RenderMan 24: Pixar’s latest release focuses on look development

Pixar recently released RenderMan version 24. The highlight of this release is a new CPU + GPU hybrid renderer called RenderMan XPU. Pixar says that XPU has been designed for look development and to provide a good match to RenderMan's production pathtracer, RIS. XPU can handle the scale and complexity of Pixar’s feature animation projects. Pixar’s next-gen rendering engine can take advantage of both CPU and GPU. (Source: Vimeo)   RenderMan 24 also features a shading system for layered materials called MaterialX Lama. Developed by Industrial Light & Magic originally, Lama is short for “Layered Materials.” Pixar says it provides