If you’re diving into 3D rendering in Blender this year, you’ve probably asked yourself: “Which GPU should I get?” Whether you’re creating stylized characters, cinematic environments, or photo-real product renders, your graphics card is the powerhouse behind those beautiful final images.

In 2025, Blender’s rendering engines—Cycles, Eevee, and now the experimental Eevee Next—continue to push the limits of GPU performance. So let’s break down the best GPUs for various needs and budgets in this blog with iRender.

Before we jump into specific cards, here are the key specs that matter:

• CUDA Cores / Stream Processors: More cores = faster rendering (especially for Cycles).
  
• VRAM: 8GB minimum for complex scenes; 12–24GB preferred for heavy work.
  
• Ray Tracing Support: Essential for real-time rendering and path-traced engines.
  
• Driver Stability: Blender loves mature, stable drivers. Avoid the cutting edge too much.

• Performance: The RTX 4090 stands out as Blender’s most powerful consumer GPU, delivering exceptional performance in Cycles and Eevee rendering engines. It boasts 16,384 CUDA cores and 24GB of GDDR6X VRAM, ensuring smooth handling of complex scenes and high-resolution textures. ​
• Use Case: Ideal for professionals and studios requiring top-tier rendering capabilities.​

• Performance:

The RTX 4080 offers a balanced mix of performance and efficiency, featuring 9,728 CUDA cores and 16GB of GDDR6X VRAM. It’s well-suited for demanding rendering tasks while consuming less power than the RTX 4090.

The RTX 4080 offers a balanced blend of performance and cost-efficiency. Equipped with 16GB of VRAM, it provides robust rendering capabilities suitable for most professional workflows. While it trails the RTX 4090 by about 24% in performance, its more accessible price point makes it an attractive option for many users.

• Use Case: Suitable for artists seeking high performance without the premium price tag of the RTX 4090.​

• Performance: AMD’s RX 7900 XTX is a strong contender, offering 20GB of GDDR6 VRAM and leveraging FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) technology to enhance rendering performance.
• Use Case: A cost-effective choice for users who prefer AMD’s ecosystem and seek solid rendering performance.​

• Performance: With 16GB of GDDR6X VRAM, the RTX 4070 Ti Super delivers excellent performance for its price point, making it a favorite among budget-conscious creators.​
• Use Case: Ideal for freelancers and hobbyists seeking high performance without a hefty investment.​

• Performance: The mobile variant of the RTX 4080 brings desktop-level performance to laptops, featuring up to 16GB of VRAM and optimized power consumption.​
• Use Case: Perfect for professionals needing powerful rendering capabilities on the go.​

According to a comprehensive analysis by 360Render, the RTX 4070 Super offers the best price-to-performance ratio, with an OctaneBench score of 697 and a value ratio of 1.23. The RTX 4090, while delivering the highest performance with a score of 1,484, has a lower value ratio of 0.93 due to its premium price.​

Considerations for Your Workflow

• VRAM Requirements: Ensure the GPU has sufficient VRAM for your project’s complexity; 16GB is a good starting point for most tasks.​
• Software Compatibility: Verify that your chosen GPU is compatible with Blender’s rendering engines and any third-party plugins you use.​
• Power Supply: High-performance GPUs like the RTX 4090 require robust power supplies; ensure your system can accommodate the power demands.​

While performance is key when choosing a GPU for Blender, price and value for money are equally important, especially for artists with specific budgets. Here’s a quick rundown of what you’re paying for:

• RTX 4090: Expensive, but worth every dollar if you’re a studio professional or dealing with ultra-heavy scenes. Prices can exceed $1,800 USD in some markets, so think twice if you’re just learning or doing small-scale freelance work.
• RTX 4080: Priced more moderately (around $1,200 USD), with only about 20–25% less performance than the 4090. This is a balanced choice between power and practicality—highly recommended for pro artists.
• RTX 4070 Ti Super: At around $800–900 USD, it delivers excellent performance for medium-scale projects and animations. Easily the best bang-for-buck GPU for freelancers, content creators, and even serious students.
• RTX 4060 Ti 16GB: At roughly $450–500 USD, this is currently the best budget option for Blender users working on smaller projects or learning the software. If your scenes aren’t heavy with simulations or 8K textures, it’s a solid pick.
• RTX 4060 8GB or GPUs with less than 8GB VRAM: While affordable, these cards no longer meet Blender 2025’s performance demands, especially for Cycles or heavy texture work. Long-term, this is not a wise investment.

Bottom line: Choose a GPU that matches your workload and budget. Don’t overspend on top-tier cards just for smoother viewports, but also avoid underpowered ones that you’ll need to replace too soon.

If you’re unsure whether to upgrade or rent power on demand, try benchmarking your current setup with Blender’s official benchmark tool, or give a cloud service like iRender a spin to compare.

 iRender is proud to be one of the best GPU service providers on the market. We provide you with high-configuration models with advanced specifications such as AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 3955WX @ 3.9 – 4.2GHz or AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 5975WX @ 3.6 – 4, 5GHz, 256GB RAM, 2TB NVMe SSD storage.

Under the IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) model you will have full control over the machine via a remote desktop app, similar to Teamviewer but more stable. You will be able to proactively install the software and use it on the server just like using a personal computer. You can find many server packages with high-end configurations that are extremely suitable for complex projects. Our machines have preinstalled Blender, you can choose to create the machine at first then connect and render yourself

We’re always happy to help you with any questions. If you have any problems or questions, don’t hesitate to contact our 24/7 support team. Or via WhatsApp: 0912 785 500 for free advice and support.

Right now iRender has a SPECIAL PROMOTION program with a 100% bonus for the first transaction within 24 hours of your registration. It means you can get 100% of the money you recharged the first time. And points never expire so you can use them at any time.

Sign up for an account today to experience and enjoy our services.

Thank you & Happy Rendering!

Source and image:renderjuice.com, pcguide.com, toxigon.com

Blender has become one of the most powerful and accessible 3D creation tools in the world. Whether you’re modeling, sculpting, animating, rendering, or editing video, your hardware makes a huge difference. In 2025, with Blender continuing to push boundaries—especially with features like real-time rendering in Eevee and advanced ray tracing in Cycles—it’s important to build or buy a PC that can keep up. In this blog, iRender will explore the best PC specs for Blender users in 2025.

• AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D

  • Key Specs: 16 cores, 32 threads, up to 5.7GHz boost clock, 144MB total cache.
  • Strengths: Exceptional performance in both creative workloads and gaming, thanks to 2nd-gen 3D V-Cache.
  • Performance: Outperforms Intel’s Core i9-14900K and Core Ultra 9 285K in most benchmarks.

• AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7995WX

  • Key Specs: 96 cores, 192 threads, 2.5GHz base clock.
  • Strengths: The top-tier choice for rendering, simulations, and extremely complex Blender projects.
  • Performance: Ranked #1 in Blender CPU benchmarks as of April 2025.

• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

  • Key Specs: 16,384 CUDA cores, 24GB GDDR6X VRAM.
    
  • Strengths: Outstanding performance for Cycles rendering and smooth viewport interaction. Excellent ray tracing and DLSS 3 support.
    
  • Performance: Expensive, large, and requires a solid power supply and cooling setup.

• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090

  • Key Specs: 21,760 CUDA cores, 32GB GDDR7 VRAM.
    
  • Strengths: Next-gen powerhouse, ideal for extremely demanding Blender workflows with DLSS 4 support.
    
  • Performance: High power draw (575W), needs at least a 1000W PSU.

• Minimum: 32 GB DDR5
  
• Recommended: 64 GB DDR5 or higher​
  

Blender can utilize significant amounts of RAM, especially when working with complex scenes or simulations. For professionals handling large projects or multitasking with other applications, 64 GB or more is advisable.

• Primary Drive: 1 TB NVMe SSD (Gen 4 or higher)

Ensures fast load times and efficient handling of large project files.

• Secondary Storage: 2 TB or more SSD/HDD

It is used for storing assets, backing up, and less frequently accessed data.​

Utilizing multiple drives can help organize projects and optimize performance.

• Recommended: 27″ 4K IPS display with 100% sRGB or DCI-P3 color accuracy
  • Provides ample screen real estate and accurate color representation, essential for detailed modeling and texturing work.​
    

Consider a dual-monitor setup to enhance productivity, allowing for a more organized workspace. ​

Not everyone needs (or can afford) a top-tier machine. Here are some recommended PC builds based on different budget levels, tailored for Blender users:

💸 Budget Build (~$800 – $1200): For beginners and students

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7600 / Intel Core i5-13400
• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060 / RTX 3060 12GB
• RAM: 32GB DDR4
• Storage: 1TB SSD
• → Great for modeling, light scene work, and personal rendering projects.

⚖️ Mid-Range (~$1500 – $2200): For freelancers and semi-pros

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7900X / Intel i7-14700K
• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti / 4070 Super
• RAM: 64GB DDR5
• Storage: NVMe + HDD combo
• → Handles mid-size projects, short animations, and commercial-quality renders.

🚀 High-End (~$3000+): For small studios or heavy-duty projects

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X / Intel i9-14900K
• GPU: RTX 4090
• RAM: 128GB DDR5
• Storage: Dual NVMe + NAS or external SSD for backup
• → Ideal for film projects, high-end VFX, and complex archviz scenes.

If you’re not into building your own PC, look at custom workstation builders like Puget Systems or Boxx. And if you don’t want to invest in hardware up front, cloud rendering services like  iRender offer high-performance GPU instances tailored for Blender users.

For optimal Blender performance in 2025, invest in a balanced system that aligns with your workflow needs. Prioritize a powerful GPU, ample RAM, and fast storage to handle complex scenes and rendering tasks efficiently.

If you’re unsure whether to upgrade or rent power on demand, try benchmarking your current setup with Blender’s official benchmark tool, or give a cloud service like iRender a spin to compare.

 iRender is proud to be one of the best GPU service providers on the market. We provide you with high-configuration models with advanced specifications such as AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 3955WX @ 3.9 – 4.2GHz or AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 5975WX @ 3.6 – 4, 5GHz, 256GB RAM, 2TB NVMe SSD storage.

Under the IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) model you will have full control over the machine via a remote desktop app, similar to Teamviewer but more stable. You will be able to proactively install the software and use it on the server just like using a personal computer. You can find many server packages with high-end configurations that are extremely suitable for complex projects. Our machines have preinstalled Blender, you can choose to create the machine at first then connect and render yourself

We’re always happy to help you with any questions. If you have any problems or questions, don’t hesitate to contact our 24/7 support team. Or via WhatsApp: 0912 785 500 for free advice and support.

Right now iRender has a SPECIAL PROMOTION program with a 100% bonus for the first transaction within 24 hours of your registration. It means you can get 100% of the money you recharged the first time. And points never expire so you can use them at any time.

Sign up for an account today to experience and enjoy our services.

Thank you & Happy Rendering!

Source and image: theverge.com, pcguide.com, AS.com

In this blog, we’ll explore what MPFB 2 is all about — its key features, how to set it up, and why it could be a valuable addition to your rendering and character creation workflow in Blender. 

Let’s discover with iRender!

As we all know, Blender is a popular software in the 3D artist community. Blender is an open-source software developed to support the creation and processing of 3D graphics. 

MPFB stands for MakeHuman Plugin for Blender. This plugin supports the connection between MakeHuman (3D character modeling) and Blender (3D design and rendering software). MPFB helps users easily transfer models from MakeHuman to Blender for editing or animation.

Its features include:

• • • One-click-create a humanoid mesh
    • Parametric modeling of body features
    • Automatic rigging with a choice from several different rigs
    • Support for Rigify
    • Rigging with both IK and FK modes
    • Procedural skin material
    • Procedural eyes material
    • Asset library with support for clothes, body parts and materials

MPFB is developed by the MakeHuman Community, and it is fully compatible with all MakeHuman assets.

MPFB 2 is the latest version of the plugin that connects MakeHuman and Blender. It is completely rewritten compared to the old MPFB to bring a smoother experience. MPFB 2 is not just a tool to “import characters into Blender” but a complete set of tools for creating, editing, and rendering characters right in Blender.

Some highlights of MPFB 2:

• • • Quick Import: It allows you to create characters directly inside Blender without needing to export files from MakeHuman. You can generate a new character with just a few clicks using the “New Human” option in the MPFB interface. If you already have a MakeHuman (.mhm) file, you can open it directly in Blender—no need to export as .obj or .dae.
    • Preserves Rig (Bones): MPFB 2 supports automatic rigging with several options, including Rigify, Blender’s advanced rigging system. You can add a Rigify meta-rig and generate a full rig for your character. The rig supports both IK and FK, along with helpers for hands, feet, eyes, etc.
    • Advanced Materials and Textures: Including procedural materials for skin and eyes, MPFB 2 allows it to generate high-quality shaders compatible with both Eevee and Cycles. This saves a lot of time on material setup and gives realistic render results.
    • Edit Directly in Blender: MPFB 2 lets you edit body shape, clothing, hair, and other character features directly within Blender using parameter controls. Changes are applied in real-time, making it easy to customize your character without going back to MakeHuman.
    • Modular and Extendable: MPFB 2 is designed with a modular, open architecture, making it easy to integrate into larger pipelines or combine with other Blender plugins. It supports asset libraries for clothing, body parts, and materials, and can be extended further via its API.

One important thing to note is that MPFB 2 is compatible with Blender 4.2+. MPFB 2 is still under active development, so if you want access to the latest features (with the fewest bugs), it’s recommended to use the latest Blender version available and always update MPFB 2 from the official GitHub repository, as new releases often include bug fixes and compatibility improvements. If you’re using a Blender version lower than 4.2, MPFB 2 may not function properly or could cause errors.

If you’re looking for a fast and professional solution for creating 3D characters, MPFB 2 (MakeHuman Plugin for Blender) is the perfect tool for you. Here are the key reasons why: 

• • • Create 3D Characters Quickly and Professionally

MPFB 2 allows you to build characters from scratch directly inside Blender, with hundreds of customization options for body shape, face, clothing, and hair. With just a few clicks, you’ll have a fully functional character—no file conversion or external software required.

• • •  Preserve Character Quality When Importing to Blender

No more broken meshes, missing textures, or incorrect rigs when importing. MPFB 2 ensures that every detail—from body proportions to skeleton and materials—is accurately and completely transferred.

• • •  Save Time on Rig and Material Setup

MPFB 2 supports automatic rigging (including Rigify) and comes with high-quality shaders ready for both Eevee and Cycles. There’s no need to spend hours manually setting up rigs or recreating materials—everything is ready for rendering or animation out of the box.

• • •  Clear Workflow, Easy to Edit, and Animation-Ready

You can easily customize body shapes, clothes, hair, and more—all within Blender. Apply dynamic rigs, facial expressions, poses, and animations with ease. Seamlessly integrates with other tools like Auto-Rig Pro, Face Cap, Mixamo, and more.

This is a modern, streamlined, and flexible workflow—perfect for solo artists and professional teams alike.

Once you have a fully-fledged 3D character created using MPFB 2, with a rig and materials ready for animation, then how to render high-quality images or videos quickly?

While Blender is great for modeling and rendering, the reality is that rendering – especially with Cycles – is resource-intensive and can slow down your workflow, especially on low-end machines. And that’s where iRender comes in. 

iRender provides high-configuration servers that increase CPU and GPU rendering speeds. We offer the most powerful RTX 4090 configuration packages on the market, all equipped with AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 3955WX @ 3.9 – 4.2GHz and AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 5975WX @ 3.6 – 4.5GHz processors, 256GB RAM and 2T NVMe SSD hard drive capacity. With a wide range of GPU servers (1/2/4/6/8x) – RTX 4090, you can choose the server that suits your needs to start the rendering process.

Let’s see how fast Blender renders on iRender’s servers with powerful RTX 4090!

In addition, this month, celebrate the Vietnam Reunification Day with a supercharged BONUS for your rendering projects! Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to boost your power and save big!

For more detailed information, please contact us via Live chat 24/7 or WhatsApp: +(84)915875500 or Email: vyvtk@irender.vn

iRender – Happy Rendering!

References: extensions.blender.org, cgchannel.com

OpenScatter is a free and open-source Blender add-on developed by May3D that offers advanced object scattering capabilities for 3D artists. Designed with user-friendliness and flexibility in mind, OpenScatter enables artists to distribute objects like plants, rocks, or other assets within a scene based on various parameters, enhancing the realism and efficiency of their projects. In this blog, iRender will explore the key features of Open Scatter

• Non-Destructive, Layer-Based Workflow: OpenScatter employs a non-destructive, layer-based approach, allowing users to create multiple scatter layers for each object. This means artists can adjust scatter settings without permanently altering the original models, providing greater flexibility during the creative process.
• Advanced Control Mechanisms: The add-on offers fine-tuned control over scattering parameters, including density, scale, rotation, and dynamic behavior. Artists can utilize procedural texture masks, guide curves, and abiotic properties like elevation and slope angle to dictate where and how objects are scattered within a scene.
• Dynamic Animations: OpenScatter supports dynamic features such as wind animation and object collisions, enabling more lifelike interactions among scattered objects. These capabilities are particularly beneficial for creating natural environments where elements like trees and foliage respond to environmental forces.
• Performance Optimization: To ensure smooth performance, OpenScatter includes features like viewport mesh optimization, automatic low-poly mesh generation, and camera and render-region culling. These optimizations help maintain efficiency during both the design and rendering phases.

To integrate OpenScatter into your Blender workflow:

1. Download: Obtain the add-on from its GitHub releases page or support the developer by purchasing it from BlenderMarket.

2. Installation:

• Open Blender and navigate to Edit -> Preferences -> Add-ons.

• Click the Install button and select the downloaded OpenScatter .zip file.
• Enable the add-on by checking the box next to its name in the add-ons list.

3. Setup:

• Access OpenScatter through the N-Panel/Sidebar under the OpenScatter category.
• Select an emitter object and click the ‘+’ icon to add a new scatter system.
• Choose the desired surface and the instances you wish to scatter.

OpenScatter is compatible with Blender versions 4.2 and above. Artists can download it for free from GitHub or choose to support its development by purchasing it from BlenderMarket for a nominal fee.

Download Blender scattering tool OpenScatter for free from GitHub

Comprehensive documentation is available to assist users in maximizing the add-on’s potential.

OpenScatter significantly streamlines the process of scattering objects in Blender, offering a robust set of features that cater to both realism and artistic control. Its non-destructive workflow and advanced scattering capabilities make it a valuable tool for environment artists and VFX professionals seeking to enhance their scenes with intricate details.

 iRender is proud to be one of the best GPU service providers on the market. We provide you with high-configuration models with advanced specifications such as AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 3955WX @ 3.9 – 4.2GHz or AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 5975WX @ 3.6 – 4, 5GHz, 256GB RAM, 2TB NVMe SSD storage.

Under the IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) model you will have full control over the machine via a remote desktop app, similar to Teamviewer but more stable. You will be able to proactively install the software and use it on the server just like using a personal computer. You can find many server packages with high-end configurations that are extremely suitable for complex projects. Our machines have preinstalled Blender, you can choose to create the machine at first then connect and render yourself

We’re always happy to help you with any questions. If you have any problems or questions, don’t hesitate to contact our 24/7 support team. Or via WhatsApp: 0912 785 500 for free advice and support.

Right now iRender has a SPECIAL PROMOTION program with a 100% bonus for the first transaction within 24 hours of your registration. It means you can get 100% of the money you recharged the first time. And points never expire so you can use them at any time.

Sign up for an account today to experience and enjoy our services.

Thank you & Happy Rendering!

Source and image: cgchannel.com,github.com

Blender is a potent tool that allows artists and designers to create stunning 3D models. Recently, a simple yet highly appealing carton box model caught the attention of the 3D design community. This model, crafted with precision and realism, showcases how even basic objects can be transformed into visually compelling assets with the right techniques. In this blog, iRender will explore the attractive carton box model made with Blender

3D Environment Artist Selena T presented an attractive digital model of a carton box that is both simple and appealing. The prop displays realistic signs of wear and other subtle flaws, enhancing its visual interest. The artist created a high-quality asset by blending realistic characteristics with a cartoonish, hand-painted style. This combination results in a distinct stylized appearance, making it appropriate for a range of creative endeavors.

A carton box may seem like a mundane object, but it is widely used in games, animations, and visualizations. Whether it’s a background element in a warehouse scene or a key prop in a game, achieving a realistic look is essential for maintaining immersion. The featured model exemplifies how careful texturing and lighting can elevate a simple object into something engaging.

Additionally, carton boxes often serve as interactive elements in video games, whether as destructible objects, storage containers, or environmental clutter. Their familiarity makes them an essential asset in many 3D projects. By focusing on a simple model like a carton box, artists can practice and refine their skills in modeling, texturing, and rendering without needing to create overly complex designs.

The artist behind this carton box model used Blender’s powerful toolset to achieve impressive results. The process involved:

1. Basic Shape Creation – Using simple cube geometry, the initial box structure was shaped.
2. Edge Beveling & Subdivision – To give it a slightly worn and more natural appearance, minor beveling was applied.
3. UV Unwrapping – A crucial step to ensure that textures were applied cleanly without distortion.
4. Texturing – The magic happens here. By using high-quality PBR (Physically Based Rendering) textures, the artist gave the box realistic details, including folds, creases, and printed elements.
5. Lighting & Rendering – Soft lighting was used to highlight the texture details, and the scene was rendered with Blender’s Cycles or Eevee renderer.

While the above steps lay the foundation, there are additional techniques that can further enhance the realism of the model:

• Adding Slight Deformations: Real-world boxes are rarely perfectly shaped. Introducing slight warping or bent corners can add to the authenticity.
• Dirt and Wear Effects: Using Blender’s shader editor, dirt maps, smudges, and edge wear can be applied to make the box appear used or aged.
• Decals and Stamps: Sticking labels, barcodes, or printed text on the box surface adds more realism and storytelling elements to the design.
• Interactive Animation: Simple animations like a flapping lid or crushed effect can bring additional dynamism to the model, making it more engaging in a 3D scene.

• Realism Through Textures: A well-textured object, even a simple one, can stand out.
• Subtle Imperfections Matter: Small creases and wear marks enhance realism.
• Lighting Can Make or Break a Model: Thoughtful lighting setups bring out the best in textures.
• Optimization is Crucial: Keeping polygon count balanced ensures models are game-engine friendly while still maintaining quality.
• Experimentation Leads to Growth: Trying different shaders, lighting setups, and texture maps helps refine skills and techniques.

This carton box model is a great example of how Blender users can create stunning assets with minimal complexity. Focusing on details like texturing, lighting, and realistic modeling techniques can make even the simplest objects visually captivating.

For artists looking to improve their Blender skills, this project is a fantastic case study in achieving realism with efficiency. Whether you’re a beginner experimenting with materials or an experienced modeler refining your workflow, taking on simple objects like a carton box can be both a learning experience and a creative challenge.

 iRender is proud to be one of the best GPU service providers on the market. We provide you with high-configuration models with advanced specifications such as AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 3955WX @ 3.9 – 4.2GHz or AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 5975WX @ 3.6 – 4, 5GHz, 256GB RAM, 2TB NVMe SSD storage.

Under the IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) model you will have full control over the machine via a remote desktop app, similar to Teamviewer but more stable. You will be able to proactively install the software and use it on the server just like using a personal computer. You can find many server packages with high-end configurations that are extremely suitable for complex projects. Our machines have preinstalled Blender, you can choose to create the machine at first then connect and render yourself

We’re always happy to help you with any questions. If you have any problems or questions, don’t hesitate to contact our 24/7 support team. Or via Whatsapp: 0912 785 500 for free advice and support.

Right now iRender has a SPECIAL PROMOTION program with a 100% bonus for the first transaction within 24 hours of your registration. It means that you can get an extra 100% of the money you recharged the first time. And points never expire, so you can use them at any time.

Sign up for an account today to experience and enjoy our services.

Thank you & Happy Rendering!

Source and image: 80.lv

Eevee Next, called Eevee in Blender 4.2, improves the visual quality of renders generated with Eevee: both viewport renders, and when using it as an alternative to Cycles for final-quality output. The Eevee render engine was rewritten to allow deeper changes, removing long-standing limitations and facilitating future evolution. In this article, let’s delve into new features in Eevee Next with iRender! 

Eevee now uses screen space ray tracing for every BSDF. There is no longer any limitation to the number of BSDFs.

It simulates how light bounces off surfaces and interacts with other objects in the scene, creating more realistic lighting. This means that light can now reflect off walls, floors, and other objects, illuminating areas that would otherwise be in shadow. This feature significantly enhances the realism of indoor scenes and complex environments.

Previously, within Blender’s Eevee render engine, there existed a restriction of 128 active lights within a scene. Nevertheless, with the introduction of Eevee Next in Blender 4.2, this limitation has been removed. You can now add as many lights as you need, which is particularly useful for complex scenes that require detailed lighting setups. This allows for more creative freedom and the ability to create more dynamic and visually interesting scenes. However, only 4096 lights can be visible at the same time.

In addition, Lights in Eevee Next now support ray visibility options and Glossy lighting no longer leaks at the back of objects.

Lights are now visible through refractive surfaces. A new transmission influence factor has been added and set to 0 for older files.

The new shadow system in Eevee Next is designed to be more stable and produce higher-quality shadows. Shadows are now rendered using a technique called  Virtual Shadow Maps which reduces shadow artifacts and provides smoother transitions between light and shadow. This greatly increases the maximum resolution, reduces biases and simplifies the setup. 

 This system is also more memory efficient, allowing for better performance even in scenes with many light sources. 

• • • The calculation of light visibility now utilizes Shadow Map Ray Tracing, producing realistic soft shadows without the requirement for shadow jittering. 
    • Shadow Map biases have been eliminated and are now automatically calculated. There are plans to address the shadow terminator issue in upcoming releases. 
    • Contact shadows have been taken out as Virtual Shadow Maps are typically accurate enough. 
    • Shadow clip start has been eliminated and substituted with an automatic value.

The transparency settings in Eevee Next have been upgraded, making it easier to create realistic glass and other transparent materials. This includes better handling of refractions and reflections, providing more accurate and visually appealing results

Displacement is now supported with the exception of the Displacement Only mode which falls back to Displacement And Bump. Three displacement methods exist, with varying accuracy, performance, and memory usage. The displacement method can be set per material in the Material Settings.

A new Thickness output has been introduced. This allows better modeling of Refraction, Subsurface Scattering and Translucency. Some materials might need adjustment to keep the same appearance. This replaces the former Refraction Depth option.

Volume rendering has been significantly improved in Eevee Next. This includes better handling of smoke, fog, and other volumetric effects. The new system provides a more accurate and realistic rendering of these effects, making it easier to create atmospheric scenes. The improvements also include better performance, so you can work with volumetric effects without a significant impact on rendering times.

World volumes are no longer limited to clipping distance, which means they can completely block sunlight and the world background. Older files can be converted using the conversion operator in the Help menu or in the World > Volume panel. 

• • • Volume lighting is now dithered to avoid flickering.
    • EEVEE now maximizes the depth range automatically if no world is present.
    • Mesh objects now have correct volume intersection instead of rendering bounding boxes.
    • The evaluation of many small-volume objects has been optimized.

Eevee’s old versions supported these effects but with limitations in quality and performance. Motion blur and depth of field could appear less realistic.

In this new release, Motion blur and depth of field effects have been enhanced to provide more realistic results. Motion blur simulates the blurring of moving objects, which is crucial for creating realistic animations. Depth of field simulates the focus effects of a camera lens, allowing you to blur out-of-focus areas of your scene. These improvements help in achieving a more cinematic look and feel in your renders.

• • • Screen Space Reflections (SSR): Improved SSR for more accurate reflections on surfaces.
    • Subsurface Scattering (SSS): Enhanced SSS for better rendering of materials like skin, wax, and other translucent materials.
    • Performance Optimizations: Various optimizations to improve the overall performance of EEVEE, making it faster and more efficient.

Eevee Next in Blender 4.2 LTS brings substantial improvements in lighting, shadows, shading, volume rendering, and overall performance. These enhancements make it a more powerful and versatile tool for real-time rendering, providing high-quality visuals and improved efficiency. Whether you’re working on animations, visual effects, or architectural visualizations, Eevee Next offers the tools and performance needed to create stunning, realistic scenes.

iRender is a cloud-based rendering service that provides high-performance computing resources for rendering tasks. We offer support for various popular 3D software and rendering engines, enabling users to seamlessly integrate their workflow with the cloud-based rendering service. 

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iRender – Happy rendering!

Reference: developer.blender.org and docs.blender.org

Blender is one of the most well-known software for 3D artists all over the world and it includes a multitude of Modifiers. This article will help you learn more about Top 10 modifiers in Blender that Blender artists should know. Let’s check it now! 

Blender is a free and open-source 3D creation suite. With Blender, you can create 3D visualizations such as still images, 3D animations and VFX shots. You can also edit videos. It is well suited to individuals and small studios who benefit from its unified pipeline and responsive development process.

Modifiers are automated processes that alter an object’s geometry without causing destruction. Modifiers allow you to automate a lot of tasks that would otherwise be too laborious to complete by hand, such as subdivision surfaces, without changing the object’s fundamental geometry. 

Let’s discover top 10 modifiers in Blender that allow you to make a lot of stunning scenes with this 3D software! 

The Curve modifier is the first software on the top of the best modifiers in Blender. It provides a simple but efficient method of deforming a mesh along a curve object. It functions along X, Y, or Z, the (global) dominant axis. This implies that your mesh will follow the curve and deform like a train following and bending along rails as you move it in the dominant direction, which is the X axis by default. The object’s distance from the curve can be adjusted by shifting the mesh perpendicular to this axis.

When using the Curve Modifier, ensure your base mesh and curve have their origins aligned. This alignment ensures that the mesh follows the curve as expected, minimizing unwanted distortions or placement issues. A quick ‘Shift + S‘ to ‘Cursor to Selected‘ on the curve followed by ‘Selection to Cursor‘ on the mesh can help align them perfectly.

Let’s explore the next modifier of top 10 modifiers in Blender. The Mirror modifier mirrors a mesh along its local X, Y and/or Z axes, across the Object Origin. It can also use another object as the mirror center, and then use that object’s local axes instead of its own.

The Mirror modifier allows you to reflect a UV map, enhancing texture application and management. Plus, there’s a unique capability where you can mirror based on an angle set by another object, offering dynamic design possibilities.

A good technique to achieve an exact position is to select the edge, then snap Cursor to Selection. This will position the 3D Cursor in the center of the edge. Finally, use the Set Origin menu, and select Origin to 3D Cursor. This will move the object’s origin (and thus, the mirror plane) to where the 3D cursor is located, and the mirroring will be exact. 

An object can be given a simple deformation by using the Simple Deform modifier. Meshes, lattices, curves, surfaces and texts are supported objects. The deformation is either a rotation (Twist, Bend) or a scaling (Taper, Stretch). The amount of deformation is specified by the Deform Angle (rotation) or Deform Factor (scaling).

Here is a tip for you: When using the ‘Twist’ function, couple it with Proportional Editing (shortcut O in Edit Mode). This allows for control over the twist intensity. Blending these two functions can produce some of the most organic and dynamic spiral transformations. And always remember to scroll the mouse wheel to adjust the influence radius. 

The Warp modifier can be used to warp parts of a mesh to a new location in a very flexible way, by using two objects to select the “from” and “to” regions.

Some people will find this modifier a bit tricky to understand at first. It requires two points, specified by the two target objects’ origins. The “from” point designates a point in space that is pulled toward the “to” point. It is akin to using the Proportional Editing in Edit Mode.

Another way to use this modifier is similar to the Deform Modifier. This allows you to deform parts of the mesh without having to make a vertex group.

You may minimize form changes to a mesh while still reducing noise on its surface by using the Smooth Laplacian modifier. Additionally, it can use a negative Factor to accentuate the shape.

When reconstructing real-world objects that have unwanted noise, the Smooth Laplacian might be helpful. It eliminates noise while maintaining the original model’s shape and desired geometry.

This modifier is based on a curvature flow Laplace Beltrami operator in a diffusion equation.

One of its standout features is the ability to control both volume and boundary independently. This distinct capability makes it a useful tool, especially when you’re in the design phase and want to iterate through different drinking glass shapes and styles. 

One of its standout features is the ability to control both volume and boundary independently. This distinct capability makes it a useful tool, especially when you’re in the design phase and want to iterate through different drinking glass shapes and styles. 

Instead of using Edit Mode to deform a mesh, the Lattice modifier can be the best choice. If your object has a large number of vertices, it would be difficult to edit portions of it quickly in Edit Mode. Using a lattice will allow you to deform large portions efficiently and the smooth deformation you get from a Lattice modifier can be hard to achieve manually. In addition, multiple objects can use the same lattice, thus allowing you to edit multiple objects at once.

The Cloth modifier is a container for a Cloth Physics simulation. It can be useful for example, to simulate on a low-poly mesh then add a Subdivision Surface Modifier after the Cloth modifier to improve the visual quality of the cloth without drastically increasing simulation times.

As the modifier is only a container its actual options can be configured in the Physics Properties tab.

The Particle System modifier is a container for Particle Systems. Particles are lots of items emitted from mesh objects, typically in the thousands. Each particle can be a point of light or a mesh, and be joined or dynamic. They may react to many different influences and forces, and have the notion of a lifespan. Dynamic particles can represent fire, smoke, mist, and other things such as dust or magic spells.

To add a new particle system to an object, go to the Particles tab of the Properties editor and click the small + button. An object can have many Particle Systems. Each particle system has separate settings attached to it. These settings can be shared among different particle systems, so one does not have to copy every setting manually and can use the same effect on multiple objects.

The Shrinkwrap modifier allows an object to “shrink” to the surface of another object. It moves each vertex of the object being modified to the closest position on the surface of the given mesh (using one of the four methods available). It can be applied to meshes, lattices, curves, surfaces and texts.

This mode is similar to Nearest Surface Point, but produces a much smoother projection in return for being significantly slower. Instead of finding the closest point, it searches for the nearest point that has its interpolated smooth normal pointing towards or away from the original vertex position. Non-manifold boundary edges are specially handled as infinitely thin cylinders that emit normals in all perpendicular directions; ignore flat shading.

The Fluid modifier is the last of the Top 10 modifiers in Blender. It is a container for a Fluid Physics simulation. It can be useful for example, to simulate on a low-poly mesh then add a Subdivision Surface Modifier after the Fluid modifier to improve the visual quality of the fluid without drastically increasing simulation times.

Fluid physics is used to simulate the physical properties of liquids, especially water. While creating a scene in Blender, certain objects can be marked to become a part of the fluid simulation. For a fluid simulation, you have to have a domain to define the space that the simulation takes up. In the domain settings, you will be able to define the global simulation parameters (such as viscosity and gravity).

Gas or smoke simulations are a subset of the fluids system and can be used for simulating collections of airborne solids, liquid particulates and gases, such as those that make up smoke. It simulates the fluid movement of air and generates animated Voxel textures representing the density, heat, and velocity of other fluids or suspended particles (e.g. smoke) which can be used for rendering.

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iRender – Happy Rendering!

References: docs.blender.org, cgcookie.comkie

Blender 4.2 LTS has just been released and it comes with a hugely anticipated change, some cool surprises, and a slew of top-notch improvements. In this article, let’s explore the new features in the latest release of Blender: Blender 4.2 LTS with iRender! 

Blender LTS stands for Long Term Support. It’s a specific version of Blender that is supported with updates, bug fixes, and security updates for two years after its initial release. This helps mitigate compatibility issues with users working on long-term projects and ensures your workflow stays functional and secure.

As usual with LTS (long-term support) releases, Blender 4.2 LTS comes packed with features, improvements, and fixes ready to power your projects for the next two years.

New operator in the View (regular + pie) menu: “Frame Scene Range”. This changes the horizontal view to match the scene range. If the preview range is active, the operator will be re-labeled as “Frame Preview Range” and zoom to that instead.

The dope sheet has a new keyframe type called “generated” which just indicates that the key was set automatically by an operator or an add-on rather than by hand. In the Shape Key Editor, non-relative shape keys are now visible and editable. Performance in the non-linear animation editor was also improved when zoomed in on a long action. 

Subdividing Bones now correctly names the bones sequentially. The Armature Drawing Mode Stick can now use bone colors. You can now set the wire width for custom bone shapes per bone so that the most important controls can stand out. Bones can now be active, even if they are hidden, so you can select a bone in the outliner and edit its properties even if you can’t see it in the viewport. 

The Copy Global Transforms add-on, which is one of the few that still ships with Blender,  got two new features. One bakes the animation to the camera, so the motion matches up with it, if, for example, you’re animating on twos. The other allows you to copy and paste transforms relative to another object. 

When you right-click in Object Mode, you can choose Shade AutoSmooth, which adds a smooth-by-angle modifier to the object. It’s also pinned to the bottom of the stack, which is another new feature.

You can now add clear and copy modifiers right in the 3D view using the Object menu. You can also add, remove, apply, and reorder modifiers on all selected objects by holding Alt. 

The Add Images as Planes add-on is now built right into Blender. Just go to Shift + A, Image, and Mesh Plane, select your image, change any of the settings over in the sidebar, and click Import. 

The Curve Edit mode for the new hair curves continues to mature and now includes converting hair types, an Add Menu, a new option for only drawing onto to selected objects, bezier handles, and new operators for setting the handle type, subdividing, switching direction, and toggling cyclic.

One of the most interesting updates in Blender 4.2 is the addition of extensions, which at the moment can be either a theme or an add-on, both of which were already available in Blender before. Still, now they can be downloaded and, more importantly, updated from within Blender itself.

Most of the add-ons Blender came with before are no longer pre-installed, making the download a bit smaller. But you can still get them directly in Blender by going to the Extensions tab of the Preferences Editor and installing them there, which will both download them from the internet and enable them.  

Another cool outcome is that This change has prompted some of the key features of the most used add-ons to be built into Blender itself. Once installed, you can still move these add-ons with Blender onto a thumb drive or a server and use them without any internet connection just like before.

• Eevee

Shadows are now rendered using Virtual Shadow Maps. This greatly increases the maximum resolution, reduces biases, and simplifies the setup.

Some other noticeable improvements include the fact that shadows are now sampled more accurately using virtual shadow maps, removing the need for contact shadows. To get softer shadows, increase the number of steps in the shadows panel and the number of samples. You can also jitter the shadows like in the old version if you need more accuracy when they’re soft. Just be sure to turn it on for both the light and the viewport if you want to see the effect in the viewport. 

Also excitingly, volumes finally take the shape of the mesh, are more stable, and the resolution can go all the way down to 1 pixel. Refraction and subsurface scattering approximate the thickness of the mesh a bit better now, and you have fine-tuned control over that with the new thickness output and surface setting.

• Cycles

Regarding Cycles, there’s also an entirely new shader called the Ray Portal BSDF that lets you use vector math to warp the fabric of space-time itself. This has been used already to create everything from portal effects, of course, to live camera feeds and nice-looking sword trails. 

The principal shader now supports thin film color effects like what you’d see on soap bubbles or a puddle of water mixed with gasoline, which is just gorgeous. 

The Huang principal shader now has a new rounded model that it switches to when the hair covers more than a pixel on the screen, which drastically improves the quality of close-up shots without impacting performance when the hair is farther away.

In the View Layers tab, you can now render each layer with a different world using a new override. Cycles now use a blue noise sampling pattern by default, which produces a clearer image at lower sample counts that can be denoised more easily. 

OpenImageDenoise is now GPU accelerated on AMD GPUs on Windows and Linux, and it can optionally use GPU denoising with CPU renders. It’s also been upgraded to version 2.3 which has improved quality. Rendering on  Intel GPUs now uses their host memory fallback, which allows for rendering more textures than can fit on the GPU at once, which means you should be seeing those out-of-memory errors a whole lot less often. 

Final renders can now use the new GPU compositor, which is a massive speed boost. Switch it over in the compositor sidebar or the render performance panel, but even if you don’t choose to use it, the CPU compositor has been rewritten and is several times faster than before. 

Some important effects of the change include the fact that the transforms are now immediately applied by the transform nodes, so scaling down an image destructively reduces its resolution. Also, the old compositor tried to infer an image size from upstream or output nodes while the new compositor evaluates the node tree from left to right without inferring image sizes. 

The viewport compositor is now limited to the camera region when in camera view so that it better matches the final rendered result. In addition to that you can now see how long each node took to calculate, similar to geometry nodes, by enabling execution time in the overlays. 

The fast Gaussian mode in the blur node, which has been fixed now to be the same size as the other modes, now also works in the viewport compositor, the translate node has new pixel interpolation options. 

The hue-correct node now evaluates the saturation and value curves at the original hue, not the updated one, and the curve now wraps around.  The vector blur node has been simplified and now uses the same motion blur algorithm as Eevee. 

The Realize Instances node now supports partially realizing the geometry, which gives you much more control over what you’re realizing.

Next up, the rotation socket continues its campaign of world domination. The  Curved to Points node now has one, and the Align Oiler to Vector node, many a geometry node as a first boss battle, has been depreciated, and replaced with the Align  Rotation to Vector node. There’s a Rotation Input node and a new Axis to the rotation node. This allows you to take two vectors in this example, the tangent and the normal of a curve, and convert them into a rotation. 

Next, the sample nearest surface node and the geometry proximity node now have group ID and sample group ID inputs, giving us much greater control over how we sample. The group ID separates the mesh into groups defined by what’s plugged into it. 

RemoveNamed attribute now has a wildcard function, allowing you to remove attributes with the same painful prefix or suffix onward. The mesh boolean node now has a float option, like its boolean modifier and edit mode counterparts. The faceNeighbours node has been tweaked for accuracy. 

The strips in the video sequence editor got a visual overhaul and now have rounded corners, no handles on the sides, thicker outlines, half-wave forms, and updated colors.  Adjusting strip handles feels a bit nicer now with the new cursor change when hovering and the ability to tweak connected handles. 

In the overlays, you can now turn on or off the cache line. This menu has also been reorganized. Text strips now have new options for outlines, shadow placement, and shadow blur. You can now drag and drop multiple files into the video sequence editor at the same time. 

The AVI RAW and AVI JPEG file output types have been removed since the quality was the same as H .264 anyway, but with way larger file sizes and they took a lot to maintain, so they’re gone. But on the performance side of things, both rendering speeds and playback speeds have been slightly improved. 

A new version of Blender is now slightly faster thanks to improvements in font shader compiling, which was one of the slower parts.  

Undo is now two to five times faster, which is a huge improvement for complex scenes, with the trade-off that autosave is now slightly slower. Properties dialogs, confirmation dialogs, tooltips, menu separators,  square color pickers, overlay text, and the status bar have all gotten a bit of polish. More tool shortcuts are now displayed in the status bar rather than the header. The control shift hotkey to preview nodes in the node editor is now built into Blender and you can use it without enabling Node Wrangler. 

The File Cleanup menu now has a Manage Unused  Data option, which just pops up the Outliner in that view, and purging unused data blocks now lists exactly what will be deleted. 

The Blender file view of the Outliner now shows user counts and lets you add or clear fake users. Ctrl +F now starts a search in the Outliner,  like it does in the Properties and other data editors

Composition guide visibility can now be toggled separately in the viewport overlays. There’s a new key map preference called region toggle that lets you toggle all editor regions with the hotkey. Text can now be dragged and dropped into the text editor and Python console. The text editor now supports GLSL syntax highlighting.

File format exporters can now be associated with Collections. One or more exporters can be added and configured in the Collection properties panel. Settings are stored in .blend files for easy sharing and persistence across Blender sessions. All collections in the scene can be exported with a single click through the File menu. Additionally, each collection can be exported to multiple file formats simultaneously.

The new Hair Curves Objects Types now fully work with USD. USD Importing now supports point clouds and there are new options for Unicode files, defined prims,  dome lights, and mesh validation. USD Exporting has new options for filtering objects by type, dome lights, the up-axis of the stage, X4 operators, triangulation, down-sampling textures for USDZ, generating material X from Blender Shaders, and renaming UV maps to better follow conventions. 

Alembic supports the new Hair Curves Objects type as well, it can import multiple files at once now, and there’s a big fix for animated curves not updating during rendering.

GLTF importing has new options for setting bone size and shape, and its exporting has received a ton of fixes, as well as new options for vertex colors, centering root objects and UDEMs. 

Our iRender GPU Render Farm offers from 1/2/4/6/8 RTX 4090s and 8 RTX 3090 servers. All servers at iRender are also equipped with AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 3955WX @ 3.9 – 4.2GHz or AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ PRO 5975WX @ 3.6 – 4.5GHz, 256GB RAM, 2TB Storage NVMe SSD. The high-end configuration is extremely suitable for complex Blender projects. 

Our system has pre-installed Blender. You just need to transfer your files, connect to the remote servers and render yourself. 

We just released a new server with 8 x RTX 4090 which will optimize your render with Blender, let’s check it now! 

Currently, iRender offers a special promotion for new users, a 100% bonus program for the first deposit within 24 hours of registration, making it an attractive option for those looking to optimize their rendering budget. Just register and get our best deal!

For more detailed information, please contact us via Live chat 24/7 or WhatsApp: +(84)915875500 or Email: vyvtk@irender.vn

iRender – Happy Rendering!

References: developer.blender.org, Jonathan Lampel from ‪‪@cg_cookie