LuxRender
Encyclopedia
LuxRender is an open source
software rendering system for physically correct image synthesis. The program runs on Microsoft Windows
, Mac OS X
and Linux
and exporters are available for Blender
, SketchUp
, Cinema 4D
, XSI
, DAZ Studio
, and Maya
.
, it was possible to start a new program based on PBRT's source code. With the blessings of the original authors, a small group of programmers took this step in September 2007. The new program was named LuxRender and was to focus on artistic use. Since its initial stage, the program has attracted interest of various programmers around the world.
On 24 June 2008, the first official release was announced. This was the first release that is considered to be usable for the general public.
Category:Free 3D graphics software
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
software rendering system for physically correct image synthesis. The program runs on Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
and Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
and exporters are available for Blender
Blender (software)
Blender is a free and open-source 3D computer graphics software product used for creating animated films, visual effects, interactive 3D applications or video games. The current release version is 2.60, and was released on October 19, 2011...
, SketchUp
SketchUp
SketchUp is a 3D modeling program marketed by Google and designed for architectural, civil, and mechanical engineers as well as filmmakers, game developers,...
, Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D
CINEMA 4D is a 3D modeling, animation and rendering application developed by MAXON Computer GmbH of Friedrichsdorf, Germany. It is capable of procedural and polygonal/subd modeling, animating, lighting, texturing, rendering, and common features found in 3d modelling applications.- Overview:The...
, XSI
Softimage XSI
Autodesk Softimage, or simply Softimage is a 3D computer graphics application, owned by Autodesk, for producing 3D computer graphics, 3D modeling, and computer animation...
, DAZ Studio
DAZ Studio
DAZ Studio is a 3D figure illustration/animation application released by DAZ 3D Inc. It is compatible with most files intended for use by Poser. It is available free of charge . Version 1.0 was released in Fall 2005. Version 4.0.0.335 is the current release as of June 29, 2011...
, and Maya
Maya (software)
Autodesk Maya , commonly shortened to Maya, is 3D computer graphics software that runs on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS and Linux, originally developed by Alias Systems Corporation and currently owned and developed by Autodesk, Inc. It is used to create interactive 3D applications, including video...
.
Overview
LuxRender features only a 3D renderer; it relies on other programs to create the scenes to render, including the setup of materials and cameras. Through the use of exporters, all relevant scene information will be written to a file that LuxRender will be able to understand. This content can then be exported from the application it was created in for rendering using LuxRender. After opening this file, the only thing LuxRender will do is render the scene. You can however tweak various post processing settings from the graphical interface of the program.History
LuxRender is based on PBRT, a physically based ray tracing program. Although very capable and well structured, PBRT focuses on academic use and is not easily usable by digital artists. As PBRT is licensed under the GPLGNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
, it was possible to start a new program based on PBRT's source code. With the blessings of the original authors, a small group of programmers took this step in September 2007. The new program was named LuxRender and was to focus on artistic use. Since its initial stage, the program has attracted interest of various programmers around the world.
On 24 June 2008, the first official release was announced. This was the first release that is considered to be usable for the general public.
Features
The main features of LuxRender as of version 0.8 include:- Biased and unbiased rendering: Users can choose between physical accuracy (unbiased) and speed (biased).
- Full spectralVisible spectrumThe visible spectrum is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye. Electromagnetic radiation in this range of wavelengths is called visible light or simply light. A typical human eye will respond to wavelengths from about 390 to 750 nm. In terms of...
rendering: Instead of the RGB colour spectrum, full spectra are used for internal calculations. - Hierarchical proceduralProcedural textureA procedural texture is a computer generated image created using an algorithm intended to create a realistic representation of natural elements such as wood, marble, granite, metal, stone, and others....
and image based textureTexture synthesisTexture synthesis is the process of algorithmically constructing a large digital image from a small digital sample image by taking advantage of its structural content...
system: Procedural and image based textures can be mixed in various ways, making it possible to create complex materials. - Displacement mappingDisplacement mappingDisplacement mapping is an alternative computer graphics technique in contrast to bump mapping, normal mapping, and parallax mapping, using a texture- or height map to cause an effect where the actual geometric position of points over the textured surface are displaced, often along the local...
and subdivision: Based on procedural or image textures, object surfaces can be transformed. - Network and co-operative rendering: Rendering time can be reduced by combining the processing power of multiple computers. IPv6IPv6Internet Protocol version 6 is a version of the Internet Protocol . It is designed to succeed the Internet Protocol version 4...
is also supported. - Perspective (including shift lens), orthographic and environment cameras
- HDR outputHigh dynamic range renderingIn 3D computer graphics, high dynamic range rendering , also known as high dynamic range lighting, is the rendering of computer graphics scenes by using lighting calculations done in a larger dynamic range. This allows preservation of details that may be lost due to limiting contrast ratios...
: Render output can be saved in various file formats, including .png, .tga and .exr. - InstancesGeometry instancingIn real-time computer graphics, geometry instancing is the practice of rendering multiple copies of the same mesh in a scene at once. This technique is primarily used for objects such as trees, grass, or buildings which can be represented as repeated geometry without appearing unduly repetitive,...
: Instancing significantly saves system resources, in particular memory consumption by reusing mesh data in duplicated objects. - Built in post-processing: While rendering, you can add post processed effects like bloom, glare, chromatic aberration and vignetting.
- Motion blur, depth of field and lens effects: True motion blur, both for the camera and individual objects, and physically accurate Lens Effects, including Depth Of Field.
- Light groups: By using light groups, one can output various light situations from a single rendering, or make adjustments to the balance between light sources in real time.
- Tone mappingTone mappingTone mapping is a technique used in image processing and computer graphics to map one set of colors to another in order to approximate the appearance of high dynamic range images in a medium that has a more limited dynamic range...
- Image denoising
- Fleximage (virtual film): Allows you to pause and continue renders. The current state of the render can be written to a file, so that any system can continue the render at a later moment.
- GPU acceleration for path tracing when sampling one light at a time.
- Film response curves to emulate traditional cameras color response (some curve are for black&white films too).
- Volumetric rendering
Planned/Implemented Features
The new features of LuxRender for version 0.9 include:- Improved speeds for Hybrid Path GPU Rendering: The Path GPU Rendering Engine have various speed and stability improvements.
- New Hybrid Bidirectional Rendering: A GPU Accelerated version of the LuxRender Bi-Directional Path Tracer is in development. Note that it does not currently support all of LuxRender's traditional Bi-Directional Path tracing features yet.
- Networking: Improvements to LuxRender's networking mode.
- A new layered material: Allows the layering of multiple materials on one object.
- A new glossy coating material: Allows a glossy material to be placed on an object, coating the underneath material.
- Other features not noted here.
External links
Category:Free 3D graphics software