Chaos has announced the release of V-Ray 7, the latest version of its rendering software for 3ds Max. Here’s a summary of the key features.
Key Features of V-Ray 7 for 3ds Max
- Gaussian splats support: Import and render Gaussian Splat objects, visible in reflections and refractions (though not yet affected by shadows or lighting).
- Virtual tours: Create immersive virtual tours directly within the interface. Integrated with Chaos Cloud, this simplifies panorama tour creation with automatic hotspot generation and customizable transitions.
- Custom-shaped render regions: Define and refine rendering areas within the V-Ray Frame Buffer, focusing on specific scene sections without re-rendering the entire image.
- Vignette Layer: A new Vignette Layer in the VFB allows easy customization of intensity, shape, and position for various effects.
- Color correction presets: Quickly experiment with different color grading styles, refining them to match your artistic vision.
- Chaos Scatter improvements: The Instance Brush offers fast manual adjustments to scattered object placement. New distribution maps add varied planting patterns, similar to ForestPack Pro.
- Faster scatter-heavy scene export: Optimized for efficient export of scatter-heavy scenes to Chaos Cloud or render farms.
- Firefly removal: A new algorithm automatically removes bright pixel artifacts during rendering, speeding up post-render adjustments.
- Improved V-Ray Sun & Sky: More realistic animations and still images. The updated PRG sky model supports higher altitudes and realistic day-time transitions.
- V-Ray Luminaires: Complex light fixture assets are easily added, offering faster rendering and more realistic lighting.
- Asset variants support: Selected vegetation assets include seasonal variations, with more planned.
- Hundreds of new assets: The asset library expands with people, vegetation, furniture, and fabrics, helping you build scenes quickly.
- V-Ray Profiler: Detailed rendering performance reports identify time-intensive processes for workflow optimization. Works with the Memory Tracker for comprehensive data analysis.
- V-Ray Lister Geometry tab: Easier management and adjustment of settings for V-Ray geometry objects (Proxy, Fur, Decals). New filtering tools enhance control over complex scenes.
- Redesigned V-Ray Scene Converter: Simplified scene conversion with selective object conversion and automatic material updates to .TX files for improved performance.
- Faster GPU rendering: Significant speed improvements, including a new caustics solver optimized for GPU hardware, for faster and more efficient rendering with accurate light effects.
- Out-of-core textures: More efficient handling of texture-heavy scenes, allowing high detail without compromising shading quality.
- Extended USD support: Alignment with the latest USD version for 3ds Max ensures compatibility and access to new features.
- OpenPBR support: Support for OpenPBR in 3ds Max 2025.3 enables consistent shading across platforms, reducing manual adjustments when switching apps.