I am talking about an up to date version for 2.8+ - not that years old 2.x implementation that nobody uses and that got no updates for years.
I’m still using V-Ray for Blender 2.79+ build every day. It works also with V-Ray Next.
I think that the biggest issue with Corona for Blender is not a license. Imo if there will be a lot of people who would like to use Corona and Blender they will find some good solution to this.
I really like GPU rendering too, but Cycles doesn’t give you the same output as Corona, and currently I am losing the clients, because my Cycles renders aren’t so good as Corona. That starts me to think about going back to 2.79 and Corona, but I would like to stay with 2.8+ because it works better:)
Looking forward for V-ray and Blender 2.8 But they are working on this add-on really slow. That make me think that they are not treat Blender users equals as other users. They even not good implemented V-ray Next into 2.79
I really like how octane treats Blender users, but still it isn’t so easy as Corona, and if somebody wants to compete with someone who is using Corona as a default render it is really hard, because nicer image always win this competition.
Next important thing, for me is that I prefer to create nicer image with longer render time than create fast GPU render which need to have a lot of post-production to get closer to something that Corona gives from the box. And that why a lot of people are switching from V-ray into Corona. Nicer images out of the box.
For example these renders were made in 3dsmax and Threadripper 2990WX https://www.behance.net/gallery/74850137/Nature-is-nearby Almost no postproduction (added background) and ~30 min for render. But still, that was really simple to make for him.
I know the problem and face similar challenges. I had switched to Octane for my daily business about a year ago.
With cycles I reached the quality limits quickly. With Octane I’m currently doing quite well. In virtual product photography in particular, I reach a higher level than with Cycles out of the box.
Archviz is not my core business but I get small requests here and then and I’m still not happy with the selection of the render engines for Blender. Yes, Corona would be the best. I’ve worked with it and 3DsMax in the past and know the power. With interiors, Octane struggling with the light distribution, like all pathtrayers?!
Corona has just loads of goodies for an arhviz artist…
ease of use
photographic feel
great GI (especcially in interiors)
great framebuffer post pro tools
lightmix
and let’s not forget popularity and support (I mean for example renderfarms etc)
so you can go far with it.
Sure it’s not the golden solution for all, but one of the best out there for sure.
So having it as an option for blender would just be awesome…
And considering the pricing which is not that bad - I bet it would be the go to option for many blender artists…
not to mention making switches from max to blender for a lot of studios already in the market a lot easier…
Maybe I’m the only one, but I would love Fstorm for Blender. I know it’s probably impossible, but there’s just something about the way its renders look that I love.
IMHO the fastest way to have Corona for Blender is collect money and after this hire Python programmer
to develop addon for Blender LTS version 2.83.It will have 2 years support.
It seems that Corona developers aren’t interested for whatever reason to support Blender. One option would be to ask their top influencers in the community who would want to migrate from 3ds Max to Blender and have Corona here to voice their desire to do so.
The other option is probably for Blender community to organize bounty and donate to create the integration/plug in.
Hiring someone directly is probably an impossible task unless it’s coordinated by Corona developers.
Great to see some more conversations about the desire to have dedicated support for Corona Render in blender. I have worked with Corona Render for almost 5 years now and its a beauty of Render engine. It just works and works so damn well!!!
Honestly its the reason I have not used Blender on a real project until the past month when I realized I had very little desire to continue using 3ds Max despite not being able to use Corona.
Anyways not to go on pointlessly, what i wish to add to the conversation is my “Vote” for dedicated support.
Alexey is quite right, from an outsiders perspective up to now Render Legion hasn’t shown much interest in adding support to Blender. Honestly I understand why, having many integrations to manage can be more work than it might be worth. However he and others have a point. Render Legion would likely employ a new developer to create the integration, so it might be viable to crowd fund the integration.
Following the development of Glen Blanchard work shows he has the capability to do it. He worked on the project a few months back but he has not continue recently, his last comment was to see what updates corona render gets to its standalone application. The standalone application has needed some work and updates which has been happening over the past year or so by Render Legion, plus there has been so many changes to blender in the past year creating integration and add-ons can be tiresome. Blender development is alot more stable now though.
Maybe Glen Blanchard could be motivated to continue his work if he had some Patreon support? anyways this forum post is worth a read if your interested in the topic: https://corona-renderer.com/forum/index.php?topic=14537.150
Glen already has got his Patreon, and he was doing this in his free time, which currently he doesn’t have.
I am afraid that Blender interest in Corona Render integration is too small to make it by Legion, so they were right.
We can think about finding someone who will make an implementation to Blender 2.8 as Glen did in the past, maybe with some new features (I really like how Luxcore treats PBR setup from Cycles) and that should be great Idea to start and keep existing Cycles Libraries.
Corona devs sad that will support with info addon developer (Api and etc)
it seems Glen Blanchard have no enouph time for this project .
it will be more effective collect money first
Now it is time to see how much peoples really interested in addon
OK, it’s a dead venture then. As long as there are no interest from Legion to organize/coordinate the whole process there won’t be any traction in that regard.
I understand they don’t like Blender license. Fortunately other developers found a way. Including V-Ray. Still Legion doesn’t have insentive to support Blender integration. For whatever reason. But it’s their choice as a company. Probably they don’t see the market here. Unless they start loosing customers who moves from 3ds Max to Blender and have to use something other than Corona they like Legion won’t change their mind.
I only see the integration happening right now if reputable developer agrees to make it and says that he needs X amount and Y time to make it happen and then if he gets needed support money wise there is a chance Blender will see Corona support.
Everything else is just talk.
Currently the trend is different. I know few blender artists who are more often using 3dsmax to sets their renders, this show us how great is Corona as an engine. That they decided to buy 3dsmax license only to use Corona. Metter of time when they will stop using Blender, because it is faster to them to set the scene in 3dsmax.
Maybe a crowd funding for some programmer who would like to adapt exporter to Blender 2.8?
Then it’s even less incentive for Legion to support Blender. So it seems like they’re doing the right thing for them as a company.
I am not heavily invested in this because I’m perfectly happy with with options I have now. Saying that I’m all for more render engines in Blender. Doesn’t matter if paid or not. If Corona were supported in Blender 2.8 and made sense for what I do I’d be in the first row to buy a license.
But I enjoy the conversation. It’s a shame though that Blender license is a roadblock for Legion to bring Corona integration. No matter if it’s a true reason or not.
Corona team have their own reasons to ignore creation addon for Blender and personally i am not interested to discuss this situation. (it is just waste of time)
Current situation in the world is not simple too (COVID-19 and Global economic situation)
But if 100 peoples can collect by 10 bucks (i am ready to do this) it is 1000$ (simple math
)
and one programmer is enouph to make addon for 2.83 LTS version
but he must have skills in this area of programing
notice that for blender development it was a problem that api was changing frequently now this aspect become more stable
and addon can be done once for long period
Having some idea how much development costs I doubt anyone would be interested.
A more realistic approach would be involve Legion. Let them know that Blender community really wants Corona. Ask them to supervise the development and calculate costs. Once it’s done they can run funding campaign. If it reaches the goal Legion gets confirmation that Blender community is actually interested in Corona and have funding to develop the integration.
Legion can also use V-Ray expirience and probably developers to estimate realistic costs and development time.
One thing I can guarantee. It’ll be way over $1000 bucks.
This is personal opinion. May be someone has another one
.not interested to dispute here with anyone. ![]()
It is my opinion. Which is based on expirience and common sense.
Development is hard and expensive. Let’s take available info. Chaos Group announced that they found developer last December. They said that they are having great success with development. Still there is not even beta available yet. I think they estimated for beta or final release around September if everything goes well.
So at leas 9 months of development not counting constant maintenance and bug fixes afterwards.
The cost of competent developer is around $3-5 thousands depending on location.
We’re arriving at minimum $27000, more likely $50000 investment to bring Corona to Blender.
Then Legion needs to recover this investment and make profit on top. Based on their licensing model I see why there are no interest on their side. Which is reasonable business wise.
Of course, the developing cost can be higher or lower. This is why I am saying we need Legion to lead it. Because only they can make good estimation.
But I guarantee it’s not $1000. If it was that cheap it would have been done already.
Maybe I’m the only one, but I would love Fstorm for Blender. I know it’s probably impossible, but there’s just something about the way its renders look that I love.