Pixar Releases RenderMan 26 with XPU Updates & Machine Learning Denoising

Pixar Animation Studios announces the release of RenderMan version 26, a significant advancement in the Pixar’s core rendering technology. This latest version introduces groundbreaking features that advance rendering capabilities and streamline workflows for artists.

“We’re thrilled to introduce the latest version of RenderMan XPU! It’s going to revolutionize the experience of final frame rendering for many new use cases, allowing artists to bring their visions to life like never before,” said Oliver Meiseberg, RenderMan Vice President, Pixar Animation Studios.

Key highlights of RenderMan 26 include:

• XPU Advancements: RenderMan XPU receives substantial updates, enhancing light support, camera controls and adaptive sampling capabilities, resulting in accelerated rendering and improved interactivity.
• Interactive Denoising: The introduction of an interactive version of the machine learning denoiser revolutionizes rendering workflows, reducing iteration times and maintaining image quality during interactive sessions.

“Since the Interactive Denoiser has been rolled out in production, most of our lighters have turned it on by default, and some say they’ll never go back again and they can’t live without this,” said Renee Tam, Global Technology Supervisor at Pixar.

Technical Director James Lojo agreed, “The Interactive Denoiser has been a lifesaver! I literally can’t not use it. I love that it helps me get a good judgment for the typical super noisy sources like emission shaders.”

Additionally, core improvements such as faster instancing and texture read parallelism ensure optimal performance across various rendering scenarios, and RenderMan’s Stylized Looks toolset receives significant improvements, delivering enhanced creative control and a more intuitive user experience. Pixar’s commitment to innovation and excellence in rendering technology, empowering artists and studios to bring their creative visions to life with unparalleled efficiency and quality.

RenderMan version 26 is available for download today at renderman.pixar.com for customers on maintenance. Individual licenses of RenderMan are available for $595, and $250 for yearly maintenance. Quantity discounts are available. Researchers, individual artists, and students creating non-commercial projects will have access to Non-Commercial RenderMan at the same time, now with the addition of XPU.

Visit renderman.pixar.com for more information, and contact rendermansales@pixar.com for a quote.