In Depth: 3D Renderers (Updated 11 March 2019)

There are so many renderers available out there, and how does an artist know what to choose? Essentially, renderers really do the same thing. However, they work differently will give different results. Below is a breakdown of what the different renderers offer, not reviews, so you can decide which renderer is right for you.

Introduction

This article is difficult to put together, and as a result, there is a lot of information to digest. Indeed, I hope this will be a highly used resource. My goal was to create a document to help artists decide which renderer is best for their work while presenting only facts… no opinion… so that users can compare. This comes with a lot of terminologies of which you must have a basic understanding. First, I’ll go over some terminology, then a comparison chart of some criteria with renderers. Then a bit more about each 3D rendering engine with some videos.

Note: This is a living document. We are focusing on rendering tools that we sell at Toolfarm to help our customers make the choice. By the same token, as we add new tools to our store and products are updated, we will update this article.

Disclaimer: There is a  vast amount of information here and updates come out so often. We will try our best to keep it updated, nonetheless, some information may not be fully correct or may be out of date. Please let us know if something isn’t correct so that we may update the article and/or product information.

Criteria

• GPU/CPU
• Biased/Unbiased
• Physically Based Renderer
• Platform Support
• Host Support
• System Requirements
• Price

Note: Pricing and system requirements are accurate as of the publishing of this article. We will keep this document updated when we get around to it. Please check for current versions.

Terminology

We’re going to go super basic and barely scratch the surface here. so make sure that you see the “Further Reading” list below if you want to know more about each term.

CPU vs. GPU Rendering

Think of the central processing unit, or CPU, as the brain and control center of your computer. A graphics processing unit, or GPU, is there to render 3D graphics and to help the CPU perform its calculations. The CPU is based on single cores so it works on one bit of data at a time. The GPU is designed for parallel processing so they can work with a lot of data at once. To sum it up, a quote I came across from Kevin Krewell from Nvidia explains it well: “Architecturally, the CPU is composed of just a few cores with lots of cache memory that can handle a few software threads at a time. In contrast, a GPU is composed of hundreds of cores that can handle thousands of threads simultaneously.”

Some 3D renderers will utilize the GPU instead of the CPU, which can mean faster renders, but the downside is that GPUs are limited to the amount of VRAM or video memory. Many renderers are hybrid and use both the CPU and GPU.

GPU vs CPU Video Rendering and Video Editing

Roberto Blake gives a great overview of whether you should choose GPU or CPU rendering.

Biased vs. Unbiased

Biased means that the renderer will estimate values, or do a bit of educated guessing using mathematical functions, and not calculate every single pixel. The benefit is that it’s much faster. The downside is that the results may not be absolutely accurate.

Unbiased, on the other hand, means that every pixel is calculated with no interpolation between pixels. Biased rendering methods include light tracking, path tracing, bidirectional path tracing, and metropolis light transport.

Many renderers are capable of producing both unbiased and biased renderers.

Grant Warwick about Bias and Differences of 3D Rendering Engines

Further reading:

• The Truth About Unbiased Rendering 
• Should your renderer be biased or unbiased?
• Octane vs Corona vs Redshift has a nice explanation of biased vs unbiased.

Global Illumination

Global Illumination is the algorithm that the software uses to recreate natural lighting from the real world. There are several types of algorithms such as radiosity, ray tracing, beam tracing, cone tracing, path tracing, Metropolis light transport, ambient occlusion, photon mapping, and image-based lighting. Even more, these can be used on their own or in combination with each other to create better results. [Source:Wikipedia: Global Illumination]

C4D Fundamentals | 07 – Advanced Rendering – Understanding Global Illumination

While this video is targeted to Cinema 4D, much of the information applies to any other 3D software.

Monte Carlo Method

This is a common algorithm for photorealism used by 3D software and it seems to be tied in with probability in gambling! To explain, “Monte Carlo methods are also efficient in solving coupled integral differential equations of radiation fields and energy transport, and thus these methods have been used in global illumination computations that produce photo-realistic images of virtual 3D models, with applications in video games, architecture, design, computer-generated films, and cinematic special effects.” [Source: Wikipedia: Monte Carlo method]

Further reading:

• Monte Carlo methods for improved rendering – This is an academic paper from the Institute for Applied Computational Sciences, Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Embree Ray Tracing Kernels

Embree, developed at Intel, is a collection of high-performance ray tracing kernels. Hence, it is explained in the video below from Intel.

Many renderers use Embree ray tracing kernels. In addition, V-Ray Next includes a custom Embree ray tracing library “which speeds up anything from proxies to motion blur.” [Source: Interview: V-Ray Next and the Future of Rendering – CG Channel] FluidRay RT, Corona Render, and others also use it.

Further reading:

• How Embree Delivers Uncompromising Photorealism | Intel® Software
• Download Embree here
• The Embree Example Renderer – This is a photo-realistic path tracer that builds on the Embree high-performance ray tracing kernels (Note: not a full-featured renderer and not designed to be used for production rendering)

Physically-Based Rendering

Finally, Physically based rendering, often abbreviated PBR, uses mathematical theories that allow for photorealistic renderings.

What is PBR? Physically-Based Rendering Explained

Further Reading:

• Physically Based Rendering From Theory to Implementation, Second Edition, by Matt Pharr and Greg Humphreys
• Basic Theory Of Physically-based Rendering
• PBR Guide from Allegorithmic – Wes McDermott and his friends at Allegorithmic have updated The PBR Guide, a 2 volume guide to physically based rendering. In order to keep pace with evolving 3D technology, they are keeping the information and techniques in the book up to date. Of course, it’s available as a free download on Substance Academy.
• Maya Monday: How Physically Based Rendering Shaders Work
• Webinar Replay: NVIDIA: Transform Your Workflow with Physically Based Materials

Renderers

Comparison Chart – Quick Reference

Autodesk Arnold Render

The description from the developer:

Arnold software is an advanced Monte Carlo raytracing renderer. Undoubtedly, it’s designed for artists and for the demands of modern animation and visual effects (VFX) production.

Corona Renderer

The description from the developer:

New advanced high-performance renderer for 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, and other platforms. Corona Renderer delivers high quality, physically-based shading in production rendering. All its features are tightly integrated into Autodesk 3ds Max.

Further Reading:

• Corona Render Blender Addon

Insydium Cycles 4D

The description from the developer:
Cycles is an unbiased GPU/CPU render engine developed by the Blender Foundation and made available under the Apache 2 licensing system. Additionally, Cycles 4D is a dedicated bridge plugin allowing Cinema 4D users to access the Cycles rendering engine directly inside Cinema 4D without the need for an external application.

With Insydium’s own real-time preview and fully featured node editor, along with our eye for detail and quality, Cycles 4D is the ultimate render companion with unparalleled access to X-Particles.

Cebas finalRender True Hybrid

The description from the developer:

finalRender is a photographer’s dream come true
trueHybrid™ technology – bringing the power of CPU and GPU together! finalRender for 3ds Max is the perfect choice for 3d artists and studios alike wanting the maximum in image quality and photo-realism, without experiencing a brain melt when setting up complex scenes for rendering! And no compromises.

Fluid Interactive FluidRay RT

The description from the developer:

A real-time renderer that provides the quality and features of high-end production renderers
Rendering has never been so much fun. All the tweaking of materials, lights or any other scene properties are immediately visible as real-time feedback in the viewport, making your workflow faster and much more pleasurable. With great speed and at a fraction of the price.

KeyShot

The description from the developer:

KeyShot is a stand-alone, real-time ray tracing and global illumination program used to create 3D renderings, animations, and interactive visuals. With its CPU-based architecture, photorealistic real-time rendering can be achieved on both Mac and PC, even on laptops, without the need for high-end graphics cards.

KeyShot supports more 3D file formats than any other rendering software, importing over 25 different file types. It has a simple user interface with drag-n-drop material and environment presets, interactive labeling, texture mapping, physical lighting, animation and much more.

Maxwell Render

The description from the developer:

Maxwell – 3D rendering software for architects and designers.

Maxwell is legendary for its quality and realism and delivers great results via a simple set-up, which lets you focus on lighting. Now, Maxwell easily integrates a powerful denoiser (by Innobright’s Altus), while preserving texture and geometry details, effectively saving a lot of time. You can obtain your images around two to six times faster, depending on the scene for a similar amount of detail. Instead of having to render your images to a high sampling level, you can keep it low and let the denoiser do the job.

Redshift

The description from the developer:

Redshift is the world’s first fully GPU-accelerated, biased renderer.
Redshift is a powerful GPU-accelerated renderer, built to meet the specific demands of contemporary high-end production rendering. Tailored to support creative individuals and studios of every size, Redshift offers a suite of powerful features and integrates with industry standard CG applications.

U-Render

The description from the developer:

High-Quality Real-time Rendering for Cinema 4D

Current Release: Early Access, v2019.03.01, 7 March 2019

Platforms: Windows

Host Support:

• Maxon Cinema 4D
• Standalone

License Options: This is still in beta but an early access version is available.

Price:

• Early Access starts 17 December 2018
• Free Public Beta Ends
• Start Price 199 EUR / 229 USD (net plus applicable taxes)
• In addition, all updates are included for 12 months.
• Starting as Beta and reaching Stable during the Early Access phase
• Furthermore, the price after Early Access will be 399 EUR.

Learn more

News

UPPERCUT U-RENDER 2019.03.01 – Improvements for Live Mode

UPPERCUT U-RENDER v2019.01.17 Release

Form•Z RenderZone

The description from the developer:

RenderZone Plus adds photorealistic render capabilities to form•Z
Add photorealistic rendering with global illumination, ambient occlusion, and radiosity effects to form•Z! Single user license of RenderZone plugin for form·Z 8.

Chaos Group V-Ray

The description from the developer:

Smarter. Faster. Render.
Built for artists, designers & jacks-of-all-trades, our 3D rendering software helps you visualize anything imaginable. Undoubtedly, you will save time and create your best work with tech from Chaos Group.

Current release version: 

Platforms: Windows, Mac

Host Support:   

• Cinema 4D
• 3ds Max
• Maya
• Softimage (no longer in development)
• Rhino
• Modo
• Nuke
• Sketchup
• Revit
• Unreal
• Universal Render Nodes for V-Ray for 3ds Max, V-Ray for Maya, V-Ray for Softimage, V-Ray for NUKE, V-Ray for KATANA, V-Ray Standalone, and V-Ray for Blender. (*V-Ray Render Nodes are required to render with V-Ray 3.0.  Will not work with v2.x and below.)

License Options: Standard license includes 1 Render Node. Additional Render node licenses are available. Additionally, rental options and academic licensing are available.

Price: Starting at $695, depending on host support.

Learn more

• V-Ray for Blender Plug-in – Free and open source plug-in, but you must have the Universal Render Node installed.
• Laublab VrayforC4D – Chaos Group has made V-Ray for Cinema 4D an official Chaos Group product. Read on to learn more and how to migrate your license.

Updates

• 21 March 2019: Updated Arnold to 5.3/Arnold GPU, Redshift Update
• 11 March 2019: Added KeyShot update, U-Render update, Redshift update, Cebas finalRender Maya beta info
• 30 January 2019: KeyShot information added and a U-Render update
• 18 January 2019: More information on Blender rendering options.
• 9 January 2019: Information on Corona Renderer 3 for Cinema 4D and replaced all videos after a bug blew them all away.
• 18 December 2018: A huge update to this document with new information on U-Render, Redshift. V-Ray Next for 3ds Max, cebas finalRender drop 2, Corona Renderer, and more.