Maxwell Render

Maxwell Render is an unbiased 3D render engine, developed by Next Limit Technologies in Madrid, Spain. This stand-alone software is used in the film, animation, and VFX industry, as well as in architectural and product design visualization. It offers various plug-ins for 3D/CAD and post production applications.

Overview
Maxwell Render was released to the public as an early alpha in December 2004 (after two years of internal development) utilizing a global illumination (GI) algorithm based on a metropolis light transport variation. Next Limit Technologies released its latest version of Maxwell Render V4.2 in February 2018.

The physically correct rendering engine was originally used as a tool for animation and visual effects. Maxwell Render's trademark Multilight feature, which permits the changing of light intensities and colors in real time, was used in the feature film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

General features
Physically-based advantages
 * Accuracy
 * Advanced Ray Tracing
 * Physical Sky
 * Fast scene set-up
 * Layer-based materials
 * Multilight

Multilight™ FIRE: Fast Interactive Rendering Materials Realistic Camera Model Memory Saving Instances Accurate 3D Motion Blur Hair, Grass and Fur Volumetrics Particle Rendering
 * Immediate feedback to make adjustments to lighting, materials and camera settings
 * Real camera parameters: f-Stop, Focal length, Shutter speed, ISO, film size, diaphragm blades
 * Compatible with many hair systems: Maya Shave and a Haircut, Maya hair, 3ds Max hair, CINEMA hair, Ornatrix
 * Integration with RealFlow software
 * Maxwell Sea
 * Maxwell Volumetric
 * Maxwell Grass
 * Maxwell Scatter

Industry standard support
 * Alembic
 * AxF
 * Deep compositing
 * Pixar Open SubDiv
 * Python scripting
 * VDB

Network Rendering Post Production
 * Post production plug-ins
 * Channels
 * Custom Alphas

Interaction with other software
Maxwell Render for SketchUp is a simplified version of Maxwell Render, fully integrated into the SketchUp software application. Users can set the camera, lighting and environment, apply SketchUp or Maxwell MXM materials, and render and save image files. It is widely used in product design, architectural and engineering visualization.

Plug-ins
3D application plug-ins Postproduction application plug-ins Third party supported plug-ins
 * SolidWorks
 * SoftImage
 * MODO
 * MAYA
 * Houdini
 * Rhinoceros
 * SketchUp
 * LightWave
 * Graphisoft ArchiCAD
 * Bonzai 3D
 * REVIT
 * 3DS MAX
 * CINEMA 4D
 * form Z
 * Photoshop
 * Nuke
 * After effects
 * solidThinking
 * blender