Year : 2012
Version : 2.7.2
Developer : Next Limit
Developer website : http://www.maxwellrender.com/
Platform : Intel only
Interface language : English
Tablet : License file
System requirements : Macintosh (32 and 64)
Mac OSX 10.6 and up
Intel® CPU
1 GB RAM minimum. 4 GB of RAM memory is highly recommended
400 MB available hard disk space for installation
3 button mouse recommended
Description : Maxwell Render of the Nextlimit company represents independent system of visualization (rendering) of three-dimensional objects which is constructed by the principle “without assumptions” (non-bias). That is, it is based on the physical properties of light and surfaces. Since the program uses the equations of the wave theory of light (see below), it allows you to render 3D scenes with unprecedented quality.
In addition, using a model of the real physical surface of the object, Maxwell Render calculates the interaction of light with this surface as it actually happens. Therefore, it is most logical to use SI units in the system. Non-physical rendering systems use a different approach and work with the surface and its characteristics differently (more often, they simply simulate this or that effect using different types of tinting (shader)). Otherwise, various characteristics of the processed surface are artificial, determined only by the user and do not depend on its real properties in any way. As a result, you can often see various artifacts and flaws in the final image. An interesting feature of Maxwell Render is the rejection of the way light is represented in the form of quanta (photons). The transition to work with wave characteristics made it possible to describe the properties of a virtual light source in the same way as it is done with real sources. For example, the color is no longer set by a set of RGB values, but by the wavelength or surface temperature of the luminous object. These two parameters are closely related. The closest analogue was photometric light sources in the 3ds Max system.
However, with all these advantages, rendering with Maxwell Render takes quite a long time. In comparison with other, not physically accurate renderers (V-Ray, Brazil, mental ray, Final Render, etc.), rendering time can be ten times longer. Nevertheless, the quality of the final image Maxwell Render is far superior to other renderers. As a result, the user receives an HDR image. Additionally, you can specify whether it is worth saving various elements of the image in separate layers: diffuse scattering color, the actual color of surfaces, shadows, caustics, global illumination, etc.
FryRender and Indigo are among the visualization systems similar to Maxwell Render. The latter is free for commercial and non-commercial use, but without source code.
It is worth noting that Nextlimit is constantly making changes, additions and improvements to its product. Actually, she is also developing environments for simulating physical phenomena. Its products are already very popular RealFlow, XFlow
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