Design Software History: The Evolution of V-Ray: Transforming Photorealistic Rendering in Design and Visualization | NOVEDGE Blog
: Introduced Chaos Scatter, VRayEnmesh , and significant GPU rendering improvements [11].
Focused on collaborative workflows and advanced environment rendering. Features include Chaos Cloud Collaboration , Procedural Clouds , Finite Dome Lights , and enhanced mesh scattering.
V-Ray 1.0 launched as a plugin for Autodesk 3ds Max, quickly gaining popularity for its superior Global Illumination (GI) capabilities compared to native renderers of the era. vray all versions list
: Render times dropped by up to 50% while simplifying the render settings user interface. The Next Gen and Intelligent Rendering (2018–2021) V-Ray Next (Version 4.0)
: Progressive Image Sampler, V-Ray Denoiser, and Variance-Based Adaptive Sampling.
A favorite among architectural and interior designers for its seamless, intuitive integration. V-Ray 1
In the beginning, V-Ray brought efficient global illumination (GI) to 3ds Max.
From the early days of irradiance maps to the AI-driven, real-time-capable engine of V-Ray 7 in 2026, Chaos has ensured that V-Ray remains at the forefront of rendering technology. Whether using V-Ray for SketchUp or 3ds Max, understanding this version history helps artists appreciate the efficiency and power built into every new release. If you'd like, I can:
Added built-in presets for plastics, metals, glass, and fabrics alongside physical presets like Sheen and Coat layers. The Scale and Detail Era (V-Ray 6) V-Ray 6 (2022–2024) A favorite among architectural and interior designers for
The latest leap, incorporating 3D Gaussian Splatting support for rendering scanned environments and native real-time rendering directly in the viewport. Key Evolutionary Milestones Key Innovation Genesis Global Illumination Realistic light bouncing on surfaces. Real-time Interactive Previews Instant feedback during the creative process. Intelligence AI Denoising Clean images in a fraction of the time. Modern Gaussian Splatting Rendering realistic 3D captures of real objects.
Branded "Next" to signal a leap in AI-powered denoising and "smart" features like Auto Exposure and Auto White Balance.