Tuesday, September 24th, 2019 Posted by Jim Thacker

Luxion ships KeyVR 9.0


Luxion has updated KeyVR, its “one-click solution for VR experiences” based on its KeyShot renderer.

The release – which is referred to as version 9.0.223 in the online changelog, and the ‘Fall update’ on Luxion’s blog – improves the display of glass and other transparent materials.

Users also get a new Move/Rotate widget, and the option to display multiple model sets.

View any existing KeyShot scene in virtual reality
First released earlier this year, KeyVR makes it possible to explore KeyShot scenes in virtual reality, changing model sets, materials or environments interactively, or playing back animations.

Luxion pitches the software both as a way for users to assess designs and a way to present them to clients.

Workflow is kept simple: users set up a scene in the normal way inside the renderer, then click a button to export it to KeyVR as a readymade virtual reality experience.

Once in KeyVR, the scene can be viewed using an HTC Vive, Oculus Rift or Windows Mixed Reality headset, navigating using standard teleport or flight behaviours, or via cameras previously set up in KeyShot.

Users can also enable gravity and rigid-body dynamics for scene objects: the physics behaviours are created automatically, without the need for coding.

However, not all of KeyShot’s features are currently supported: you can find a breakdown table here.

New in KeyVR 9.0: better display of transparent materials like glass
The new update adds support for four more KeyShot material types: Glass, Glass (Solid), Gem and Dielectric.

The latter three support refraction and light attenuation, with Luxion making the bold claim that this provides the “most realistic … appearance for glass and dielectrics in any VR software yet”.

In addition, the quality of reflections and colour transmission on all transparent materials has been “improved significantly”.

Workflow improvements include a new Move/Rotate widget for manipulating scene objects within virtual reality, and the option to show or hide multiple model sets.

Scene loading times have also been reduced, particularly for “long or disabled animations as well as for degenerate or small objects or triangles”, although Luxion doesn’t put a figure on the speed boost.

The update also pre-emptively adds support for KeyShot scene files in .ksp or .bip format generated in KeyShot 9, the next major update to the renderer: announced earlier this year, but not yet shipping.

Pricing and system requirements
KeyVR 9.0.223 is available for Windows 7+ only. The software is rental-only, and is priced at $995/year.

KeyShot itself costs costs $995 for the base HD edition, $1,995 for the Pro edition, and $3,995 for the Enterprise edition. You can find a feature comparison table here.


Read an overview of the new features in KeyShot VR 9.0 on Luxion’s blog

Read more about KeyVR on Luxion’s product website