DreamWorks Animation has released MoonRay 1.7, its high-performance rendering engine now available as open source. This version introduces new features that improve the quality and performance of rendering in 3D productions.
New Features
Among the main improvements in MoonRay 1.7 are:
- PortalLight: A new light type that optimizes lighting performance in scenes.
- Cryptomatte ID Support: Integration with the Cryptomatte system for easier manipulation of render masks.
- hdMoonRay: MoonRay's Hydra rendering delegate, offering greater flexibility and efficiency.
Performance Improvements
MoonRay continues to optimize, and with the new version 1.7, a hybrid XPU mode is implemented, which accelerates both regular rays and occlusion rays on NVIDIA GPUs. This improvement allows for faster renders without sacrificing quality.
Previous Updates
In the previous update, MoonRay 1.6, several important improvements were introduced:
- Support for Macs with Apple Silicon, allowing users of these devices to take full advantage of the engine's potential.
- A new Fisheye camera to capture more dynamic and creative images.
- Improvements in USD scene preparation, facilitating work with high-quality 3D data.
Applications in DreamWorks Productions
MoonRay has been used in DreamWorks' latest productions, such as Kung Fu Panda 4 and The Wild Robot, demonstrating its ability to handle the most demanding projects in terms of rendering quality and performance.
"MoonRay 1.7 is a fundamental tool for our 3D productions, with continuous improvements that allow us to optimize our workflow and achieve a superior level of quality in every project." – DreamWorks Animation