Home Discussion Topics Dictionary Almanac

Signup Login

Maxwell Render

Overview

Maxwell Render is a software package that aids in the production of photorealistic images from computer 3D model data. It was introduced as an early alpha on December 2004 (after 2 years of internal development) and it utilized a global illumination

Global illumination

Global illumination is a general name for a group of algorithms used in 3D computer graphics that are meant to add more realistic lighting to 3D scenes...

algorithm based on a metropolis light transport

Metropolis light transport

The Metropolis light transport is a SIGGRAPH 1997 paper by Eric Veach and Leonidas J. Guibas, describing an application of a variant of the Monte Carlo method called the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm to the rendering equation for generating images from detailed physical descriptions of three...

variation. Maxwell Render was among the first widely available implementations of unbiased rendering and its GI algorithm was linked directly to a physical camera paradigm to provide a simplified rendering experience wherein the user was not required to laboriously adjust illumination parameter settings, as was typical of scanline renderers and raytracers of the time.

Discussion

Ask a question about 'Maxwell Render'

Start a new discussion about 'Maxwell Render'

Answer questions from other users

Full Discussion Forum

Encyclopedia

Maxwell Render is a software package that aids in the production of photorealistic images from computer 3D model data. It was introduced as an early alpha on December 2004 (after 2 years of internal development) and it utilized a global illumination

Global illumination

Global illumination is a general name for a group of algorithms used in 3D computer graphics that are meant to add more realistic lighting to 3D scenes...

algorithm based on a metropolis light transport

Metropolis light transport

The Metropolis light transport is a SIGGRAPH 1997 paper by Eric Veach and Leonidas J. Guibas, describing an application of a variant of the Monte Carlo method called the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm to the rendering equation for generating images from detailed physical descriptions of three...

variation. Maxwell Render was among the first widely available implementations of unbiased rendering and its GI algorithm was linked directly to a physical camera paradigm to provide a simplified rendering experience wherein the user was not required to laboriously adjust illumination parameter settings, as was typical of scanline renderers and raytracers of the time. Maxwell Render was originally developed by Madrid

Madrid

Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. It is the third-most populous municipality in the European Union after Greater London and Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the third-most populous city by urban area in the European Union after Paris and London.The city is located on the river...

-based Next Limit Technologies

Next Limit Technologies

Next Limit Technologies is a computer software company based in Madrid, Spain. Founded in 1998 by engineers Victor Gonzalez Sanchez and Ignacio Vargas, the firm now creates cross-platform particle simulation and light simulation software for fluid and rigid body modeling, and accurate visual...

, which was founded in 1998 by engineers Victor Gonzalez and Ignacio Vargas.

Maxwell Render is software for rendering only, meaning that other software must be used to create 3D models.

Software components

Core render engine (MXCL standalone)
Maxwell Studio (MXST standalone) - First appeared on 12/02/2005
Material Editor (MXED) - First appeared on 12/02/2005
Plugins (modeling software specific)

The first alpha was released on 4 December 2004; the first release candidate on 2 December 2005. The latter marked also the first appearance of MXST and MXED.

Further releases were

Version 1.0 (Apr/26/2006)
Version 1.1 (Jul/04/2006)
Version 1.5 (May/23/2007)
Version 1.6 (Nov/22/2007)
Version 1.7 (Jun/19/2008)
Version 2.0 (Sep/23/2009)

The current software version is 2.0.

Supported Platforms

Apple Computer
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and manufactures consumer electronics and computer software products. The company's best-known hardware products include Macintosh computers, the iPod and the iPhone...

Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a line of computer operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc., and since 2002 has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...

on PowerPC
PowerPC
PowerPC is a RISC architecture created by the 1991 Apple–IBM–Motorola alliance, known as AIM. Originally intended for personal computers, PowerPC CPUs have since become popular embedded and high-performance processors...

and x86
X86 architecture
The term x86 refers to a family of instruction set architectures based on the Intel 8086. The term derived from the fact that many early processors backward compatible with the 8086 also had names ending in "86". Many additions and extensions have been added to the x86 instruction set over the...

architectures
GNU/Linux
Linux
Linux is a generic term referring to Unix-like computer operating systems based on the Linux kernel. Their development is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software collaboration; typically all the underlying source code can be used, freely modified, and redistributed,...

on x86-64
X86-64
In processor design, x86-64 is an extension of the x86 instruction set. It allows far larger virtual and physical address spaces than x86, doubles the width of the integer registers from 32 to 64 bits, increases the number of integer registers, and provides other enhancements...

architecture
Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is a multinational computer technology corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of software products for computing devices...

Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of software operating systems and graphical user interfaces produced by Microsoft. Microsoft first introduced an operating environment named Windows in November 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces...

on x86 and x86-64 architectures

Core engine Features

ENGINE CHOICES:

RS1: Default render engine

RS0: Preview render engine (used in viewports and material previews)

SPECTRAL RENDERING:

Engine performs calculations in spectral range

PHYSICAL CAMERA PARADIGM: (controls the GI)

Calibrated (to a certain extent of accuracy) to correspond to actual physical camera values

Shutter speed (controls exposure and motion blur)

F-stop (controls exposure and depth of field)

ISO setting (controls exposure, but does not add film grain)

Depth of field (is standard and inevitable, just like a real camera)

Focal length (also affects depth of field)

Film Back size (also affects depth of field; in combination with focal length and distance)
Diaphragm (Circular, or polygonal with number of blades and angle of rotation)

Rotary Disk Shutter (shutter angle and FPS)

Shift Lens

Z-clip Planes (This is a CG feature that allows the camera to section/view into an object)

PHYSICAL SUN (accurate sun positioning)

Earth Latitude

Earth Longitude

Date of Year

Time of Day

Manual GMT

Automatic GMT (auto-determined dynamically, based on internal timezone data charts, as user spins the globe interface)

Location Presets (Large set of location presets)

Manual Rotation of North relative to the user model

Import Google kml data (this is basically a lon/lat value)

PHYSICAL SKY (atmosphere)

Generate a clear sky based on time of day, as well as:

Turbidity

Ozone

Water Level

PHYSICAL MATERIALS
RENDERING CHANNELS

Rendering Channel (Default. Contains the actual image)

Alpha Channel

Material ID Channel

Z-Buffer Channel

Shadow Channel

Opaque Channel

Object ID Channel

ENABLE/DISABLE illumination aspects

Direct Illumination

Indirect Illumination

Direct Reflection Caustics

Direct Refraction Caustics

Indirect Reflection Caustics

Indirect Refraction Caustics

(To be completed)

Plugins

Modeler	Version	Win32	Win64	Mac OS X	Linux
3ds max	7, 8, 9, 2008, 2009, 2010	Yes	Yes	No	No
Maya Maya (software) Autodesk Maya, or simply Maya , is a high-end 3D computer graphics and 3D modeling software package originally developed by Alias Systems Corporation, but now owned by Autodesk as part of the Media and Entertainment division. Autodesk acquired the software in October 2005 upon purchasing Alias...	6 7 8 8.5 2008	Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes	No No Yes Yes Yes	No Yes Yes Yes Yes	No No No No Yes
Lightwave LightWave LightWave 3D is a high end computer graphics program developed by NewTek. The latest release of LightWave runs on Windows and Mac OS X.- Overview:...	8 9	Yes Yes	No Yes	Yes Yes	No No
Cinema 4D Cinema 4D CINEMA 4D or C4D is a commercial, cross-platform, high-end 3D computer graphics application, produced by MAXON Computer GmbH of Friedrichsdorf, Germany...	9.6, 10	Yes	No	Yes	No
Softimage Softimage XSI Autodesk Softimage, or simply Softimage , is a high-end 3D computer graphics application owned by Autodesk for producing 3D computer graphics, 3D modeling, and computer animation...	6	Yes	Yes	No	No
Rhino3D Rhinoceros 3D Rhinoceros is a stand-alone, commercial NURBS-based 3-D modeling tool, developed by Robert McNeel & Associates. The software is commonly used for industrial design, architecture, marine design, jewelry design, automotive design, CAD / CAM, rapid prototyping, reverse engineering as well as the...	4	Yes	No	No	No
SolidWorks SolidWorks SolidWorks is a 3D mechanical CAD program that runs on Microsoft Windows and was developed by Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp., a subsidiary of Dassault Systèmes, S. A....	2006 2007	(old) Yes	No Yes	No No	No No
SketchUp SketchUp SketchUp is a 3D modeling program designed for architects, civil engineers, filmmakers, game developers, and related professions. It also includes features to facilitate the placement of models in Google Earth...	5, 6	Yes	No	Yes	No
Form-Z Form-Z form·Z is a computer-aided design tool developed by AutoDesSys for all design fields that deal with the articulation of 3D spaces and forms and which is used for 3D modeling, drafting, animation and rendering.-Overview:...	5.5, 6	Yes	No	Yes	No
Archicad ArchiCAD ArchiCAD is an architectural BIM CAD software for Macintosh and Windows developed by the Hungarian company Graphisoft.Development started in 1982 for the original Apple Macintosh. ArchiCAD is recognized as the first CAD product on a personal computer able to create both 2D and 3D drawings...	9, 10, 11, 12	Yes	No	Yes	No

External links