Wednesday, February 19th, 2020 Posted by Jim Thacker

Chaos Group releases V-Ray Next for SketchUp Update 2


Originally posted on 19 October 2019. Scroll down for news of Update 2.

Chaos Group has released V-Ray Next for SketchUp, the latest version of the renderer for Trimble’s architectural sketching software.

The update makes key features of V-Ray Next available to SketchUp users, including the Adaptive Dome Light and automatic exposure systems, and introduces new asset management tools.

Faster rendering, new Scene Intelligence features and workflow improvements
SketchUp is the latest host application to be updated to the new V-Ray Next architecture – V-Ray 4.x in old version numbering – after the release of V-Ray Next for 3ds Max and Maya last year.

Like its predecessors, it improves CPU and GPU render speed and introduces new ‘Scene Intelligence’ features designed to simplify render set-up, including the Adaptive Dome Light and automatic exposure.

The update also adds support for Nvidia’s AI-based OptiX render denoising system, and makes the standard V-Ray material compatible with metalness PBR workflows used in game engines like UE4.

Workflow improvements include a new asset-management system based around a library shared across SketchUp projects, and a Scene Interaction tool for direct access to any level of the SketchUp hierarchy.

The UI also gains a new V-Ray Toolbar intended for quick access to common tools and quick adjustments to cameras or render settings.



Updated 19 October 2019: Chaos Group has released V-Ray Next for SketchUp Update 1.

It’s largely a workflow and performance release, improving interactive rendering performance on the CPU, and updating the UI, including adding custom cursors for common V-Ray tools.

New features include support for automated matte ID-generation system Cryptomatte, and new lens effects in the V-Ray Frame Buffer, including procedurally generated dust and scratches.

The update also adds support for SketchUp’s native colour correction workflow, making it possible to adjust the colour value of a texture in SketchUp and see the change in real time in the VFB.



Updated 19 February 2020: Chaos Group has released V-Ray Next for SketchUp Update 2.

As with recent updates to the 3ds Max and Maya editions of the software, the release adds support for the RT ray tracing cores in current-gen Nvidia RTX graphics cards, accelerating renders by an average of 40%.

New features include Color Assistant, an extension to the V-Ray Color Picker intended to generate variations of the colour currently selected.

The update also improves material editing workflow, with V-Ray now automatically generating material slots for proxy objects, and the option to add or remove attributes from materials at will.

Other workflow improvements include the option to export only selected objects as a V-Ray .vrscene file, rather than the entire scene; and a new ‘bright’ colour theme for the UI.

Pricing and system requirements
V-Ray Next for SketchUp Update 2 is available for SketchUp 2016-2020 running on Windows 7+ and Mac OS X 10.9+. A perpetual workstation licence and one render node costs $790.


Read a full list of new features in V-Ray Next for SketchUp Update 2 in the online release notes

Read an overview of V-Ray Next for SketchUp Update 1 on Chaos Group’s blog

Read an overview of V-Ray Next for SketchUp on Chaos Group’s blog