Maxwell Render

Maxwell Render
DeveloperNext Limit Technologies
Release26 April 2006; 20 years ago (2006-04-26)
Stable release
5.0 / 30 October 2019; 7 years ago (2019-10-30)
Operating systemLinux (on x86-64)
Mac OS X (on IA-32 and PowerPC)
Microsoft Windows (on IA-32 and x86-64)
Available inEnglish
TypeRaytracer
LicenseProprietary commercial software
Websitewww.maxwellrender.com

Maxwell Render is an unbiased 3D render engine, developed by Next Limit Technologies in Madrid, Spain. This stand-alone software is used in the film, animation, and VFX industry, as well as in architectural and product design visualization. It offers various plug-ins for 3D/CAD and post production applications.

Overview

Maxwell Render was released to the public as an early alpha in December 2004 (after two years of internal development) utilizing a global illumination (GI) algorithm based on a metropolis light transport variation. Next Limit Technologies released its latest version of Maxwell Render V4.2 in February 2018.

The physically correct rendering engine was originally used as a tool for animation and visual effects. Maxwell Render's trademark Multilight feature, which permits the changing of light intensities and colors in real time, was used in the feature film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

General features

Physically-based advantages

Multilight™ FIRE: Fast Interactive Rendering

Materials Realistic Camera Model

Memory Saving Instances Accurate 3D Motion Blur Hair, Grass and Fur

Volumetrics Particle Rendering

Industry standard support

Network Rendering Post Production

Interaction with other software

Maxwell Render for SketchUp is a simplified version of Maxwell Render, fully integrated into the SketchUp software application. Users can set the camera, lighting and environment, apply SketchUp or Maxwell MXM materials, and render and save image files. It is widely used in product design, architectural and engineering visualization.

Plug-ins

3D application plug-ins

Postproduction application plug-ins

Third party supported plug-ins

Version history

2004Maxwell Render Alpha version
2005Maxwell Render Beta version
2006Maxwell Render 1.0

Maxwell Render 1.1

2007Maxwell Render 1.5

Maxwell Render 1.6

Maxwell Render 1.6.1

2008Maxwell Render 1.7
2009Maxwell Render 2.0
2011Maxwell Render Suite 2.6

Maxwell for Google SketchUp

2012Maxwell Render 2.7

Maxwell Render Learning Edition

Maxwell Render 2.7.1

2013Maxwell for SketchUp

Maxwell Render 3.0

2014Maxwell Render 3.0.1

Maxwell Render 3.0.1.1 beta

2015Maxwell Render 3.1

Maxwell Render 3.1.0.2

Maxwell Render 3.2

2016 Maxwell Render 4.0.0.11
2017 Maxwell Render 4.0.1.1

Maxwell Render 4.1

2018 Maxwell Render 4.2.0.2

Maxwell Render 4.2.0.3

2019 Maxwell Render 5.0

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Latest release". nextlimit.com. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  2. ↑ "What is Maxwell Render? | High quality 3d rendering". Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "Maxwell Render". Easy Render. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  4. ↑ "Maxwell Render | Compatible with 17 3D/CAD/Post production platforms". Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "Review: Next Limit's Maxwell Render - Computer Graphics World". www.cgw.com. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  6. ↑ "Next Limit Technologies - All Products - (866) 362-8970 Novedge, Authorized Reseller". novedge.com. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  7. ↑ "Multilight_features". nextlimit.com. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  8. ↑ "10 things you didn't know about Maxwell Render". NOVEDGE blog. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  9. ↑ "Plug-ins - Maxwell Render V4 Documentation - Next Limit support site". support.nextlimit.com. Retrieved 12 June 2019.