- Tue Sep 27, 2022 6:37 am
#401500
The biggest reason I can think of is Measured Data i.e. IOR files or NK files.
There are a handful of render engines that can process measured spectral data.
Maxwell, Bella, Indigo, Maverick, Keyshot, Thea, LuxCore (to a limited degree).
Mitsuba and Appleseed are spectral renderers but I have no idea if they can process measured data.
So why is this important? The question is a bit like describing the difference between 3D and CAD. If you need to render an architectural facade or glass curtain wall and get it just right. Some clients will supply an HDR map of the sight along with measured data for the glass and any coatings applied. Indigo has some good material examples https://www.indigorenderer.com/materials/categories/2
The same applies to Jewelry or Product design, certain finishes are very important and beyond the scope of Substance Designer/Painter and Game Engine PBR material definitions. Indigo has the best solution for editing measured data, Maxwell has by far the best solution for layering or staking measured data and can use measured data for coatings. Keyshot and Maverick win over on speed and ease of use. Thea is a bit simple and LuxCore only uses measured data for metal (conductors).
Octane, Arnold, Redshift, Cinema4D, VRay can use IOR values for RG&B wavelengths (Maxwell can use hundreds of different wavelengths data). You can use this for metals and kind of use it for transmission, absorption and coatings if you can master the node tree.
In the end we are not all rendering for VFX or games.
It is a shame that Maxwell does not emphasize the importance of measured data, as it is easier to understand the market and use case than the more accurate light transport algorithms Maxwell uses or its realistic camera paradigms.
There are a handful of render engines that can process measured spectral data.
Maxwell, Bella, Indigo, Maverick, Keyshot, Thea, LuxCore (to a limited degree).
Mitsuba and Appleseed are spectral renderers but I have no idea if they can process measured data.
So why is this important? The question is a bit like describing the difference between 3D and CAD. If you need to render an architectural facade or glass curtain wall and get it just right. Some clients will supply an HDR map of the sight along with measured data for the glass and any coatings applied. Indigo has some good material examples https://www.indigorenderer.com/materials/categories/2
The same applies to Jewelry or Product design, certain finishes are very important and beyond the scope of Substance Designer/Painter and Game Engine PBR material definitions. Indigo has the best solution for editing measured data, Maxwell has by far the best solution for layering or staking measured data and can use measured data for coatings. Keyshot and Maverick win over on speed and ease of use. Thea is a bit simple and LuxCore only uses measured data for metal (conductors).
Octane, Arnold, Redshift, Cinema4D, VRay can use IOR values for RG&B wavelengths (Maxwell can use hundreds of different wavelengths data). You can use this for metals and kind of use it for transmission, absorption and coatings if you can master the node tree.
In the end we are not all rendering for VFX or games.
It is a shame that Maxwell does not emphasize the importance of measured data, as it is easier to understand the market and use case than the more accurate light transport algorithms Maxwell uses or its realistic camera paradigms.