In Depth: 3D Renderers (Updated 10 March 2021) #3drenderer

There are so many 3D Renderers available. So, 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.
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.
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 We will try our best to keep it updated, nonetheless, some information may not be fully correct or may be out of date.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.
Update Log
To view the update log, scroll to the bottom of the page.
Header image credit: PIRO4D
- 3D Renderers Introduction
- Criteria for Comparison
- 3D Renderers Terminology
- CPU vs. GPU Rendering
- Biased vs. Unbiased
- Global Illumination
- Monte Carlo Method
- Embree
- Physically Based Rendering
- Renders (listed alphabetically)
- Comparison Chart – Quick Reference
- Arnold Render
- Corona Render
- Cycles 4D
- Final Render
- KeyShot
- Maxwell
- Redshift
- RenderZone
- Shaderlight
- U-Render
- V-Ray
3D Renderers: An Introduction
This article on 3D Renderers was difficult to put together. 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 3D renderers work best for their work while presenting only facts. No opinion. So, users can compare 3D Renderers on a logical level. 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.
Criteria for this 3D Renderers Comparison
- 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.
3D Renderers 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 bias 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 photo realism 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:
-
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
- PBR Guide from Allegorithmic – Wes McDermott and his friends at Allegorithmic have updated The PBR Guide. It’s 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.
3D Renderers
Comparison Chart – Quick Reference
Renderer | Developer | Host Support | CPU/GPU | Bias | GI Method |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arnold | Autodesk (Solid Angle) | Maya Cinema 4D 3ds Max Houdini Katana Softimage | CPUGPU with Arnold GPU | Unbiased | Physically-based uni-directional path tracer |
Corona Renderer | Corona | 3ds Max Cinema 4D ARCHICAD (alpha) Blender (add-on in development) | CPU | Unbiased & Biased | Intel Embree Ray Tracing Kernels |
Cycles 4D | Insydium | Cinema 4D with X-Particles | GPU/CPU | Unbiased | Path Tracing |
finalRender | Cebas | 3ds Max Maya (beta) | GPU/CPU | Unbiased | Physically Based (Spectral) Wavelength Simulation |
KeyShot | Luxion | Standalone | CPU | Unbiased | Real-Time Ray Tracing |
Maxwell | Next Limit | Standalone with plugins for: Maya 3ds Max Softimage Form•Z Modo Nuke Rhino ArchiCAD Revit Sketchup | GPU | Unbiased | Path Tracing Photorealistic |
Redshift | Redshift | Maya Softimage 3ds Max Cinema 4D Houdini Katana | GPU | Biased | Ray Tracing |
RenderZone | Form•Z | Plug-in for Form•Z | Hybrid (NVIDIA CUDA GPUs, CPUs) | Unbiased & Biased | Ray Tracing |
V-Ray | Chaos | Cinema 4D 3ds Max Maya Houdini Softimage Rhino Modo Nuke Katana Sketchup Revit Unreal Universal Nodes for: | Hybrid | Unbiased (optional) | Path Tracing |
U-RENDER | Uppercut | Cinema 4D Standalone | GPU | Unbiased | Real-Time |
Autodesk Arnold Render
The description from the developer:
Arnold software is an advanced Monte Carlo raytracing renderer. Another key point, it’s designed for artists and for the demands of modern animation and visual effects (VFX) production.
Autodesk Arnold – The Details
Current release version: v6.2.0.1, released 11 February 2021. Release Notes
Platforms: Windows, macOS X, Linux
Host Support:
- 3ds Max
- Maya
- Softimage
- Houdini
- Cinema 4D
- Katana
License Options: Subscription, Floating, Multipacks, and maintenance plan renewal for perpetual licenses.
Price: One-year subscription starting at $360.00 (MSRP), Toolfarm Price: $342.00
Learn more: Arnold Render News
- New: Autodesk Maya 2020 and Arnold 6 are Now Available
- Arnold Render 5.4 Release notes – 31 July 2019
- Arnold 5.3 with Arnold GPU Public Beta – Now Available – 20 March 2019
- What’s New in Arnold GPU, A Sneak Peek and Beta Information – 19 March 2019
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. Significantly, all of its features are tightly integrated into Autodesk 3ds Max.
Corona Renderer – The Details
Current release version:
- v6 for 3ds Max released 31 August 2020 (hotfix on 29 September 2020)
- v6 for Cinema 4D released 23 August 2020
Platforms: Windows
Host Support:
- 3ds Max release information
- Cinema 4D 4 release information
- ARCHICAD – Suspended as of 3 March 2020
- Standalone
License Options: Subscription with Floating licenses, with options of how many render nodes
Price: One-year subscription starting at $350.00
Further Reading:
- New: Corona Renderer 6 for 3ds Max and Cinema 4D Released
- Update: Corona Renderer 5 for Cinema 4D is Now Available
- Corona Render Blender Addon
- Update: Corona Renderer 5 for Cinema 4D is Now Available
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. Of course, it has unparalleled access to X-Particles.
Cycles 4D – The Details
Current release version: Build 541 for Cycles 4D, 5 November 2020 (Supports Cinema 4D R23)
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Host Support:
- Cinema 4D with access to X-Particles
License Options: Perpetual license
Price: MSRP: $249.00, Toolfarm Price: $236.55
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.
Cebas finalRender True-Hybrid – The Details
Current release version: 3ds Max (Subscription Drop 4), released March 2020
Platforms: Windows
Host Support:
- 3ds Max 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018
- Maya is in beta as of March 2019 (Beta info)
License Options: Workstation, network license, GPU license
Price:
- The first option, a 1 Year Workstation License, with an MSRP of $294.00 (Toolfarm Price: $279.30)
- Second, a 1 Year Unlimited Network License, MSRP: $294.00, Toolfarm Price: $279.30
- Lastly, a 1 Year Unlimited CUDA GPU License, MSRP: $294.00, Toolfarm Price: $279.30
KeyShot
The description from the developer:
Luxion 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. In fact, real-time rendering is possible even on laptops, without the need for high-end graphics cards.
In addition, 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.
KeyShot – The Details
Current release version: v10.1, 9 February 2021
Update: Luxion Keyshot 10.1 – Collision Detection, Smart Export – More
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Host Support: Standalone
License Options: HD, Pro, Pro Floating, and Enterprise
Price: Starting at $995
Also available, KeyShot for SOLIDWORKS
Luxion KeyShot
Maxwell Render
The description from the developer:
Maxwell – 3D rendering software for architects and designers.
To summarize, Maxwell is legendary for its quality and realism. It 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.
Maxwell Render- The Details
Platforms: Windows, Mac (depending on the host)
Host Support, Current Release Version, release date:
- Standalone – v5.2, 9 March 2021
- 3ds Max – v5.2, 9 March 2021
- Maya – v5.2, 9 March 2021
- Cinema 4D – v5.2, 9 March 2021
- Rhino v6 – v5.2, 9 March 2021
- Form•Z – v5.2, 9 March 2021
- SketchUp – v5.2, 9 March 2021
- Archicad – v5.2, 9 March 2021
- Revit – v4.2.5 (supports Revit 2020), 10 April 2019
- Modo – Discontinued
License Options: Node-locked or Floating licenses
Price: Starting at $595, depending on the host
Further reading:
- Update: Next Limit Maxwell 5.2 Available
- New: Next Limit Maxwell 5 is Now Available
- Maxwell release notes
- Updates: Next Limit Maxwell | Maya 4.2.2, Maxwell | ArchiCAD 4.2.5
Maxwell Render exporter for Blender
While there doesn’t seem to be official support for Blender, there are some tools that you can try. I have not tried either of these so these links are informational.
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. In other words, Redshift is tailored to support creative individuals and studios of every size. In fact, Redshift offers a suite of powerful features and integrates with industry-standard CG applications.
Redshift – The Details
Current release: 3.0.37, 30 January 2021
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Host Support:
- Maya
- Softimage
- 3DS Max
- Cinema 4D
- Houdini
License Options: Redshift is a licensed per-machine with no limit on the number of GPUs*. To clarify, there is no distinction is made between workstations and render nodes. In other words, 1 license is good for 1 machine.
Price: $500
Redshift News:
Shaderlight Pro for SketchUp
The description from the developer:
Shaderlight is an interactive rendering software plug-in to SketchUp that lets you create high-quality images, quickly and simply.
Current Release: 2021 (9.0)
Platforms: Windows
Host Support: SketchUp
License Options: Full/Retail, 2 Pack, Academic for student or educator,
Price: $120
U-Render
The description from the developer:
High-Quality Real-time Rendering for Cinema 4D
Current Release: v2021.1.3, 3 February 2021. More about this update
Platforms: Windows
Host Support:
- Maxon Cinema 4D
- Standalone
Price: $339
News
- Update: U-RENDER v2020.04
- Changelog: Redshift, Lightmap, e-on, U-RENDER, Redshift, 3d-io…
- The Changelog: Soundtoys, Silhouette, U-RENDER, More
- Update: U-RENDER 2019.12 with Material Converter
- Update: U-RENDER 2019.09.01 Available
- U-Render v2019.05.01 Improves Stability and Correctness
- UPPERCUT U-RENDER 2019.03.01 – Improvements for Live Mode
- UPPERCUT U-RENDER v2019.01.17 Release
FormZ RenderZone
The description from the developer:
RenderZone Plus adds photorealistic render capabilities to formZ
Add photorealistic rendering with global illumination, ambient occlusion, and radiosity effects to formZ! Single user license of RenderZone plugin for form·Z 8.
FormZ RenderZone – The Details
Current release version: v9, 12 January 2020
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Host Support:
- FormZ
License Options: Perpetual license for Form•Z Pro or Form•Z Jr.
Price: MSRP: $395.00, Toolfarm Price: $375.25
Chaos 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.
Chaos V-Ray – The Details
Host | Version/Build | Release Date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
V-Ray for Cinema 4D | 5.00.43 | 11 Feb 2021 | Details Release notes |
V-Ray for 3ds Max | 5.10.01 | 17 Mar 2021 | Details Release notes |
V-Ray for Maya | 5.00.22 | 30 Sept 2020 | Release notes |
V-Ray Next for MODO | 4.12.01 | 24 Apr 2019 | Release notes |
V-Ray for NUKE | 5 | 14 Oct 2020 | Release notes |
V-Ray Next for Katana | 4.10.02 | 26 Mar 2019 | Release notes |
V-Ray for Houdini | 5.00.50 | 17 Nov 2020 | Release notes |
V-Ray for Revit | 5.00.03 | 23 Feb 2021 | Release notes |
V-Ray for Rhino | 5.10.01 | 23 Feb 2021 | Release notes |
V-Ray for Sketchup | 5.10.01 | 23 Feb 2021 | Release notes |
V-Ray Next for Unreal | 4.30.24 | Oct 2020 | Release notes |
Softimage | 3.0 (previous 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.
Chaos V-Ray News
- Update: Chaos V-Ray 5 for 3ds Max, Rhino, and Sketchup Update 1 + Chaos Cosmos
- New: Chaos Group V-Ray 5 for Sketchup is Now Available + Webinar Info
- Chaos Group V-Ray Collection + V-Ray 5 for 3ds Max
- Beta: V-Ray 5 for 3ds Max
- Chaos Group V-Ray Education Collection is Now Available
- Midweek Motivation: New Chaos Group V-Ray Showreel 2019
- Update: Chaos Group V-Ray for Cinema 4D Now Supports R21 – 11 September 2019
- Update: Chaos Group V-Ray Next for Sketchup, Update 1 – More Power – 15 October 2019
- News: Chaos Group V-Ray Next for Rhino Update 1 Available – 25 September 2019
Older V-Ray news
- Chaos Group V-Ray for Houdini is Now Available – 20 July 2019
- Blur Studio Taps V-Ray for Netflix’s New NSFW ‘Love, Death & Robots’ Short Film Anthology – 24 July 2019
- Update: Chaos Group V-Ray Next for 3ds Max, Update 2 – 5 June 2019
- Chaos Group V-Ray Next for NUKE is Now Available – 29 March 2019
- Chaos Group showcases breakthroughs in GPU rendering – Post Magazine talks to Chaos Group demonstrated new performance breakthroughs in GPU rendering and real-time ray tracing at the latest GPU technology conference. They are working on a new version of its V-Ray rendering engine that fully utilizes Nvidia RTX ray-tracing cores for the fastest render speeds yet.
- 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.
3D Renderers Updates from 2021
- 9 March 2021: Maxwell Render 5.2 updated
- 24 February 2021: Major Chaos updates for V-Ray, an Arnold point update
- 12 February 2021: Updated Luxion Keyshot
- 5 February 2021: Updated Arnold, U-Render, V-Ray for Cinema 4D, Redshift
3D Renderers Updates from 2020
- 17 December 2020: Updated several V-Ray versions, KeyShot, and Redshift
- 16 November 2020: V-Ray 5 for Sketchup available.
- 2 November 2020: Added Shaderlight for Sketchup. Updated Arnold Renderer.
- 7 October 2020: Corona Renderer for 3ds Max Hotfix, U-Render Update, Arnold Renderer update, and, of course, Redshift. FinalRender also works with 3ds Max 2021.
- 16 September: Added support for Cinema 4D to Cycles 4D and Redshift.
- 1 September 2020: Major updates to Corona Renderer, updates for Maxwell, Redshift, V-Ray
- 11 August 2020: Major update to V-Ray for Maya. Smaller updates for V-Ray for Rhino, U-Render, Redshift,
- 21 June 2020: Updated V-Ray, U-Render, Redshift 3D
- 16 June 2020: In summary, V-Ray for 3ds Max 5 has been released. In addition, the Redshift update came out last Sunday.,
- 13 May 2020: Maxwell 5.1 released, Redshift Experimental Build updated, Corona Renderer update, FormZ updated to v9
- 4 May 2020: U-Render, Redshift, V-Ray for 3ds Max Beta, and Keyshot updates.
- 8 April 2020: We’ve added lots of updates, including Corona, V-Ray, U-RENDER, Cycles 4D, and much more.
- 29 January 2020: In summary, we updated several V-Ray products with point updates.
- 6 January 2020: Overall, we updated Redshift and U-RENDER.
Posted by Michele Yamazaki