Maxwell Render 1.7, from Next Limit Technologies, is now publicly available. Everyone can now download the 1.7 demo from www.maxwellrender.com/demo.php and test-drive this new version.
Also, the Maxwell Render website has been updated with new info and images and the Maxwell Render manual for version 1.7 is available for download from the website.
Maxwell Render 1.7 offers several new and vastly improved features including:
--A new Physical Sky system: several real-life, physically accurate parameters can be used to control the look of the sky and the resulting light in the scene, ranging from common Earth values to exaggerated fantasy skies.
--A new Sub-Surface Scattering component: SSS simulates the effect of light entering a translucent object and scattering inside it. Fully rewritten, the Maxwell SSS component follows an entirely new approach compared to the old system or to any other SSS system currently available.
--Enhancements in the Material Editor: incremental updates in the material preview, storing material swatches, new image controls, wizards, and more. An easier-to-use and faster Material Editor.
--Plug-in enhancements: all available plug-ins have been updated to ensure full compatibility with version 1.7, and have seen improvements and bug fixes.
--Improvements in Maxwell Studio: texture handling and memory optimizations, Realtime OpenGL preview of Physical Sky, improved material browser, and much more.
A complete overview of new and improved features and an extensive guide to how to use them is available from http://www.maxwellrender.com/files/what's_new_in1.7_guide.zip.
Download the 1.7 demo now: www.maxwellrender.com/demo.php.
