pgregory
01-18-2005, 09:39 AM
I am very pleased to announce that the stable 1.0 release of Aqsis (http://www.aqsis.org) - The Open Source Renderman Renderer, has been released.
This release will remain stable in terms of publicly visible interface, no new features, only bug fixes. This will allow users who have been concerned in the past about things changing underneath them to use Aqsis in the confidence that it will not change.
We have branched the CVS repository to allow 1.0 to be maintained in terms of bug fixes, while work goes ahead on new exciting features, including...
Performance and memory optimisation
Up to now, the development focus has been on ensuring all features work as expected, and all planned features for 1.0 are implemented in some form. Very little effort has been put to optimisation, we now switch focus to concentrate on making Aqsis fast and efficient while maintaining the functionality level.
Ray Tracing/Global Illumination
Aqsis is currently purely a local illumination, scanline renderer. We have plans to implement an efficient scene caching system to allow raytracing and all the global illumination possibilities that brings with it.
Deep Shadow Maps
Some members of the team are already looking at a DSM implementation for better shadow mapping effects, such as semi transparent and colored shadows.
<Other Features Suggested by Users>
We are open to suggestions, and this point, while we are defining what is planned for the next release is the perfect time to get involved and define what you would most like to see in the product. Be it new features in the core renderer, or new tools/integrations, get involved and let us know, drop by the forums on the main site, or visit us on IRC at irc://irc.freenode.net/#aqsis.
Cheers
Paul Gregory
This release will remain stable in terms of publicly visible interface, no new features, only bug fixes. This will allow users who have been concerned in the past about things changing underneath them to use Aqsis in the confidence that it will not change.
We have branched the CVS repository to allow 1.0 to be maintained in terms of bug fixes, while work goes ahead on new exciting features, including...
Performance and memory optimisation
Up to now, the development focus has been on ensuring all features work as expected, and all planned features for 1.0 are implemented in some form. Very little effort has been put to optimisation, we now switch focus to concentrate on making Aqsis fast and efficient while maintaining the functionality level.
Ray Tracing/Global Illumination
Aqsis is currently purely a local illumination, scanline renderer. We have plans to implement an efficient scene caching system to allow raytracing and all the global illumination possibilities that brings with it.
Deep Shadow Maps
Some members of the team are already looking at a DSM implementation for better shadow mapping effects, such as semi transparent and colored shadows.
<Other Features Suggested by Users>
We are open to suggestions, and this point, while we are defining what is planned for the next release is the perfect time to get involved and define what you would most like to see in the product. Be it new features in the core renderer, or new tools/integrations, get involved and let us know, drop by the forums on the main site, or visit us on IRC at irc://irc.freenode.net/#aqsis.
Cheers
Paul Gregory