This version boasts of a streamlined workflow with an extensive list of artist-friendly capabilities including, all new physically based rendering architecture, and a wide range of additional improvements that are ideal for VR rendering, and more. It also extends the functionality of popular features like the buffer system, FiberFX, cel-shading, object deformations, and others.
>> See Also: The Next LightWave 16 Performance Optimizations
2018 highlights include:Physically Based Rendering System:
Completely rewritten rendering, shading and lighting architecture for greater realism, accuracy and ease-of-use.
Render and Light Buffers:
Expanded workflow for render and light buffers that simplifies compositing and offers more flexibility, including real-time preview of new buffers in any viewport using VPR, as well as custom buffers using the node editor.
Volumetric Engine and Open VDB Support:
Using the new volumetric render primitives, artists can specify physically based properties, Scattering, Absorption and Emission parameters, along with powerful node networks.
Light Capabilities:
New lighting architecture brings physical lights that can be optionally visible to the camera, and improved loading of IES web files to better match the intensity of real manufactured lights.
Surface Editor, Material Nodes and Surface Preview:
The Surface Editor has been overhauled for the new shading system with powerful node-based materials that are presented with a familiar interface.
Virtual Reality Camera:
Includes both cylindrical and spherical modes for creating stereo 360-degree renders and animations for VR applications.
Modifier Stack with New Deformation Nodes:
Unlocks and simplifies the previously fixed order of operations for Bones, Morphs, Subdivision and Displacements with the ability to drag and drop to re-order mesh deformations interactively.
Cel Shader and Enhanced Edge Rendering:
Offers flexible non-photoreal render control over material shading and allows gradient-based cel-shading, while Edge Rendering uses any material available in the Surface Editor to shade any line
More Integrated FiberFX:
Expanded to integrated closely with the new lighting and shading system and can use any material on the fibers. Fibers are now generated using the new primitive object architecture.
Layout-based Parametric Shapes:
Parametric shapes allow for creation of virtual primitive shapes in Layout that can be displaced, surfaced and rendered without needing any geometry.
Noise Reduction Filter:
Speeds up render times by using less Global Illumination rays and samples, while allowing for clean up of the resulting noise using filters instead of increased render settings.
New Modeler Features:
Layout View viewport shows the current camera view from Layout. Also new are fully interactive tools including Lattice, Smoothing, Array and Spline Bridge.
Availability
The software for Windows® and Mac® operating systems will be available on January 1, 2018 at 12:01am GMT.
Click here to find out more about LightWave3D 2018.
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