Unleash Your Creativity with Corona 12: New Features and Integrations for 3ds Max and Cinema 4D Artists

Corona Renderer has always been synonymous with photorealistic rendering, ease of use, and high performance. With the release of Corona 12, the bar is raised even higher, offering a suite of new features and integrations specifically designed for artists using 3ds Max and Cinema 4D. This next iteration invites artists to "Explore beyond limits," expanding creative possibilities and streamlining workflows like never before.

Seamless Integration with Vantage

The integration of Corona and Vantage marks a new era of interoperability. Artists can now export their Corona scenes in .vrscene format and open them in Vantage for real-time scene navigation and rapid rendering. This feature excels in rapid scene exploration, test renders, and for quick-turnaround projects that may not necessitate the highest level of photorealism. For those times when nothing but the utmost realism will suffice, users can seamlessly switch back to Corona and utilize CPU rendering to capture the perfect shot.

Looking ahead, Corona 13 is set to enhance this integration even further by the end of 2024, introducing a live link between the tools and an optimized animation workflow that promises to revolutionize the way animations are rendered from 3ds Max and Cinema 4D in Vantage.

Curved Decals and Enhanced Texturing

Curved Decals in Corona 12 represent a significant leap forward in texturing curved surfaces. Labels and graphics can now wrap around objects like bottles and spheres without distortion, allowing for full 360-degree application. The addition of a second bending axis further extends the possibilities to spherical and complex curved shapes, ensuring decals conform flawlessly to any object.

Corona Pattern has received substantial improvements, unlocking the ability to create materials that were once considered challenging, if not impossible. Designers now have the option to use geometric objects to define the shape of the crop box, which allows for the use of snapping tools to achieve precise patterns. In 3ds Max, the flexibility extends to map coordination, offering control over whether the maps follow the base object UV, the pattern object UV, or a combination of both for intricate and realistic material effects.

The New Virtual Frame Buffer

Corona 12 introduces a revamped Virtual Frame Buffer (VFB 2), delivering a host of new features wrapped in an improved user interface. VFB 2 simplifies your workflow by allowing drag-and-drop editing of CXR files, even absent the original 3ds Max or Cinema 4D scene. Its A/B comparison feature effortlessly handles images of differing resolutions, and multiple LightMix elements can now coexist with individual settings, enabling various lighting scenarios within a single file.

VFB 2 enhances the rendering process by deferring bloom and glare calculations until rendering is complete, saving precious time and resources. With history management, new tone-mapping operators, and an overall more intuitive and responsive UI, VFB 2 is set to elevate the visual rendering experience.

Scatter Instance Brush

The introduction of the Scatter Instance Brush in Corona 12 for 3ds Max grants artists unparalleled control over the scattering process. This tool allows for meticulous refinement of procedural scatters, enabling users to paint in or delete instances with precision. This control extends to influencing new instances based on altitude and slope, with the option to adjust exclusion or inclusion criteria on the fly. While currently available for 3ds Max, Cinema 4D users can anticipate this feature in the near future.

Additional Enhancements

Corona 12 comes with a suite of other enhancements that refine the rendering experience. The improved Corona Sky simulates more realistic day to night transitions with lower sun angles and includes a new Density parameter for fine-tuning cloud appearances. The Cryptomatte render element now functions reliably across Distributed Rendering and Team Render, as well as with Resume Render functionality.

Material conversion from VRayMaterial to Corona Physical Material has been improved, ensuring better interoperability with Chaos Cosmos. For Cinema 4D users, the Scene Converter now supports conversion between Corona and C4D bitmaps and V-Ray lights, and the Corona Material library is now accessible on Chaos Cosmos, facilitating efficient asset management.

In conclusion, Corona 12 offers a powerhouse of features that significantly improve rendering capabilities and creative freedom for 3ds Max and Cinema 4D artists. With the upcoming additions planned for Corona 13, the future looks even brighter for those seeking to push the boundaries of their artistic visions. For more information about the newest and most advanced design software technology, do not hesitate to contact our sales team at NOVEDGE. Our experts are ready to assist you in integrating these powerful tools into your workflow to unleash your creativity and achieve unparalleled results.