Act-3D has launched Lumion 2023.0, the subsequent main model of its real-time visualisation software program.
The compatibility-breaking replace provides a brand new hybrid render engine with assist for real-time ray tracing on each AMD and Nvidia GPUs, and extends the software program’s PBR materials system.
Act-3D has additionally now discontinued perpetual licences of the software program, making Lumion subscription-only.
A simple-to-use near-real-time instrument for architectural visualisation work
First launched in 2010, and now one of many three most generally used renderers for arch viz work, Lumion creates renders of architectural scenes in close to actual time.
The software program is meant to offer architects with little background in visualisation with a extra easy option to create practical stills and animations than typical DCC apps.
Customers import constructing fashions from different software program, both in customary 3D file codecs like FBX, OBJ, SKP and MAX, or through built-in stay hyperlinks to main CAD purposes.
They will then edit supplies inside Lumion, arrange lighting and climate results, gown the scene utilizing readymade fashions from the accompanying asset library, and create easy digital camera animations.
Lumion 2023.0: GPU-agnostic real-time tracing
The important thing change in Lumion 2023.0 is assist for ray tracing: its new hybrid rasterisation/ray tracing render engine makes it potential to create bodily correct lighting, shadows and reflections in renders.
The change will deliver Lumion into line with different real-time visualisation instruments like Enscape and Twinmotion, which already assist hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
In accordance with Act-3D’s weblog publish, “whereas ray tracing know-how has been round for some time, the choice to deliver it into Lumion now could be guided by [principles of] accessibility, stability, velocity and expertise”.
The brand new Ray Tracing Impact is supported on each AMD and Nvidia GPUs – though not at present Intel Arc – with renders falling again to rasterisation on older playing cards.
Presumably because of the brand new render engine, the replace is compatibility-breaking, so tasks and fashions saved in Lumion 2023.0 can’t be opened in older variations of the software program.
Supplies: new PBR map varieties, subsurface scattering and clearcoat supplies
Lumion 2023.0 additionally extends the software program’s PBR materials system to assist eight map varieties, now together with metalness, emissive power, reflectivity and opacity.
Each editions of the software program get assist for subsurface scattering, for recreating translucent supplies like marble; and the Professional version will get a clearcoat materials layer for recreating automotive paint and varnished surfaces.
As well as, there’s a new unified Glass materials, changing the previous Customary Glass and PureGlass supplies, though it isn’t but appropriate with ray tracing, and at present requires a workaround.
Enhancements to scene structure, digital camera paths, rendering and publish results
Different key adjustments embody a brand new rework gizmo for positioning objects extra exactly within the viewport; and enhancements to the Auto Snap function, for snapping objects to different surfaces.
Additionally it is now potential to import digital camera paths in FBX or Collada format, or to select from 4 new preset digital camera behaviours, together with customary dolly and pan/tilt pictures, and choices to orbit or observe an object.
Customers also can select from a spread of preset facet ratios when rendering nonetheless pictures or video.
The Colour Correction Impact will get a histogram show to regulate the color stability of renders extra exactly.
Updates to the asset library and LiveSync plugins
Exterior the core utility, the accompanying asset library will get 227 new belongings, together with 98 supplies.
The software program’s LiveSync plugins, which stay hyperlink Lumion to CAD apps together with SketchUp and Rhino – can now substitute supplies with native Lumion equivalents primarily based on file names.
Now accessible subscription-only
The discharge additionally marks a change in model numbering – underneath Act-3D’s previous system, it might have been Lumion 13.0 – and of licensing, with the software program now accessible subscription-only.
One- and three-year subscriptions have been launched in parallel with perpetual licences final yr, and gross sales of recent perpetual licences have been then stopped in February 2023.
Perpetual licences used to value €1,499 for the usual version and €2,999 for the Professional version: roughly equal to the price of two years’ subscription underneath the brand new pricing mannequin.
Launch date, pricing and system necessities
Lumion 2023.0 is on the market rental-only for Home windows 10+. One-year subscriptions have a MSRP of €749/yr for the usual version; €1,499/yr for the Professional version. See a comparability desk for the 2 editions.
Learn an summary of the brand new options in Lumion 2023.0 on Act-3D’s weblog
Learn a full checklist of recent options in Lumion 2023.0 within the on-line launch notes
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