VRED 2023.2

Learn about new features and improvements in this release of VRED. For technical details and bug fixes, see the 2023.2 release notes and recommended system requirements to ensure Autodesk VRED products are running to their potential.

What's New in 2023.2 and General Improvements

Important:

For Windows users, 2023.2 requires an NVIDIA RTX driver v.511.65 or above.

For Linux users, 2023.2 requires an NVIDIA driver v.510.47.03 or above.

Video Captions: In VRED 2023.2, we implemented several new features that will increase your visual quality and make your workflow faster and easier.

Now, we have updated the Camera Editor. The new editor is now decoupled, as well, and you can access all properties via the Python API.

You can also do a multi-selection on cameras like you are already used to, within the Light or Material Editor, where different values will be marked in yellow, and you can change values for multiple cameras in one go.

You can also use now the new filters for a faster and easier search.

And, close or expand the Tree View. Additionally, you can split the Tree View, which can be very helpful for navigating within a huge scene.

Also, the Aim and Aim Up of a camera is now displayed and you can find these nodes now very easy with a right-click.

Also, the Track View is now different and only the selected tracks will be visible. Additionally, you can update the preview thumbnails for a single track or for all tracks.

For a pixel correct result with self-intersecting transparent objects in OpenGL, we’ve added additionally to the Object Sorting, the so-called Depth Peeling. This can also solve the issue of wrongly sorted transparent materials. Use the slider to adjust the number of layers that should be taken into the calculation.

For Denoising, you can now select between the NVIDIA GPU denoiser or Intels Open Image CPU Denoiser. This can save you a lot of GPU memory when rendering a huge image.

Additionally, we have added now more advanced clearcoat options to all materials that can have a clearcoat. Now, you can achieve interesting satin paints in OpenGL using the new Roughness slider. Thanks for watching the video.

Click the cards below for further information on new features and improvements found in 2023.2.

Transparency Modes

We added Depth Peeling for order-independent transparency and per-pixel correct blending of transparent surfaces, without sorting. Render images with complex intersecting transparent objects, such as a headlight, with pixel-perfect accuracy. Under Visualization > Advanced OpenGL Settings > Transparency Mode > Depth Peeling you can toggle between Object Sorting (using the Sort Key of the material) and Depth Peeling. Use the Transparency Settings in Visualization > Advanced OpenGL Settings > Transparency Mode to set the depth of the peeling.

Camera Editor Decoupling

The decoupling of the Camera Editor is complete, making it possible to access all properties via the Python API. Menus and quick access icons have been added, making it easier to locate options and access frequently used tools. Use the search, filtering, and collapse/expand controls to locate cameras and viewpoints in the Tree List. Split the Tree List into two views for easier sorting/grouping. Improved the loading and saving of tracks and viewpoints. Also, when working with tracks, the number of tracks selected in the Tree List determines the number of tracks displayed in the Track View. And lastly, properties can now be changed on multi-selection for cameras and viewpoints.

Face-normal Rendering

Improved face-normal rendering, by adding two new colors to show invalid normals. These help you detect files that are broken and can only be repaired by recalculating the normals. Red normals are NaN or have a zero length, which creates NaNs when normalized. Pink normals have an absolute angle between the face and vertex normal above a threshold, such as 85°. Invalid Normals Valid Normals

Roughness for Clearcoat

Added a Roughness option to the Metallic Carpaint Clearcoat section for imitating clearcoat spray paint high-gloss satin and matte finishes in OpenGL, CPU raytracing, and GPU raytracing. Now, you can control the roughness, thickness, and density of the clearcoat for most materials, such as Plastic, Brushed Metal, Metallic Carpaint, and Carbon (2D/3D).

Denoiser Improvements

We added the choice of NVIDIA's OptiX GPU or Intel's Open Image CPU denoiser when rendering and for lightmap baking. Set this in the UI or with Python. Use setDenoiserModel for switching to the AOV OptiX Denoiser, instead of using the default HDR OptiX Denoiser for raytracing. It is possible to combine GPU raytracing with CPU denoising and vice-versa. Therefore, CPU raytracing with CPU denoising is now possible, if you don't have compatible RTX GPUs.

Disable Shadow Map Updates

We added setShadowMapUpdates(bool) and getShadowMapUpdates(). To prevent any shadow maps from updating, use setShadowMapUpdates(false). Lights created while the update is set to false will also be included and their shadow maps will not update. Re-enabling updates will trigger a render, updating all shadow maps.

Resolved FBX Textures Paths

We added support to resolve textures paths from FBX that are absolute to relative. This enables you to load textures with the file, without the need for manually reloading each texture.

Improved Photometric Dialog

Added a checkbox and removed a button from the Enable Photometric Parameters dialog to make it easier to choose the correct option for activating/deactivating the photometric mode and, therefore, reduce rendering issues.

Help Changes

For Python, we renamed the Python API V1 commands as they appear in the TOC, removing the "module_" and "class_" from the name, for easier searchability. We also added example links to classes that have Python example files. For logo text and projecting textures, we added the Working with Logos and Projecting Textures topic at the request of a user. There are simple instructions for mapping a logo onto a material, adjusting its placement, and adding a bump map. We've also included information on dragging and dropping a texture from outside of VRED directly onto geometry in VRED and creating a decal from there. Lastly, find links to additional information, including a video on Texture Projection Settings. For the Material Editor, find all common attributes now only in General Truelight Material Settings. Content unique to a specific material is found in that material, along with links to common attribute information.