Download the free edition of RenderMan 25.2
Pixar’s feature reel for RenderMan 25. The free Non-Commercial edition of the renderer is available now, and includes most of the features from the commercial edition, including RenderMan XPU.
Originally posted on 18 April 2023, and updated with the release of RenderMan 25.2.
Pixar has released the free Non-Commercial edition of RenderMan 25.2, the latest version of the renderer.
The release includes many of the key features from RenderMan 25 itself, including the new AI denoiser and the updated version of RenderMan XPU, Pixar’s hybrid CPU/GPU rendering system.
A free licence of RenderMan for non-commercial work and tools development
As with previous versions of Non-Commercial RenderMan, the new release can be used for personal projects, research, and tools development, including the development of commercial plugins and assets.
Output isn’t watermarked, although Pixar stipulates that users should add its ‘rendered with RenderMan’ logo to the credits of any project released publicly.
It also includes many of the key features from the commercial edition, including the new AI denoiser, used by Pixar on all of its own movies since Toy Story 4.
Now includes XPU, but not Stylized Looks
In addition, Non-Commercial RenderMan now includes RenderMan XPU, Pixar’s new hybrid CPU/GPU rendering system, which wasn’t included in the previous non-commercial release.
However, one feature still not included in Non-Commercial RenderMan is Stylized Looks, RenderMan’s non-photorealistic rendering toolset, since it was developed in partnership with Lollipop Shaders.
System requirements
Non-Commercial RenderMan 25.2 is available for Windows 10, CentOS/RHEL 7.2+ Linux and macOS 10.14+. Plugins are available for Blender 2.93/3.0+, Houdini 18.5+, Katana 4.0+ and Maya 2020-2023.
To download it, you will need to register for a free account on Pixar’s forum, which entitles you to two node-locked licences. The licence times out after 120 days, after which you have to renew.
Download the free Non-Commercial edition of RenderMan 25.2
(Registration required)
Homepage image: A still from Pixar’s Lightyear, used to promote RenderMan 25.