As a 3D Visualizer, I am constantly testing new Software Solutions combined with the latest Technology. This time I was testing a new Design Tool with 3D Real-Time Ray Tracing Technology. Below, I am going to share my Test Results with you.
You can also Download the 3D Experience to your PC. Just run the application & experience the Real-Time Power on your own.
In this Test, I was using Epics Unreal Engine to output a photorealistic 3D Render in Real Time. This new 3D Design Tool allows you to use Real-Time Ray Tracing. In my latest test, I was documenting exactly how I am using Unreal Design Studio for my Design Process – especially very handy for Material Studies or Lighting Studies. See the Video below.
Ray Tracing Video Tutorial
If you follow the Video Tutorial, you can literally do the same. I also share all my project files for free. That allows you to see all the render settings. My Scene Files do also include my Shaders and PBR Materials. And if you haven’t been checking out my cinematography tutorial – you should do it now.
My slogan: I believe in Giving & Helping and I love to share my knowledge to help other Designers & Creative Heads to boost their 3D Visualization Design Process.
The 3D Design Tool I was testing is also known as UE4. The latest and greatest name is Unreal Design Studio, released by EPIC. In the latest Version, I was using the new feature called HDRI Backdrop.
Initial Setup was done with 3dsmax & Vray. I used Datasmith to import the model into the new Unreal Design Studio Tool.
Ray Tracing Examples
You can download the Project File that contains the Project & Render Settings. And you can also Download the 3D Demo and run it on your PC.
I really like the new features a lot, and I know this is very useful for Designers working in all different kinds of industries. If you are interested in Product Design, Interior Design, Retail Design, Exhibit Design, Mechanical Design, or Environmental Design – the options are unlimited.
It’s also great for Creative Agencies, Creative Directors to Create Powerful Presentations. The new Unreal Studio Tool helps also Business Developers and Marketing Managers with strong Visuals that can be used for Content Marketing and running different Ad Campaigns.
Ray Tracing Software Tested
No matter if Stills are needed or Teasers & Trailers for commercials.
In my latest test, I was ray tracing Ambient Occlusion, Global Illumination, Reflections & Refractions (Translucency).
I wanted to see how far I can push the Ray Tracer to achieve a photoreal look. And I also wanted to make sure I render quickly 3D Stills and even 3D Animations.
Ray Tracing Games & Production
Conclusion about my Test Results: I am super stoked, telling every Designer how freaking awesome this new tool is. Well, let’s talk about the benefits here.
Benefits of using Unreal Studio UE4:
- Since the render process is done in Real Time with an Nvidia RTX Card, I don’t need an expensive Render Farm for Animations.
- The Render Time is in Real Time. That means, outputting a Frame takes about 1 second. Hell yeah…..
- Post Production: I don’t export or save 32bit floating point .exr files. Because I do the comping in Real Time. It’s actually insane.
- Camera Animation: The built-in Sequencer is a dream compared to any other Design Tool. I can create cinematic Previz Animations in Real Time. I do have the power of any physical-based 3D Camera. Great for Directors, great for Layout and DP’s.
- Datasmith Pipeline is very sweet and allows me to exchange models between different software packages. Sketchup, Revit, 3dsmax, Cinema 4D, etc.
The list goes on and on and on.
Ray Tracing Images & Animations
I am going to post a lot of other tests, also showing how to use the new Design Tool within different production pipelines.
Architects do work a lot with Revit or Sketchup. A lot of Mechanical Designers are using Rhino or Solid Works. While 3D Artists prefer to use 3dsmax, Maya, Cinema 4D, Blender or Houdini.
Ray Tracing Optics
No matter what 3D Tool you are currently using for 3D CAD Data. There is always a data preparation process involved. Very important for Real-Time Rendering and Real-Time Ray Tracing.
Of course, it’s important to use a GPU (Graphics Card) that’s going to supports Real-Time Ray Tracing. I will also publish more tests about the best possible Nvidia RTX Cards you can use for your purpose.
3D Ray Tracing
One thing is for sure. No matter if you are a Designer, Architect, or Creative Director. The new Ray Tracing Technology is going to change the industry and the old-school workflow as we know it.
Virtual Set Productions, Real-Time Chroma Keying & Green Screen Shootings are becoming more and more usable with this new tool.
Yes, it’s absolutely clear that this new 3D Design Tool can also be used for 3D Architectural Visualization or the use of any Virtual Production and 3D Studio Lighting Setups. Retail Design Visualization, Event Design Visualization, Interior Design, Product Design, etc.
Ray Tracing Images
Real-Time Ray Tracing Examples can be more & more found in the latest video game renders. Especially the use of Real-Time Global Illumination is a very performance-expensive feature.
The GI Ray Tracing is also very important for 3D Architectural Illustrations, Renders & Animations. Especially when it comes to Interior Design Projects, Retail Design, Exhibit Design, etc. – you name it.
My latest tests also show how the ray tracing software is losing its performance – measured by Frames Per Second or FPS – when the Samples per Pixel will be increased.
However. As technology get’s better more Ray Tracing Games are coming to the market. And more Ray Tracing Features can be used for 3D Renderings. And it’s a fact, that Ray Tracing Rendering is a very powerful tool for any Digital Creative Design Process. Especially when it comes to Lighting Studies or Material Studies.
Ray Tracing Graphics Card
For my tests, I was using an Nvidia RTX 2080 Graphics Card that supports the RTX Technology with DirectX12 (DX12). My favorite Ray Tracing Program is Unreal from Epic. A Real-Time Engine that uses one of the best Real-Time Ray Tracing algorithms.
It’s also a fact, that 3D Ray Tracing in Computer Graphics will become more and more powerful. For that reason, I will post soon another new Ray Tracing Example, that also shows more details about Ray Tracing Lighting and Ray Tracing Shadows.
I for sure will keep you posted with the latest Ray Tracing News. For Gamers who would like to test AAA Video Games and their Ray Tracing Graphics. Please find below a complete List of all the latest Real-Time Ray Tracing Games.
List of all Real-Time Ray Tracing Games
- Battlefield V
- Control
- Metro Exodus (and The Two Colonels DLC)
- Quake II RTX
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider
- Stay in the Light
- Wolfenstein: Youngblood
- Atomic Heart
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Doom Eternal
- Dying Light 2
- Enlisted
- Justice
- JX3
- Minecraft
- Mechwarrior V: Mercenaries
- ProjectDH
- Synced: Off Planet
- Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
- Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
Okay. That’s it for now. I’ll be posting more tests soon & I hope this post was useful for you. Please feel free to post any comments. Cheers.
Hi!
I downloaded your project, the one with the Drone and RTX for translucency and depth of field!
Is amazing! But I do have a strange problem:
When i set the translucency on ray tracing, the glass shaded objects would not contribute to the depth pass, and so, the glass objects will not be consistently blur. Actually, they blur as the “next in depth” object in sight… (like the background behind them). But i saw it in your video and that didn’t happen!
Do you have any idea what could cause a bizarre effect like that?
Thanks in advance !!! keep up the great work!
Mario from Italy
That’s interesting. If you could share your scene file without the models, then I can take a closer look and run some more tests with your Translucency issue and the Ray Tracing of the Refraction.
It could be somewhere in the project settings, camera settings or the post process volume.
It might also be something within your material. I can’t tell what specific shader you’ve been using and you’ve setup the ray traced translucency within your glass material.
If you can somehow share the project file (excluding your 3d models) – that would be the best.
Hi Bernhard!
After some trying and experimentations, we found the best way actually usable to bypass the problem, we also talked to the unreal developers and they confirmed.
Basically we attached a capture2D object to the camera, and used his resulting texture in the shader of our fake translucent meshes. so you can “see” through the mesh, but is actually an opaque mesh, and therefore it is visible in the scene depth, resulting in a correct depth of field behavior!
I can’t seem to get to the downloads at all… No Direct links. (Not Working)
just go to my resource page or join my free slack channel at https://fattybull.slack.com and you’ll get the direct download link for all project files.