Chaos Group

Chaos Group’s V-Ray 1.6 for SketchUp Now in Open Beta

Significant Enhancements to Rendering Speed, Workflow, Visualization and Lighting Features; Ready for Use in Professional Design and Engineering Projects

Sofia, Bulgaria – 15 May 2013 – Artists, architects and designers always want their software to do more. More detail, more speed, more quality. Today, with the announcement of Chaos Group’s V-Ray 1.6 for SketchUp open beta, these users now have the biggest expansion to SketchUp’s rendering capabilities right at their fingertips. More is here.

This massive upgrade to V-Ray for SketchUp includes a series of new feature introductions that enhance visualization workflow and render quality (V-Ray RT®, V-Ray Dome Light) and streamline scene complexity (V-Ray Proxy).

“With 16 new features designed and accounted for, V-Ray 1.6 for SketchUp has become the most robust, and artist-friendly render application SketchUp users have ever seen,” said Corey Rubadue, Chaos Group product manager, V-Ray for SketchUp. “And it’s only going to get better in the future.”

As part of this update, V-Ray 1.6 for SketchUp will offer architects and designers access to proven V-Ray technologies that accelerate the creative process. For example, with V-Ray Proxies users can now achieve exceptionally high levels of detail and modeling complexity while efficiently rendering massive amounts of geometry in the blink of an eye. Proxies can also be shared between V-Ray versions giving architects the ability to share models between 3ds Max, Maya, Softimage and Rhino.

“V-Ray 1.6 for SketchUp should be part of every designer’s digital toolset; it’s fast, simple, and seamlessly integrated, which allows you to explore ideas without leaving the application,” said Jorge Barrero, senior associate at Gensler. “The recent addition of V-Ray RT gives me instant feedback on my lighting, while V-Ray Dome Lights lets me push the quality of my renders to a whole new level. As a long time user, it’s pretty exciting.”

Key Features for V-Ray 1.6 for SketchUp

Rendering Engine Upgrades:

•    V-Ray RT – This CPU-supported rendering engine streamlines scene setup and provides instant visual feedback directly in SketchUp for quicker design, material, and lighting decisions.

Lights:

•    Dome Light – Creates simple, artifact-free image-based lighting using importance sampling of HDR images. This technique greatly optimizes light tracing and GI precision.

•    Lights as Components – V-Ray lights can now be part of a SketchUp component, making the process of changing the design and settings of multiple lights at once much easier.

•    Sphere Light – Creates spherically shaped area lights.

Geometry:

•    V-Ray Proxy – Manages scene memory and efficiently renders large amounts of geometry to increase detail and complexity in scenes. V-Ray Proxy objects are dynamically loaded and unloaded at render time, which saves vital RAM resources.

For the full list of features, click here.

Chaos Group is also releasing a set of materials that will help their users experience the benefits of V-Ray 1.6 for SketchUp even faster. Those materials include: help documentation, a dedicated beta forum, tutorials, and videos explaining the new features.

“V-Ray for SketchUp is phenomenal, and the ability to control lights by layers is genius!” said Ramy Hanna, partner and 3D artist at Tiltpixel. “Now I can produce different lighting scenarios based on scene tabs. It’s like Chaos Group looked at SketchUp’s strengths and decided to build my favorite V-Ray features on top of them.”

Pricing and Availability
The free open beta of V-Ray 1.6 for SketchUp is available for SketchUp 8 on both the Windows and OS X platforms - 32bit only. It can be downloaded right now by applying for the public beta program on Chaos Group’s website.

Pricing for V-Ray 1.6 for SketchUp will remain unchanged ($800). The upgrade price from V-Ray 1.49 for SketchUp or lower is $320. Users who purchased V-Ray for SketchUp between April 15, 2013 and the official release date will be eligible for a free upgrade.


About Chaos Group
Chaos Group is a leading provider of innovative rendering solutions for the media, entertainment, and design industries. For over a decade our flagship rendering software, V-Ray®, has set the standard for speed, quality, reliability and ease of use, and it has become the rendering engine of choice for renowned international studios. We work closely with our customers from around the world to ensure we’re creating the best tools for their workflow. Inspired by their imaginative creations, we passionately pursue advances in rendering technology and continue to improve the software needed to communicate their vision.
We proudly support the 3D community with our advanced software solutions: V-Ray® for Autodesk® 3ds Max®, V-Ray® for Autodesk® Maya®, V-Ray® for Autodesk® Softimage®, V-Ray® for Rhino®, V-Ray® for SketchUp®, Phoenix FD and Pdplayer.

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Press Contacts:
Chaos Group
Angelina Penkova, pr@chaosgroup.com
www.chaosgroup.com
Liaison Inc.
Colin McLaughlin, (503) 796-9822, colin@liaisonpr.com
www.liaisonpr.com

Chaos Group to Spotlight V-Ray’s Success in ILM Production Pipeline at FMX 2013

Elite Team of Presenters Offer Major Film Walkthroughs, V-Ray Lighting and Shading Workshop, and Dedicated Day for Students

FMX 2013, Stuttgart, Germany – April 23, 2013 – At FMX 2013, Chaos Group will demonstrate how V-Ray encourages artistry across every stage of a user’s career through a series of presentations that target the needs of VFX professionals and students.
The premier presentation features Jeroen Schulte, Image Pipeline Lead at Industrial Light & Magic, who will give attendees an exclusive look at how the world-famous studio rendered shots on some of 2012’s biggest blockbusters with the help of V-Ray’s advanced ray tracing capabilities.

The presentations continue with a talk by Niklas Jacobson -- VFX supervisor and co-founder of Important Looking Pirates (ILP) -- which will pinpoint the specific V-Ray tools ILP used to create the CG creatures and environments found in the Oscar-nominated, “Kon-Tiki.” Animation fans can also expect a first-hand look at the new trailer for “Portals” - an animated short created by Studio Sokerov and Bulgarian artist, Viktor Mazhelkov.

In an effort to give artists of all levels a helping hand, Chaos Group will provide a free V-Ray master class entitled, “Setting up a V-Ray Lighting and Shading Pipeline.” In addition, April 24 has been dubbed “Student Day,” and will see the team hosting a day of presentations and tutorials that focus entirely on 3D artists in training.

Complete Presentation and Activity Schedule

●    “Setting up a V-Ray Lighting and Shading Pipeline,” by Konstantin Gaytandzhiev of Chaos Group – April 23, 2013, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Raum Karlsruhe

●    “Rendering Superpower: V-Ray in Production at ILM,” by Jeroen Schulte of Industrial Light & Magic. Featured films include: “The Avengers,” “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” and more. – April 23, 2013, 12:00-1:00 p.m. at Raum Karlsruhe

●    “Kon-Tiki: Real-Life Graphics for Real-Life Heroes,” by Niklas Jacobson of Important Looking Pirates – April 25, 2013, 3:00-4:00 p.m. at Raum Mannheim

●    “Student Day” series of 30-minute tutorials on topics like lighting, shading basics, render elements with V-Ray, etc. – April 24, 2013, all day at the Chaos Group FMX Marketplace booth

●    “Portals” trailer unveiling – every day at the Chaos Group FMX Marketplace booth

For more information on what Chaos Group will be doing at FMX, please visit http://fmx2013.chaosgroup.com and watch for updates on Twitter (@ChaosGroup). If you are interested in a meeting with Chaos Group at FMX, please contact Angelina Penkova: pr@chaosgroup.com.

About Chaos Group
Chaos Group is a leading provider of innovative rendering solutions for the media, entertainment, and design industries. For over a decade our flagship rendering software, V-Ray®, has set the standard for speed, quality, reliability and ease of use, and it has become the rendering engine of choice for renowned international studios. We work closely with our customers from around the world to ensure we’re creating the best tools for their workflow. Inspired by their imaginative creations, we passionately pursue advances in rendering technology and continue to improve the software needed to communicate their vision.
We proudly support the 3D community with our advanced software solutions: V-Ray® for Autodesk® 3ds Max®, V-Ray® for Autodesk® Maya®, V-Ray® for Autodesk® Softimage®, V-Ray® for Rhino®, V-Ray® for SketchUp®, Phoenix FD and Pdplayer.

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Press Contacts:
Chaos Group
Angelina Penkova, pr@chaosgroup.com
www.chaosgroup.com
Liaison Inc.
Colin McLaughlin, (503) 796-9822, colin@liaisonpr.com
www.liaisonpr.com

V-Ray All Stars Rob a Bank to Commemorate V-Ray’s 10th Anniversary

In return, Chaos Group awards Golden Dongles with lifetime licenses for all of its products

Los Angeles, USA - 10 August 2012

A few hundred Chaos Group friends gathered together at Smog Shoppe to celebrate V-Ray’s 10th Anniversary.  The evening began with a retrospective of V-Ray work provided by Stash Magazine, the story of how Peter Mitev and Vladimir Koylazov founded the company, and the announcement of two new products - V-Ray for Nuke and V-Ray for Katana.

Event sponsors, The Foundry, NVIDIA, and Fox Renderfarm shared their latest developments, followed by a showcase of award-winning work by customers Digital Domain, Pixomondo,COPA, a52, and Blur.

Next, the winners of CGSociety’s V-Ray Anniversary Challenge were revealed, and the first big surprise of the evening occurred when the V-Ray All Stars were called on stage and awarded a GOLDEN DONGLE containing a lifetime license of all Chaos Group products.

The V-Ray All Stars shared a surprise of their own, playing a video they created to commemorate V-Ray’s 10th Anniversary called V-Ray in Real Life.  Watch V-Ray IRL here.

“It’s an honor to be part of this great community and celebrate V-Ray’s anniversary with so many of our friends here in LA,” said Peter Mitev, CEO of Chaos Group. “Over the past decade, some members of the V-Ray community have gone above and beyond, sharing their passion and ideas and making significant contributions to the development of V-Ray. We are grateful and proud to recognize Christopher Nichols, Daniel Buck, Dmitry Vinnik, Greg Tsadilas, Kevin Margo, Paul Ghezzo, Robert Nederhorst, Scott Metzger, Heiko Wenczel, and Paul Oblomov as V-Ray All-Stars.”

Learn more about V-Ray’s 10th anniversary at vray10.chaosgroup.com.

SIGGRAPH 2012: Chaos Group Celebrates V-Ray’s 10th Anniversary with New Additions to its Portfolio

The company will premier V-Ray for Nuke and V-Ray for Katana and announce highly anticipated new features for the upcoming releases of V-Ray for 3ds Max and V-Ray for Maya.

Sofia, Bulgaria, 25 July 2012 – Chaos Group is gearing up for another exciting year at Siggraph where the company will unveil new products and features empowering 3D artists to achieve better results in less time.
Siggraph visitors will be the first to see a demonstration of V-Ray for Nuke and V-Ray for Katana, integrating rendering capabilities seamlessly across the VFX pipeline.

Staying on top of the latest technology trends, Chaos Group will also show some exciting new improvements in GPU rendering at Siggraph. GPU rendering available with V-Ray RT GPU has transformed VFX workflows with dramatic increases in speed and flexibility. Now it includes CUDA support, support for new materials and textures, motion blur support, proxies and instancing, and animation preview.
    
Chaos Group will be featured at the demo areas of our partners NVIDIA, BOXX, and Trinity3d/Evermotion.

•  New by Chaos Group: V-Ray for Nuke and V-Ray for Katana

•  The latest in V-Ray for 3ds Max and Maya
  o  V-Ray RT improvements - CUDA support, support for new materials and textures, motion blur support, proxies and instancing with RT, using V-Ray RT for animation preview
  o  Enhancements from latest service packs - V-Ray hair material, Ptex support in V-Ray for 3ds Max
  o  New features expected with future releases - deep pixel images support, metaballs, Alembic support, lens effects in the V-Ray frame buffer

•  Phoenix FD for Maya: Creating realistic fire, smoke, and explosions. Simulating liquids, adding foams and splashes

•  V-Ray for Softimage: key features and examples of V-Ray for Softimage used in production




“Being customer-centric is at the heart of how we do things at Chaos Group. With the help and support of our users we have achieved a special milestone – V-Ray has reached 10 years on the market. At Siggraph, we are looking to share the latest from our research and development work and celebrate our  anniversary with V-Ray’s users and fans,” said Peter Mitev, CEO of Chaos Group. ”We will also be showing the integration of V-Ray with Nuke, which is redefining VFX workflows to meet the needs of 3D professionals who want to add rendering capabilities in the compositing stage of their production”

Visit the Chaos Group Siggraph LA 2012 event page for more details.


About Chaos Group

Chaos Group is a leading provider of state of the art rendering soluions for the media, entertainment, and design industries. For over a decade our flagship rendering software, V-Ray®, has set the standard for speed, quality, reliability and ease of use, and it has become the rendering engine of choice for renowned international studios. We work closely with our customers from around the world to ensure we’re creating the best tools for their workflow. Inspired by their imaginative creations, we passionately pursue advances in rendering technology and continue to improve the software needed to communicate their vision.

We proudly support the 3D community through our suite of innovative software solutions: V-Ray® for Autodesk® 3ds Max®, V-Ray® for Autodesk® Maya®, V-Ray® for Autodesk® Softimage®, V-Ray for Rhino®, V-Ray for SketchUp®, Phoenix FD and Pdplayer.

Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn

Further Information:
Angelina Penkova
PR Expert, Chaos Group
pr@chaosgroup.com

Download Chaos Group Press Release:

Press Release_ChaosGroup_SIGGRAPH 2012

Chaos Group Announces V-Ray Application SDK with completely new API for Third Party Applications

11 June 2012, Sofia, Bulgaria - Chaos Group, a leading provider of innovative rendering solutions, announces the V-Ray Application SDK: a user-friendly API enabling software developers to integrate and deploy V-Ray’s advanced ray tracing capabilities in third-party applications.

The V-Ray Application SDK reduces development time and expands functionality by leveraging the full power of V-Ray.

This new API is simple and flexible, supporting multiple programming languages including, C, C++, .Net, Java, and Node.js (JavaScript).

Key features include:

• Single image rendering in Production, RT CPU and RT GPU modes

• Multi-threaded processing

• Distributed Rendering across multiple nodes

• Simple classes and interfaces

• Strongly typed structures and events in Java and .Net

• Image rendering using in-process and out-of-process boundaries

• Support for V-Ray’s native .vrscene file format 

“V-Ray is well-known for achieving photorealism at unparalleled speeds, making it the rendering engine of choice for many CG professionals. Chaos Group is proud to deliver this unique product to the developer community, to serve not only the needs of visual effects and design professionals, but to all industries where advanced ray tracing can be used. The official release of the V-Ray Application SDK will grant access to V-Ray’s optimized core, creating unlimited possibilities for V-Ray integration in third-party Apps,” said Boris Simandoff, V-Ray SDK Product Manager at Chaos Group.

Complete documentation includes sample applications and source code to help developers get started. The V-Ray Application SDK is expected to be available in Q3 2012.

Supported Operating Systems:

• Windows (64-bit)

• Linux (64-bit)

To apply for the V-Ray Application SDK program contact the Chaos Group team at vraysdk@chaosgroup.com 

Chaos Group Celebrates V-Ray’s 10th Anniversary

The company launches a V-Ray Challenge, special promotions and an anniversary website.

Sofia, Bulgaria – 30 May 2012 

In 2012 Chaos Group celebrates 10 years since the first release of V-Ray. Inspired by artists’ imaginative creations and the need for faster and photorealistic rendering, in 2002 Vlado Koylazov and Peter Mitev launched V-Ray for 3ds Max. Ten years later the Chaos Group portfolio comprises a comprehensive set of rendering solutions for the visualization industry. 

“We are proud to know that over the past ten years more than 20 000 users have used V-Ray to create mind-blowing images and award winning projects. This drives our development even further to bring more innovative solutions to the CG community”, said Peter Mitev, CEO of Chaos Group.

To celebrate this important milestone, Chaos Group has created a special anniversary website where V-Ray fans across the globe can experience V-Ray in various ways.

We invite you to spend some time with us and go back in time to check out how V-Ray was born, take a look at photos from our key events and watch our latest demo reels. Those willing to share their feedback can take part in the Chaos Group Survey and be included in a prize draw to win a V-Ray license or an anniversary T-Shirt. We’ve also set up a promo corner where we will post hot offers and great discounts for the rest of the year.

All V-Ray enthusiasts are encouraged to take part in our Anniversary Challenge where in partnership with CGSociety we invite artists to create a personal, historical or fictional Decisive Moment. Entrants are competing for a great prize package, which we’ve put together with our partners BOXX, NVIDIA, MAXON, 3DCONNEXION, CGWORKSHOPS and BALLISTIC. 

Visit the Chaos Group Anniversary website and celebrate with us!

Download Chaos Group Press Release:

Press_Release_V-Ray’s 10th_Anniversary

Chaos Group Announces the Release of V-Ray 1.5 for Rhino

V-Ray 1.5 for Rhino includes many new features and improvements, allowing users to render with greater speed, interactivity, and control.

Sofia, Bulgaria – 28 March 2012 – Chaos Group announces V-Ray®1.5 for Rhino®, a highly anticipated release of the company’s leading rendering solution. V-Ray® 1.5 for Rhino features real-time rendering using V-Ray RT, optimized image-based lighting with the new Dome Light, and efficient memory management using Proxy objects.
V-Ray 1.5 for Rhino offers tighter integration and supports the 32-bit version of Rhino 4.0 and the 32 and 64-bit versions of Rhino 5.0.

“Rhino users in all fields depend on V-Ray as a quick, easy and cost-efficient way to render their most cutting-edge designs,” said Corey Rubadue, Director, Chaos Group USA. “With the release of V-Ray 1.5 for Rhino, we hope to meet the increased demand for speed and interactivity among CG professionals.”

Visit the Chaos Group website to watch the latest tutorials and to download a free trial, or find your local reseller to purchase a copy of V-Ray 1.5 for Rhino.

Download Chaos Group Press Release:

Press Release_V-RayforRhino_1.5_Announced

Chaos Group Expands its Operations in Latin America

Special events organized in Colombia, Chile, Peru and Brazil as part of the Chaos Group 2012 LatAm Tour

Sofia, Bulgaria – March 2012 – Chaos Group’s sales representative Teddy Ilieva is traveling to Latin America this spring for a series of launch activities and workshops, aiming to promote the V-Ray brand among user and business communities. The V-Ray renderer is Chaos Group’s flagship product which has been recognized for its speed and reliability over the past 10 years and has become the solution of choice for many renowned studios around the world.

In Colombia, Chaos Group together with its reseller Naska Digital organizes a series of events (12-15 March) targeting both local businesses and educational institutions. The Colombian tour encompasses official launch events, university events, and workshops for professionals and teachers in Medellin and Bogotá.

Organized in collaboration with Eximed S.A., a first-of-a-kind V-Ray for Rhino presentation and workshop will take place in Chile on 20 March. Visitors will learn about the key features and improvements in V-Ray 1.5 for Rhino directly from Chaos Group’s Fernando Rentas.
In Peru, our team has met potential partners and resellers and discussed further activities and actions at local level. Chaos Group intends to launch new local partnerships to support the great demand this growing country has for skillful 3D professionals.

Additionally, Chaos Group will be organizing a series of events and participations in fairs in Brazil in March and April.

“Expanding our Latin American presence is one of Chaos Group’s key priorities for 2012, and we are extremely happy with the warm welcome we’ve received here,” said Teddy Ilieva, Chaos Group Territory Channel Manager. “It is very inspiring and motivating to see a big V-Ray community already in place, and we are looking forward to establishing great relationships and enabling people to further benefit from our products and to understand their advantages.”

The Chaos Group LatAm Tour will take place in March and April 2012.

Microsol Resources to Offer V-Ray by Chaos Group as Part of its Technology Solutions

New York, NY and Philadelphia, PA, February 23, 2012 – Microsol Resources Corporation, a recognized leader in BIM technology solutions, as well as a leading Autodesk Gold Partner serving the architectural, engineering and construction industries, is pleased to announce that it is now a reseller of V-Ray by Chaos Group.

V-Ray allows users to quickly and easily create realistic images while giving them full control over the 3D production process. It offers uncompromised image quality, realistic touches, and fine details resulting from precision lighting and proper shading.  “We are always looking for ways to help our customers improve their workflow through integrated technology solutions,” says Emilio Krausz, President, Microsol Resources.  “V-Ray offers speed, precision, powerful features, and the ease of use so critical for 3D artists and visualization specialists. We are delighted that we are now able to offer it to our clients.”

The V-Ray rendering engine has become the preferred solution for creating visualizations of photorealistic design concepts. Renowned studios around the world, such as Blur Studio, Neoscape, IKEA, Pure, Citroen, Siemens AG, and Spine 3D, embrace the power of V-Ray in their production pipeline. V-Ray’s strengths for building professionals include improved efficiency and speed optimization, physically accurate global illumination and area lights, interactive rendering, specialized effects, and intuitive features.

“We are delighted to partner with Microsol Resources to represent V-Ray in the United States. Their attention to customer service and providing best solutions to complement BIM and rendering technologies, along with a detailed understanding of the marketplace,  will help introduce our products to the creative people who can most benefit from them,” says Deyan Evlogiev, the Territory Channel Manager of Chaos Group.

V-Ray is available for 3DS Max, Maya, Rhino, Softimage, and SketchUp. Demos and a free 30-day non-commercial trial of V-Ray are available by calling Microsol Resources or visiting the website at www.microsolresources.com. For more complete product features and details, visit the Chaos Group website. For the latest V-Ray tutorials, visit the Chaos Group YouTube channel.

About Microsol Resources

Founded in 1986 as a reseller of engineering and architecture software, Microsol Resources Corporation is a recognized leader in building information modeling (BIM) technology solutions, as well as an Autodesk Gold Value Added Reseller with offices in New York, NY and Philadelphia, PA. With a professional staff of BIM/CAD Applications Experts focused on supporting the AEC community, and well over 4,000 clients throughout the U.S., Microsol Resources is one of Autodesk’s largest resellers in the United States. Among the services provided by Microsol Resources are telephone and onsite support, training, implementation services, standards development and management services.

For more information, please visit www.microsolresources.com


About Chaos Group

Chaos Group is a leading provider of state-of-the-art rendering solutions for the media, entertainment, and design industries. Chaos Group started its business in 1997 by establishing a CG production studio for 3D design and animation services. For over a decade, Chaos Group’s flagship rendering software, V-Ray®, has set the standard for speed, quality, reliability and ease of use, and it has become the rendering engine of choice for renowned international studios. Chaos Group works closely with customers from around the world to create the best tools for their workflow. Inspired by their imaginative creations, the company passionately pursues advances in rendering technology and continues to improve the software needed to communicate these visions.

Chaos Group proudly supports the 3D community through a suite of innovative software solutions: V-Ray® for Autodesk® 3ds Max®, V-Ray® for Autodesk® Maya®, V-Ray for Rhino®, V-Ray for SketchUp®, Phoenix FD and Pdplayer.

For more information, please visit www.chaosgroup.com

V-Ray for Softimage Now Available!

V-Ray for Softimage looks to unite the rendering workflow for VFX and animation studios

Sofia, Bulgaria, 20 February 2012 – Chaos Group announces V-Ray® for Autodesk® Softimage®, the newest addition to the company’s suite of innovative rendering solutions. 

With support for Softimage’s award-winning ICE system, dynamic geometry, and V-Ray Proxy objects, V-Ray for Softimage supports the size and complexity of even the most demanding scenes.
Its physically based toolset, including versatile shaders, lights, and cameras, makes it possible to standardize rendering workflow with the quality, speed, and stability of the V-Ray core.'

“The future of high-end VFX work lies in integration: a single pipeline with multiple modeling applications. V-Ray for Softimage brings that vision a step closer. The power of ICE, the elegant animation and rigging tools now work with the most advanced renderer on the market. ‘One V-Ray on all platforms’ is a strategy that makes sense for small and large 3D shops alike,” said Kamen Lilov, Chaos Group Product Manager, V-Ray for Softimage.

Key Features in V-Ray for Softimage:

Geometry
•  Render particles, strands, hair, and geometry produced by Softimage’s award-winning ICE system.
•  Manage scene memory and efficiently render massive amounts of geometry with V-Ray Proxy.
•  Render dynamic geometry such as displacement, proxy objects, fur, and hair.
•  Use all geometry animation and deformations applied through animated parameters and key frames, the Animation Mixer, and ICE-based simulations.

Shading
•  Create materials based on physical properties using V-Ray's versatile shaders.
•  Use built-in Render Tree procedural shaders, computational, and logic nodes.
•  Simplify the texturing process and eliminate the need to assign UVs using Ptex.
•  Simplify the creation of complex multi-layered automotive paints using the VRayCarPaintMtl.
•  Render hair and fur with unprecedented control, quality, and speed using the VRayHairMtl.

Lights & Illumination
•  Create simple, artifact-free image-based lighting using the Dome Light.
•  Create realistic illumination using physically-based lights, including IES lights and texture-mapped area lights.
•  Emulate real-world atmospheric lighting conditions using the V-Ray Sun and Sky system.

Cameras & Optics
•  Render true 3D motion blur using the V-Ray Physical Camera
•  Create fast and accurate depth of field with bokeh effects using the V-Ray Physical Camera
•  Import displacement maps from Nuke to match lens distortion

V-Ray for Softimage demo and tutorial videos are available at the Chaos Group website.

Chaos Group encourages users to submit artwork created using V-Ray for Softimage for its online gallery at images@chaosgroup.com.

Download Chaos Group Press Release:

Press Release_V-RayforSoftimage_Official_Release

Chaos Group Announces an Update to V-Ray 2.0 for Maya

Sofia, Bulgaria, 06 February 2012 – Chaos Group has released an update to V-Ray 2.0 for Maya, offering new hair and fur capabilities, V-Ray RT GPU enhancements, and tighter Maya integration.

New Hair and Fur capabilities

• Introducing a new VRayHairMtl shader to render hair and fur with unprecedented control, quality, and speed
  

• Extra attributes to apply materials to Maya’s native hair
  

V-Ray RT GPU Enhancements

• V-Ray RT GPU now supports texture-mapped rectangle and mesh lights, simple light portals, and the VRayBlendMtl

Additional improvements

• Optimized memory usage and multithreaded performance for dynamic geometry

• Optimized Irradiance Map and Light Cache to reduce flickering when using time dependent option of the DMC sampler

Improved support for Maya standard shading nodes

• Installation and Deployment Improvements

• New Mac OS GUI installer for VRLService and V-Ray for Maya

• Installation options for Windows and Linux users include: executable installation or archive file for easier deployment
  

"We are pleased to share a free update with our V-Ray 2.0 for Maya users. Our goal is to provide more advanced integration between V-Ray and Maya and help clients experience better speed and improved functionality,” said Vladimir Koylazov, Lead Developer of V-Ray and Chaos Group Co-Founder.  

To download the update or a full demo version of V-Ray 2.0 for Maya, visit the Chaos Group website download section.

Download Chaos Group Press Release:

Press Release_V-Ray 2.0 for Maya_Update_Feb2012

Chaos Group Releases New Features in V-Ray 2.0 for 3ds Max

Users of V-Ray 2.0 for 3ds Max can now download a free update including real-time rendering improvements and a brand new Hair and Fur shader.

Sofia, Bulgaria, 22 December 2011 – Chaos Group has released an update to V-Ray 2.0 for 3ds Max, delivering outstanding new features and improvements, including enhanced GPU functionality using V-RayRT and new Hair and Fur capabilities.

V-Ray 2.0 now allows users to incorporate VRayProxy objects, texture-mapped area and mesh lights, Simple Skylight portals, and the VRayBlendMtl into an ultra-fast V-RayRT GPU workflow. Another new and useful feature is the “Real Zoom” option which allows Max users to pan and zoom within the V-Ray RT’s ActiveShade window.

In addition, Chaos Group also introduces new Hair and Fur capabilities as part of the V-Ray 2.0 upgrade. "Following the string of highly realistic specialized materials like the VRayFastSSS2 and the VRayCarPaintMtl shaders, we are now introducing the VRayHairMtl, a brand new shader which allows the creation of stunning renderings of hair and fur with unprecedented control, speed and quality,” said Vladimir Koylazov, Lead Developer of V-Ray and Chaos Group Co-Founder.  

Check out the new V-Ray 2.0 Hair and Fur Shader Video Tutorial, here!

Chaos Group has also partnered with Ephere Inc., creators of the Ornatrix hair plugin for 3ds Max, and implemented a special modifier, VRayOrnatrixMod, which allows direct rendering of Ornatrix hair objects with V-Ray. This allows our users to create and animate hair which blends seamlessly with the rest of the scene without resorting to special hair lighting rigs and complex compositing operations.
For more new features and to download full demo version of V-Ray 2.0, go to Chaos Group website.

About Chaos Group
Chaos Group is a leading provider of state of the art rendering solutions for the media, entertainment, and design industries. For over a decade our flagship rendering software, V-Ray®, has set the standard for speed, quality, reliability and ease of use, and it has become the rendering engine of choice for renowned international studios. We work closely with our customers from around the world to ensure we’re creating the best tools for their workflow. Inspired by their imaginative creations, we passionately pursue advances in rendering technology and continue to improve the software needed to communicate their vision.
We proudly support the 3D community through our suite of innovative software solutions: V-Ray® for Autodesk® 3ds Max®, V-Ray® for Autodesk® Maya®, V-Ray for Rhino®, V-Ray for SketchUp®, Phoenix FD and Pdplayer.

Further Information:
Angelina Penkova
Public Relations Manager, Chaos Group
pr@chaosgroup.com

Download Chaos Group Press Release:

Press_Release_Chaos_Group_Announces_Update_to_V-Ray2.0_for_3ds_Max

Chaos Group Announces the Start of V-Ray 1.5 for Rhino Beta Program

The new version incorporates an exciting array of V-Ray features which now allow Rhino users to render with great speed, control and interactivity.

Sofia, Bulgaria, 22 December 2011 – Chaos Group has just announced the start of the Public Beta program for V-Ray 1.5 for Rhino. Now users can benefit from features such as V-Ray RT, Dome Light, Proxy, Lens Effects, Dispersion and many more.

The V-Ray 1.5 for Rhino Beta program will run until the official release of V-Ray 1.5 for Rhino (expected for end of February 2012) and will be open to users interested to test the new version and submit feedback. Participants in the Beta Program can submit questions and feedback at the Chaos Group forum or get in touch with our Development Team by sending an email to vrayrhino@chaosgroup.com.

In addition to the newly added features, V-Ray 1.5 for Rhino also offers better integration with Rhino. "V-Ray 1.5 now supports RDK Sun and can be used in conjunction with the VRaySun/Sky system. The new version also supports the 32- and 64-bit versions of Rhino 5.0 as well as the 32-bit version of Rhino 4.0,” said Corey Rubadue, Director, Chaos Group USA. 

All users who have previously purchased a V-Ray for Rhino license will be eligible for upgrade upon the official release. Everyone who has purchased V-Ray for Rhino between 01 September and the official release date for version 1.5 will get a free upgrade.

For more information on the new features in V-Ray 1.5 for Rhino and the Beta program application process, go to Chaos Group website.

About Chaos Group
Chaos Group is a leading provider of state of the art rendering solutions for the media, entertainment, and design industries. For over a decade our flagship rendering software, V-Ray®, has set the standard for speed, quality, reliability and ease of use, and it has become the rendering engine of choice for renowned international studios. We work closely with our customers from around the world to ensure we’re creating the best tools for their workflow. Inspired by their imaginative creations, we passionately pursue advances in rendering technology and continue to improve the software needed to communicate their vision.
We proudly support the 3D community through our suite of innovative software solutions: V-Ray® for Autodesk® 3ds Max®, V-Ray® for Autodesk® Maya®, V-Ray for Rhino®, V-Ray for SketchUp®, Phoenix FD and Pdplayer.


Further Information:
Angelina Penkova
Public Relations Manager, Chaos Group
pr@chaosgroup.com

Download Chaos Group Press Release:

ChaosGroup_Press_Release_V-Ray1.5_for_Rhino_Beta

Chaos Group to Announce Major New Developments at Siggraph Asia 2011

Chaos Group will be showcasing the exciting new features of its flagship renderer V-Ray 2.0, a new release of its fluid dynamics software Phoenix FD 2.0, and will provide a sneak preview of the upcoming V-Ray for Softimage.

Sofia, Bulgaria, 01 December 2011 - For a fourth consecutive year, the Chaos Group team will participate in Siggraph Asia, the world’s largest international CG conference and exhibit, held in Hong Kong December 13-15.  Throughout the exhibition, Chaos Group will be presenting a series of demonstrations at our booth #B02; and on December 14 from 4 pm-7 pm in Room S224, we will host the Annual V-Ray Siggraph Event, giving participants an opportunity to see the new features of V-Ray 2.0 and get a sneak preview of V-Ray for Softimage with an expected release in Q1 2012.

"We are excited with the great momentum that V-Ray 2.0 gained in 2011. It is an incredible achievement that so many renowned global studios and CG professionals adopted the new version of our product." said Vladimir Koylazov, Lead Developer of V-Ray and Chaos Group Co-Founder.  "Following the string of highly realistic specialized materials like the VRayFastSSS2 and the VRayCarPaintMtl shaders, we are now introducing the VRayHairMtl, a brand new shader which allows the creation of stunning renderings of hair and fur with unprecedented control, speed and quality.”

In addition, Chaos Group has partnered with Ephere Inc., creators of the Ornatrix hair plugin for 3ds Max, and implemented a special modifier, VRayOrnatrixMod, which allows direct rendering of Ornatrix hair objects with V-Ray. This allows our users to create and animate hair which blends seamlessly with the rest of the scene without resorting to special hair lighting rigs and complex compositing operations.

“We have made many other improvements to V-Ray and V-Ray RT GPU. Siggraph Asia visitors will be among the first to see a live demo of these great new features,” added Koylazov.

Chaos Group will also be hosting presentations by our customers and technology partners at booth #B02:
• Golaem will demonstrate their unique crowd simulation software with V-Ray rendering support.
• Tokyo-based CG production company, Drawiz, will showcase their inspiring portfolio of animation and VFX projects using V-Ray.
• Chaos Group’s Chinese and Hong Kong resellers, Jadason Technology Ltd. and GDI (Shanghai Global Design Information Co.), will be on hand to share their V-Ray expertise.

See our special event page for more details, and anyone interested in attending the Annual V-Ray Siggraph Event can register here.

About Chaos Group
Chaos Group is a leading provider of state of the art rendering solutions for the media, entertainment, and design industries. For over a decade our flagship rendering software, V-Ray®, has set the standard for speed, quality, reliability and ease of use, and it has become the rendering engine of choice for renowned international studios. We work closely with our customers from around the world to ensure we’re creating the best tools for their workflow. Inspired by their imaginative creations, we passionately pursue advances in rendering technology and continue to improve the software needed to communicate their vision.
We proudly support the 3D community through our suite of innovative software solutions: V-Ray® for Autodesk® 3ds Max®, V-Ray® for Autodesk® Maya®, V-Ray for Rhino®, V-Ray for SketchUp®, Phoenix FD and Pdplayer.

Download Chaos Group Press Release:

Press_Release_Chaos_Group_at_Siggraph_Asia_2011

Chaos Group to Present New Developments in its Portfolio at the Russian CG Event

Phoenix FD 2.0 and V-Ray for Softimage are among the key new additions to the company’s portfolio

Sofia, Bulgaria, 30 November 2011 - Chaos Group will share lots of exciting news on almost every product from its portfolio at the Russian CG event this year. Event participants will get the chance to be among the first to learn about the new features of the recently released Phoenix FD 2.0 and the major improvements that have just been implemented in V-Ray 2.0. Softimage fans have long awaited a V-Ray version for this platform and will get a sneak preview of its features; official release is expected in February 2012.

Apart from presenting live demos at its booth, Chaos Group will also organize three special events:

• Chaos Group Workshop: Interactive Rendering Workflow with V-Ray (03 December, 13.00 – 14.30)
• Chaos Group Main Stage Presentation: V-Ray - Optimizations to the Production Workflow in the VFX industry (04 December, 12.00 – 13.00)
• V-Ray Workshop with Scream School: GI for animations with moving objects (04 December, 14:30 - 16:00)

“We are pleased to be attending this landmark CG event for the Russian and CIS markets for a second consecutive year, and we are looking forward to meeting CG enthusiasts not only from Moscow, but also from the whole Russian Federation and the CIS region. This year we anticipate great attendance and will give away two V-Ray licenses as a compliment to the people who registered for our workshop and event,” said Javid Imanov, Territory Sales Representative, Chaos Group.

Chaos Group has set up a special event page, where all the details of its participation at the CG Russia Event are available. Everyone interested in attending the workshops and the event can register here.

About Chaos Group

Chaos Group is a leading provider of state of the art rendering soluions for the media, entertainment, and design industries. For over a decade our flagship rendering software, V-Ray®, has set the standard for speed, quality, reliability and ease of use, and it has become the rendering engine of choice for renowned international studios. We work closely with our customers from around the world to ensure we’re creating the best tools for their workflow. Inspired by their imaginative creations, we passionately pursue advances in rendering technology and continue to improve the software needed to communicate their vision.

We proudly support the 3D community through our suite of innovative software solutions: V-Ray® for Autodesk® 3ds Max®, V-Ray® for Autodesk® Maya®, V-Ray for Rhino®, V-Ray for SketchUp®, Phoenix FD and Pdplayer.

Download Chaos Group Press Release:

Press_Release_CG_Russia_Event

Chaos Group Releases New Version of its Grid-Based Simulator Phoenix FD 2.0

Phoenix FD 2.0 introduces liquids and foam, a splash simulator, a new particle shader, and enhanced GPU performance.

Sofia, Bulgaria, 21 November 2011 – Chaos Group, a leader in the development of advanced software solutions for the computer graphics industry, released a new version of its grid-based simulator Phoenix FD. Phoenix FD 2.0 provides exceptional flexibility and speed while offering exciting new features.

“Phoenix 2.0’s adaptive grid technology, multi-threaded displacement algorithm, and GPU-accelerated preview, make it an outstanding solution for fluid simulations,” said Ivaylo Katev, Lead Developer of Phoenix FD.

Some key new features include:

Simulation of foam and splashes

With a new and improved core, Phoenix FD 2.0 is capable of generating particles for foam and splash simulations. This extraordinary new technology increases the realism of liquid simulations.

Foam and splashes particle shader

Phoenix FD 2.0 comes with a new particle shader, allowing users full control when creating foam and splashes.

GPU Preview improvements

Phoenix FD 2.0 includes an enhanced GPU preview, supporting diffuse color shading and lighting directly in the viewport. GPUbased renderings can be saved automatically as PNG files, allowing the user to preview simulations without the need to rerender on the CPU.

Detailed information and a full feature list can be found here.

“Chaos Group is excited to announce the release of Phoenix 2.0, and in Q1 of 2012 we are set to release a
new version of V-Ray for Rhino and V-Ray for Softimage. It is our mission at Chaos Group to provide a complete set of rendering solutions and continue to meet the CG industry’s increasing demand for speed and innovation,” said Chaos Group’s CEO Peter Mitev.

About Chaos Group

Chaos Group is a leading provider of state of the art rendering soluions for the media, entertainment, and design industries. For over a decade our flagship rendering software, V-Ray®, has set the standard for speed, quality, reliability and ease of use, and it has become the rendering engine of choice for renowned international studios. We work closely with our customers from around the world to ensure we’re creating the best tools for their workflow. Inspired by their imaginative creations, we passionately pursue advances in rendering technology and continue to improve the software needed to communicate their vision.

We proudly support the 3D community through our suite of innovative software solutions: V-Ray® for Autodesk® 3ds Max®, V-Ray® for Autodesk® Maya®, V-Ray for Rhino®, V-Ray for SketchUp®, Phoenix FD and Pdplayer.

Download Chaos Group Press Release:

ChaosGroup_PressRelease_Phoenix2.0

Test Drive: Meijin graphics workstation running Autodesk 3Ds Max, Maya and V-Ray

Moscow, October 31, 2011 – Russian hardware supplier Meijin Ltd. supported by Consistent Software Distribution today announced opening of the new demo booth  based on Meijin Quadro 5000 graphics workstation running the most popular design and visualization software Autodesk 3Ds Max, Autodesk Maya, V-Raу for 3ds Max and V-Ray for Maya.

There is good news for professional computer graphic designers: a specialized demo booth is open at the sales area of Meijin.  Visitors can test Meijin Quadro 5000 graphics workstation with Autodesk 3Ds Max 2012, Autodesk Maya 2012 and the well-known rendering system V-Ray preinstalled.

The demo booth can be visited October 31 - December 20, 2011. You can come to Meijin any suitable day, upload your own project or use demo objects and take the opportunity to test everything by yourself!

Meijin Quadro 5000 is designed for visualization, 3D surface and solid modeling in various industries including AEC, MFG and M&E. You can test its ease of use, evaluate the speed of rendering, determine the performance for your current work and get some advices on upgrading or choosing new hardware – just  in the course of one day.  

Besides Autodesk 3Ds Max and Autodesk Maya, the most popular products nowadays, you can learn about Chaos Group products at the demo booth. These are:
1. V-Ray 2.0 for 3ds Max —  is a comprehensive solution for rendering, which combines the power of the distinguished V-Ray rendering engine with the flexibility and unprecedented speed of the interactive rendering system V-Ray RT GPU.
2. V-Ray 2.0 for Maya – developed to meet the needs of the most demanding VFX & Film studios around the world, the rendering engine delivers uncompromised stability, interactivity, ease of use and unprecedented speed. The resources of the Central and Graphic processors are used during the operation. Given more intellectual version will be appreciated at its true value independently from the tasks performed – from visual effects producing to architectural design. Now, V-Ray for Maya enables the rendering of even larger scenes with greater complexity and artists can rely on a faster rendering process.
Come and test for free!

Demo booth is available at the Meijin showroom located: Moscow, Rustaveli str., 1.

Download Chaos Group Press Release:

Press_Release_Meijin_testdrive

Chaos Group Strengthens its Market Presence in the Middle East

Participation at the GITEX Technology Week, a VFX and an Аrchitectural event raise Chaos Group’s popularity on the ME market.

Sofia, Bulgaria – 01 November 2011 – Chaos Group’s sales representative Javid Imanov has just returned from a successful business trip in UAE.  Highlights of his visit included participation at the GITEX Technology Week where he met with Chaos Group’s key resellers for UAE and Middle East, end users and potential software and hardware vendor partners. Together with partner Omnix, Chaos Group also organized two events in Dubai and Abu Dhabi focused on the company’s software solutions for the VFX and Architectural industries.

“Nowadays presence in the Middle East is one of Chaos Group’s top priorities, and we should invest time and money to understand the market needs, help our partners grow, and enable people to understand the advantages of our products,” said Javid Imanov, Territory Channel Manager, Chaos Group.

At GITEX, Chaos Group achieved a major milestone in becoming an influencer on the ME market by signing a distribution agreement with Omnix International, a leading regional technology service provider and integrator. Under the terms of the alliance, Omnix will distribute the Chaos Group’s diverse range of solutions that include V-Ray 2.0, Phoenix Fluid Dynamics and PD Player in the Middle East region.

“We are confident that our newly signed partnership with Omnix International will play a key role in leveraging our integrated suite of solutions across the Middle East region’s thriving construction industry. Omnix International has a strong channel breadth in the Middle East and carries a strong reputation for service, consultation and performance excellence, making them the perfect partner for us,” added Javid Imanov.

To further strengthen its positions in the Middle East, Chaos Group will be attending the CABSAT digital media and satellite expo in February 2012, and running a road show in Oman, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Download Chaos Group Press Release:

Press Release_Chaos_Group_Strengthens_Market_Presence_in_ME

Chaos Group introduces V-Ray 2.0 for Maya

Sofia, Bulgaria – April 29, 2011 – Chaos Group is thrilled to announce that V-Ray 2.0 for Maya is now available! The complete, state-of-the-art rendering solution now comes with interactive rendering on GPU and CPU. Users in all industries - from VFX to Architecture - will benefit from a more robust and much faster rendering solution.

"We are very excited to release the latest version of V-Ray for Maya," said Chaos Group CEO, Peter Mitev. "Speed increases are always something our users want to hear, and we are glad to deliver just that. Combined with interactive rending on both CPU and GPU, this 2.0 release will be a significant upgrade for many users."

Maya users can immediately try the demo version of V-Ray 2.0 by downloading it from the Chaos Group website. The new version is also available for purchase from any authorized Chaos Group reseller. All current customers with the educational version of V-Ray 1.5 for Maya are entitled to a free upgrade to V-Ray 2.0 starting May 4th. Please contact our technical support at vraymaya@chaosgroup.com for details on the upgrade process.

Some of the new and upgraded features of V-Ray 2.0 have been presented in a series of videos:

•    General overview of V-Ray 2.0 for Maya (preview on YouTube)
•    V-Ray RT and V-Ray RT GPU (preview on YouTube)
•    Support for dispersion in refractions for VRayMt (preview on YouTube)
•    PTex textures (preview on YouTube)
•    VRayCarPaint material (preview on YouTube)

To see a full features list and watch more video previews, please click here.

Here are what leading artists and renowned studios around the world have to say about V-Ray for Maya:

"Here at Method we have been using V-Ray for Maya since the beginning of its development. It has had huge success in house for feature and commercial work large and small. Having multiple renderer support inhouse it's a head to head vs match to final only the best images."
Scott Metzger, VFX Artist at Method Studios

"I enjoy using V-Ray in Maya, it's nice to have the option of different 3d packages, with the same great render engine. I have been using V-Ray for many years now, and V-Ray has now integrated nicely into Maya, making the lighting and rendering process very smooth, solid and thorough. I can absolutely recommend V-Ray for Maya!"
Daniel Buck, Digital Artist

Download Chaos Group Press Release:

Press Release Chaos Group introduces V-Ray 2.0 for Maya

Chaos Group to attend FMX 2011

V-Ray 2.0 for Maya presentations and workshops at the biggest
industry event in Germany

Sofia, Bulgaria – April 27, 2011 – Chaos Group is gearing up for FMX 2011, an annual animation, effects, games, and interactive media conference in Stuttgart, Germany on May 3-6. The team plans to present V-Ray 2.0 for Maya and other developments with German reseller, Weltenbauer.

FMX 2011 coincides with the upcoming release of V-Ray 2.0 for Maya – now with interactive rendering on CPU and GPU – which will officially launch at the end of April. To demonstrate the plug-in’s new and enhanced features, Chaos Group will run whole day presentations at Weltenbauer’s booth, in addition to hosting two free scheduled workshops.

The first workshop, featuring both V-Ray 2.0 for 3ds Max and Maya, will take place on Tuesday, May 3rd at Raum Karlsruhe from 15.00-16.00h. Highlights of what attendees can expect at this workshop include:
•    RT - CPU/GPU - unprecedented speed and flexibility achieved with the V-Ray interactive rendering system
•    Car Paint Material - create stunning car paint shaders complete with base, flake and coat layers
•    Distance Texture - use procedurally generated textures to create a wide range of effects based on the distance between various objects in the scene
•    Multi-sub Texture – assign different textures based on object ID
•    Light Select Render Element – extract the contribution of each light to the scene, change their intensity in post-production and compose them back together
•    Stereoscopic Helper - quickly set up stereoscopic images and animations
•    Lens Analysis Utility - easily match the distortion of your real world and your virtual cameras
•    Lens effects - add a full range of bloom and glare effects

On day two of the show, the team will present a “Rendering and Lighting” seminar which will integrate the new features of V-Ray 2.0 for 3ds Max and Maya and teach attendees how to achieve interactive set-up of their main rendering components. Topics of this discussion include:
•    Lighting & Rendering – advanced custom Sun & Sky usage and Image Based Lighting
•    Realistic Materials - complex materials set-up
•    Advanced Camera Matching - stereoscopy, lens effects, distortion and depth of field
•    Production Quality Rendering - new GI techniques
•    Advanced Compositing - new tips and techniques for compositing
This second workshop will take place on Wednesday, May 4th in Raum Karlsruhe from 11.00-12.00h.

This is the third time that Chaos Group has attended FMX 2011 to showcase their line of rendering technologies to the German animation, effects, games, and interactive media industry. “We’re thrilled to attend FMX 2011 alongside our longtime authorized dealer, Weltenbauer,” said Chaos Group CEO Peter Mitev. “We hope to put on quite the show for our German customers: from the premiere of V-Ray 2.0 for Maya to our many other developments. We want them to walk away amazed by the sheer power of V-Ray.”

Visitors interested in attending either of Chaos Group’s free workshops may register online here.

Download Chaos Group Press Release:

Press Release Chaos Group Attends FMX