Chaos releases Corona 12 Update 2 for 3ds Max and Cinema 4D
Chaos has released Corona 12 Update 2, the latest version of its production renderer for architectural visualization and portfolio rendering in 3ds Max and Cinema 4D.
The update adds over 3,100 scanned real-world materials from Chaos Scans to the Cosmos library, and improves handling of volumetric effects and depth of field.
Over 3,100 scanned materials from Chaos Scans now available in the Cosmos library
The headline change in Corona 12 Update 2 is that over 3,100 scanned real-world materials from the Chaos Scans online library have been added to the Cosmos library.
That makes it possible to drag and drop them directly into a scene, rather than having to import them manually.
The scans provided include metal, leather, paper, plastic, rubber, and packaging materials.
According to the video above, there is “no change to who gets access to scans”, although the Cosmos library is available to all subscribers, whereas Chaos Scans is only included in Premium subscriptions. We’ve contacted Chaos to clarify this, and will update if we hear back.
The update also includes 18 new LUTs created by visualization artist Iraban Dutta.
Both host applications: better handling of volumetric effects and depth of field
Workflow changes common to both host applications include a per-camera Global Volume override in the Corona Camera, for more control over volumetric effects like fog and haze.
The experimental DOF Highlights Solver, which increases the speed at which depth of field effects render, at the expense of slower rendering of other effects, now gives correct results when highlights are seen in reflections or some refractions.
3ds Max only: faster timeline scrubbing
3ds Max users get faster timeline scrubbing when interactive rendering is enabled, and an update to the live link to Vantage, Chaos’s real-time renderer.
Cinema 4D only: automatic conversion of more common V-Ray objects and materials
Cinema 4D users get support for for more objects and material types in the Scene Converter, which automatically converts scenes originally created for the V-Ray renderer.
That includes common objects like V-Ray Proxy and V-Ray Clipper; the V-Ray Triplanar, V-Ray Two-Sided, and V-Ray Blend materials; and the V-Ray Decal and V-Ray Enmesh systems.
There is also new minimap in the Node Material editor, helping to navigate complex materials.
Updates to Chaos Cloud and Anima
Outside the core application, functionality for creating immersive virtual tours has been added to Chaos Cloud, Chaos’s cloud rendering platform.
Corona is also compatible with Anima 6, the latest version of Chaos’s crowd animation system for 3ds Max and Cinema 4D, which added a new traffic simulation system.
Price and system requirements
Corona 12 Update 2 is compatible with 3ds Max 2016+ and Cinema 4D R17+.
The software is available subscription-only. Corona Solo subscriptions are node-locked, and include access to the Chaos Cosmos asset library; Corona Premium subscriptions are floating, and also include Phoenix, Chaos Player and Chaos Scans.
Corona Solo subscriptions cost $59.90/month or $394.80/year. Corona Premium subscriptions cost $72.90/month or $514.80/year. Additional Corona Render nodes cost $172.
Read a full list of new features in Corona 12 Update 2 on Chaos’s blog
Find more details of the new features in Corona 12 Update 2 in the online documentation
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