V-Ray 7 for Maya is Here: Faster, Smarter, and More Powerful

Chaos has launched V-Ray 7 for Maya, introducing new tools and performance upgrades for VFX and animation. Key features include support for 3D Gaussian Splats, OpenPBR materials, better USD integration, and improvements to V-Ray GPU, the Frame Buffer, and Chaos Scatter.

V-Ray 7 now natively supports 3D Gaussian Splats, a new technology that converts photos and videos into 3D models. Unlike Blender and Unreal Engine, which require third-party plugins, V-Ray offers built-in support, making it easier to create detailed backgrounds for VFX and architectural visualization.

Lighting and rendering get significant updates. Light Path Expressions now support shadows for better compositing. The Sun and Sky system adopts the PRG Clear Sky model from Chaos’s Corona renderer, improving lighting at sunrise, sunset, and high altitudes. The firefly removal algorithm has been refined for cleaner renders, and Open Image Denoise now includes a prefilter pass for better noise reduction.

V-Ray GPU moves closer to CPU rendering with initial caustics support. Performance gains include using system memory for textures, enabling larger scenes without GPU limitations. Animation rendering is now up to 50% faster with improved bitmap caching. Apple Metal API support boosts rendering speed by up to 3x on M4-powered MacBooks.

The V-Ray Frame Buffer (VFB) gets new workflow tools. A Vignette Layer allows direct application of vignetting effects. Freeform region rendering lets artists focus on key image areas. A new Filters tab provides preloaded color correction presets.

Chaos Scatter introduces a Look At function, automatically orienting scattered objects toward the camera. A falloff curve now controls how vegetation varies with altitude, enhancing realism in landscape renders.

V-Ray 7 supports OpenPBR, an open material standard for consistent look development across software. The VRayMtl shader includes an OpenPBR mode for easier layered material creation and improved Sheen control. The update also supports Maya 2025.3’s OpenPBR Surface and MaterialX workflows.

USD integration now includes USD for Maya 0.30, improving workflow compatibility. V-Ray Clipper, used for cutaway renders, is now available in USD workflows.

Chaos Cosmos, the built-in asset library, now supports asset variants, allowing users to switch looks without re-importing assets. Multi-selection support makes managing assets easier.