterns (like posting a missing pet notice on all poles) without increasing polygon counts. Overall, this feature ensures no distortions, unnecessary processor overload and sparks imaginative flights. Let’s run some tests! Cool summer beverages for commerce won’t wait…

Realistic environment at -12 degrees

With the updated Corona Sky system the sun now sets even lower beyond the horizon than before. The maximum angle of its descent now reaches -12 degrees meaning renders featuring rocky landscapes illuminated by sunlight will become far more spectacular and realistic.

This “sky” upgrade doesn’t end there, as the new version of Corona includes capabilities for creating packs of cumulus, cirrus, rain, stratus and any other clouds nature can invent. Thanks to the Density parameter, which controls the concentration of water vapor, clouds can take on a fine barely visible silhouette or, conversely, a massive presence (to create the sensation of a sky falling over the city) transforming visualizations and adding a rich, atmospheric quality.

Discovered bugs is a reason for growth

Let’s be honest, the new version of the engine has its rough spots. This has led to a number of users who “hate” the updates believing that Corona has regressed to an ancient era when constant reminders about LightMix settings and ticking checkboxes were necessary.

These same users encounter bugs within the Chaos Cosmos material library. While the Corona team initially aimed to save 3D artists’ time with these updates, the reality is that the situation has had a negative effect.

In any case, bugs exist to be found and fixed, so it’s better to rely on the built-in resource with its wide range of materials than not!

Preliminary compositing and post-processing wonders

A/B testing has made its way into Corona updates allowing you to compare renders of different resolutions and formats (aspect ratios). Support for loading 8-bit and 32-bit files is also available.

Various functions of the Virtual Frame Buffer (VFB) have been enhanced as well with its intuitive interface design resembling a classic photo editor. The VFB not only displays changes during the visualization creation process but also offers extensive post-processing capabilities. This is achieved through tools like light mix and layer compositing for any type of element. Color correction and lighting are under your control!

In 3Ds Max it’s already available, in Cinema 4D we’re still waiting

The Scatter Instance Brush is another great feature in Corona 12 specifically for 3Ds Max (it will be available for Cinema 4D in the foreseeable future). This tool allows you to move beyond automatic scattering and manually control the placement of instances. Essentially, having the option for manual work (using splines) lets you take full control of the process, ensuring there are no unwanted grass placements near the roadside (you can position scene elements in specific parts).

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Our team acquires new knowledge in software development every day. This not only simplifies the process of creating realistic renders but also enhances their quality, which is crucial for every client, whether a designer or a real estate agent. Exploring the release of Corona Render 12, we have discovered many new features that we are ready to apply in your project unlocking its full potential!

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