Published on 21-12-2024 | Author: 3dpoder
The 26.3 version of RenderMan arrives with a wide variety of improvements that optimize the rendering process, facilitating the creation of high-quality graphics and visual effects. This update focuses on delivering cleaner images, reducing noise more efficiently, and optimizing memory usage, which is essential for projects handling large-sized images.
Compatibility with Updated Software
One of the main new features of this version is its integration with the latest versions of leading industry programs, such as Maya 2025, Katana 8.0, and Houdini 20.5. This ensures a smooth and uninterrupted workflow when combining RenderMan with these tools.
Improvements in RenderMan XPU
The hybrid GPU/CPU engine, RenderMan XPU, now supports a wider range of features, including:
- Compatibility with all types of analytic lights.
- Advanced camera controls.
- Adaptive sampling for optimized performance.
Additionally, interactivity in complex scenes with multiple lights has been significantly improved, and support for Progressive Pixels allows fractional iterations for greater efficiency.
Enhanced Stylized Tools
The Stylized Looks toolset receives updates focused on improving the creative workflow. Among the new features are:
- A new canvas layer.
- Better organization of AOVs.
- New controls for filtering and color reassignment in line rendering.
Interactive Denoiser
The AI-powered denoiser is now interactive in Blender 4 and Katana. Additionally, this functionality is planned to be integrated into Maya and Houdini in upcoming updates, making the cleaning process more efficient and dynamic.
Other Important Updates
RenderMan 26 also includes:
- Compatibility with the VFX 2023 reference platform.
- Improvements in rendering statistics.
- Removal of support for Python 2.
- Transition to the DeepEXR format as the standard for deep textures.
"The new version of RenderMan not only improves performance but also opens new creative possibilities for artists and developers." – RenderMan Team
With these innovations, RenderMan 26.3 reaffirms its position as an essential tool for visual effects and animation production, offering a perfect balance between quality, performance, and compatibility with the latest industry technologies.