Solution:
So what exactly is changing with rendering in Autodesk 3ds Max 2018?
Autodesk will make the following changes when it ships 3ds Max 2018:
- Autodesk will no longer provide Mental Ray with 3ds Max 2018. Please note that “Mental Ray’ includes the Iray mode of Mental Ray previously supplied with 3ds Max.
- Customers will have access to the Arnold renderer for foreground processing within 3ds Max 2018.
- The Arnold plug-in (MAXtoA) will be included with the 3ds Max 2018 software download, and available on the Solid Angle site.
- Customers who wish to use Mental Ray with 3ds Max 2018 will be able to acquire it directly from NVIDIA. NVIDIA is also allowing free use of Mental Ray for foreground processing while working within 3ds Max.
This matches NVIDIA’s policy for Mental Ray for Maya. The following is not changing when Autodesk ships 3ds Max 2018:
- Customers currently using Mental Ray with older versions of 3ds Max are unaffected by these changes as they have perpetual licenses.
- 3ds Max will continue to allow you to use third party renderers such as Mental Ray, Iray+, V-Ray, Corona, Redshift, Octane and other renderers will be unaffected.
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Why is Autodesk making these changes?
In 2016, Autodesk purchased Solid Angle, the company that developed Arnold, with the goal of adding high-quality rendering to our product portfolio. As a result of this acquisition, we have decided to create an open rendering ecosystem for our products where different renderers, including Mental Ray, Iray, and Arnold, can compete equally. For this reason, we will no longer be bundling Mental Ray and Iray with 3ds Max. There is a lot of innovation happening in rendering at the moment and with more and more choices in terms of speed, price, quality and capability, so we are allowing customers to choose the renderer that works that best for them. So that 3ds Max can still have the ability to produce high-quality renders out-of-the-box, we will include the ability to use Arnold for foreground processing with 3ds Max 2018.
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Who is affected by these changes?
These changes will affect any customers who download and install 3ds Max 2018. This includes new and existing subscribers as well as customers who download the software as part of their maintenance plan. It does not impact customers using previous versions of 3ds Max.
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What if I want to use Mental Ray or Iray with 3ds Max 2018 or later?
If you want to continue to use NVIDIA rendering products with 3ds Max 2018 (or subsequent releases) you will need to acquire the compatible version from NVIDIA directly. Before installing 3ds Max 2018 you should check availability and usage policies with NVIDIA. More information about Mental Ray and Iray may be found on The NVIDIA website.
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Will adding Arnold affect the way third party renderers work with 3ds Max?
No, we are committed to supporting third party renderers, including NVIDIA’s Mental Ray and Iray, among others. We will continue to work closely with our render partners to make sure their solutions work well with 3ds Max. With new and diverse renderers constantly appearing on the market, each with their own distinctive benefits, we want to make sure customers can continue to use whichever renderer best works for their needs – and that our software works well with the renderers they prefer to use.
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Does including Arnold with 3ds Max put Autodesk render partners at disadvantage?
3ds Max customers will be able to use Arnold out-of-the-box. However, it can only be used for foreground (in-product) processing. Customers will need to purchase additional Arnold licenses if they wish to scale their rendering capability using either background processing, a render farm, or the cloud. This puts Arnold on a similar footing to other third party renderers and allows customers to freely choose which renderer they wish to license when planning their workflows.
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When will the Mental Ray and Iray plug-ins be available for 3ds Max 2018?
NVIDIA has been Beta testing Mental Ray for 3ds Max 2018 since December and intends to release Mental Ray and Iray for 3ds Max 2018 soon after it completes final testing on the publicly released version of 3ds Max 2018. Please visit NVIDIA’s website for more information on availability.
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I am a 3ds Max customer with an active maintenance plan for Mental Ray/Iray do, what should I do?
As long as you continue using your current version of 3ds Max nothing will change. However, when the time comes to upgrade to 3ds Max 2018 you may need to purchase new rendering licenses.
Here is what we recommend:
- Carefully evaluate whether you will need additional rendering capability beyond that already provided with 3ds Max 2018 which includes the Scanline, Quicksilver and Autodesk Raytracer (ART) renderers. The Arnold functionality included with 3ds Max 2018 can only be used within the 3ds Max application, and cannot be not used to render projects in the background (via command-line) or on a render farm. For offline rendering, Arnold creates a watermark on the image when no Arnold license is available.
- Choose which renderer they wish to invest in. We recommend that you research and test which renderer works best for your budget and image requirements.
- If you need to purchase render licenses you can do one of the following:
- Visit the SolidAngle.com website for Arnold licenses
- Contact NVIDIA for Mental Ray licenses
- Contact Chaos Group for licenses of V-Ray 4. Contact the developer, or an authorized reseller, of renderers such as Corona, Octane, or Redshift.
You should now be able to upgrade to 3ds Max 2018 with the full confidence that your rendering requirements will be met.
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As a 3ds Max subscriber using Mental Ray/Iray, what should I do?
You will be eligible to download 3ds Max 2018 as of April 12, 2017. However, if you wish to continue using Mental Ray or Iray, you will need to contact NVIDIA for plug-in availability and usage policies.
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Will I be able to purchase Mental Ray licenses from Autodesk?
No, customers who need Mental Ray licenses for 3ds Max 2018 will need to purchase them directly from the NVIDIA sales channel.
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Will I be able to purchase Mental Ray licenses from my reseller for 3ds Max 2018?
Autodesk channel partners will not be authorized to sell Mental Ray licenses for 3ds Max 2018 on behalf of Autodesk. However, they may have a separate distribution contract with NVIDIA that enables them to do so. You should contact your reseller or NVIDIA directly to find out more on how they can purchase Mental Ray and Iray licenses for 3ds Max 2018.
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I’m using Mental Ray with 3ds Max 2017, can’t I just use it with 3ds Max 2018?
No, you will need a new plug-in for Mental Ray and Iray to be able to use them with 3ds Max 2018. You should contact NVIDIA to check availability of the plug-in as well as any associated licensing costs of using NVIDIA’s rendering technology with 3ds Max 2018.
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Will scenes created using Mental Ray/Iray still be compatible with 3ds Max 2018?
Yes, 3ds Max scenes containing Mental Ray/Iray shaders and other features will still be compatible with 3ds Max 2018, however it will require a compatible version of Mental Ray or Iray+ to be installed. This will need to be acquired from NVIDIA. Out-of-the-box, 3ds Max 2018 will not support Mental Ray or Iray features.
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Will I be notified if I try to load a setup with Mental Ray but do not have it installed?
Yes, a notice in 3ds Max 2018 will warn users who try to load a scene that includes Mental Ray shaders but who do not have a compatible version of Mental Ray installed. You can choose to cancel the load or continue and replace the shaders with new ones that are compatible with Arnold or the renderer you have chosen. 3ds Max provides the Scene Converter (in the Rendering menu) that allows you to upgrade scene lights, materials, and certain other items, and optionally remove legacy features.
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Where can I go to get support for Mental Ray/Iray for 3ds Max 2018?
You should contact NVIDIA for information on support for NVIDIA rendering plug-ins for 3ds Max 2018.
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I’m using Mental Ray/Iray with 3ds Max, do I have to switch to Arnold?
No, there is no obligation to switch, you can continue to use Mental Ray and Iray. NVIDIA will continue to offer Mental Ray and Iray for 3ds Max as a plugin, and these will continue to be an option for 3ds Max users. Please contact NVIDIA for more details on pricing and availability.
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Can I install 3ds Max 2018 without installing Arnold?
Yes. There is no requirement to install Arnold. You can simply choose to opt out of the Arnold installation by disabling the ‘Arnold for 3ds Max’ option during the installation process. If required, Arnold can be re-installed at a later date.
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I purchased mental ray Standalone from Autodesk for use with 3ds Max. What becomes of my future subscription?
Your subscription rights for mental ray Standalone provide you with support and services relating to the use of Standalone with versions prior to 3ds Max 2018. NVIDIA is providing complimentary Mental Ray licenses to Standalone customers for use with 3ds Max 2018 and later. The capabilities of Standalone are now part of the basic Mental Ray product when used on the network, and are included with all NVIDIA Mental Ray licenses. Please contact an NVIDIA Reseller for complimentary NVIDIA licenses.
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We teach Mental Ray as part of our school’s curriculum teaching 3ds Max. Does NVIDIA have a program for us?
Yes, qualified institutions with curriculum employing Mental Ray may qualify for NVIDIA’s Education Program, which provides complimentary educational licenses. Please see the NVDIA web site for details and to apply for the program.
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