The software’s biggest update ever introduces a new shading system, stylized looks, and XPU, which provides live rendering capabilities for immediate feedback on assets.
Pixar has just released RenderMan version 24, the biggest update in the software’s history, which introduces its next generation rendering architecture for animation and visual effects: RenderMan XPU. The release brings major advancements to look development and interactivity for feature film VFX and animation. With the launch of XPU, Pixar has introduced to the VFX industry a completely new renderer capable of utilizing both CPU and GPU.
Pixar’s RenderMan 24 was announced at RenderMan Art & Science Fair 2020 that took place virtually last week. In a live webinar, Wayne Wooten, RenderMan Software Development Manager, Pixar Animation Studios, talked about new features of RenderMan 24. This release will have a new official integration plugin for Blender. Pixar’s new combined CPU and GPU rendering system, RenderMan XPU, will also be a part of the release. Lama, a new layered material system developed by Industrial Light & Magic and toolset for generating non-photorealistic renders, Stylized Looks, have been added to RenderMan 24.
RenderMan XPU adds next level live rendering capabilities to the pipeline, providing immediate feedback on assets of feature film complexity, allowing faster iterations for artists. The release also features a shading system for layered materials called MaterialX Lama. Originally developed at Industrial Light & Magic, MaterialX Lama has been used in production for years, and the system provides RenderMan’s first step towards a deep MaterialX integration. Another release highlight is RenderMan Stylized Looks, a new toolset for crafting non-photorealistic renders.
“Release 24 is a milestone for film production at Pixar Animation Studios and also our customers to utilize the full power of RenderMan XPU in production,” commented Oliver Meiseberg, RenderMan Vice President, Pixar Animation Studios. “With layered materials and Stylized Looks we deliver a complete new set of tools for artists to push visual quality even further. We are very excited to provide RenderMan for the fast-growing Blender community to support their effort in great filmmaking.”
Check out the RenderMan 24 feature reel:
“ILM has used Lama to create high-quality modular materials for several years, and we’re very excited that our collaboration with Pixar will allow us to share it with the rest of the world, both in RenderMan and as part of the MaterialX standard,” added ILM Look/Render engineering lead, André Mazzone. “We can’t wait to see how talented artists everywhere will choose to harness Lama’s potential.”
“The flexibility of the new Lama shading system is going to allow us to approach our complex layered materials with greater efficiency and accuracy,” noted Laika CG supervisor Eric Wachtman. “With its robust set of responses and controls, it’s an amazing release for look development.”
Pixar has released the RenderMan 24 – White Paper for download here.
Additional information is available here.
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