KARLSRUHE, Germany, Apr 16, 2026 – Chaos has released V-Ray 7, Update 3 for SketchUp, Rhino and 3ds Max, adding real-time rendering inside the V-Ray viewport. The update integrates Chaos Vantage rendering into V-Ray, allowing users to render and adjust scenes without switching tools.
“By bringing real-time ray tracing directly into the V-Ray viewport, artists can iterate faster while maintaining the quality that V-Ray is known for, all within a single, unified workflow,” said Vlado Koylazov, head of innovation at Chaos.
V-Ray 7, Update 3 connects V-Ray with Chaos Vantage to run real-time ray tracing technology within the viewport. Users with a Vantage license can modify lighting, geometry and materials while rendering is active. This keeps scene editing and rendering within a single workflow. V-Ray 7, Update 3 is part of visualization stack, which includes V-Ray, Vantage and asset tools within the ArchViz collection.
More Realism, Less Complexity
New workflow updates reduce setup steps for complex rendering tasks, allowing architects and designers to focus on project work.
- Parallax Interiors – Architects can add interior depth and lighting effects to exterior renders without modeling interior geometry. Parallax interior shaders from Cosmos simulate interior scenes using shader-based methods. The effect responds to camera perspective and can be varied across façades to reduce repetition, especially in night scenes.
- Quick Caustics – The new quick caustics simplifies setup compared with photon-based workflows. It supports reflection and refraction effects in both production and interactive rendering. The approach reduces the number of configuration steps required for caustics rendering.
- Gaussian Splats Relighting – Users can adjust the lighting of Gaussian splats to match scene conditions in V-Ray projects. This allows assets to align with scene lighting during rendering.
- Node Material Editor (V-Ray for SketchUp and Rhino) – Users can now build and modify V-Ray materials using a node-based editor with a visual workflow. The editor represents material logic through connected nodes for shader creation and editing. The tool is available as a preview and provides an alternative to traditional material editing methods.
AI Tools
V-Ray 7, Update 3 applies AI to production workflows to automate time-consuming steps while maintaining control over final output.
- AI Mood Match – Users can now apply a reference photo to adjust scene lighting parameters in V-Ray. AI Mood Match analyzes the input image and modifies lighting settings to match image conditions. The feature is available in V-Ray for SketchUp and Rhino, with support for additional V-Ray integrations planned.
- AI Enhancer: Large Surfaces Coverage – Architects can add surface detail to floors, walls, asphalt and terrain. The method applies variation across surfaces at defined scales and reduces the need for manual retexturing.
- AI Enhancer: Improved Accuracy and Single Object Creative Enhancement – Users can apply adjustments to individual objects within a scene. This allows object-level control of visual modifications during rendering.
- AI Materials: 4K Support – AI-generated materials support 4K resolution output for rendering and presentation. This allows materials to be used in close-up views and final rendered images.
Smoother Workflow and Collaboration
Collaboration tools add review, feedback and approvals within the platform, reducing external steps and exchanges.
- Chaos Cloud Reviews – Design approvals are handled within Chaos Cloud, where comments, decisions and timestamps are recorded. The system centralizes review data for tracking and documentation.
- Video Collaboration – Chaos Cloud supports video review for animations and render sequences. It records comments with timestamps, frame ranges and visual annotations for review and feedback.
- Cosmos Sets and New Assets – Cosmos sets assets for scene population in rendering workflows. The update adds 700+ assets, including 400 Globe Plant models and assets.
Pricing and Availability
The update is available first in V-Ray for SketchUp and Rhino for users with an active Chaos Vantage or V-Ray collection license. AI Mood Match is included and adjusts scene lighting parameters based on reference images. Support for real-time rendering and AI Mood Match is expected to extend to V-Ray for 3ds Max in a future release.
The release brings real-time rendering and lighting adjustment into the same workspace used for scene setup. This links rendering, editing and review tasks within V-Ray, reducing the need to move between separate tools.
Source: Chaos
About Chaos
Chaos develops computer graphics software focused on 3D rendering, real-time visualization and simulation tools. Founded in 1997 by Peter Mitev and Vladimir Koylazov, the company serves media, entertainment, architecture, engineering and construction markets. Its flagship product, V-Ray, is a rendering engine recognized with an Academy Award and an Engineering Emmy. Other products include Enscape, a real-time rendering and virtual reality plugin; Corona, a photorealistic rendering engine; Anima, software for adding realistic people and crowds to visualizations; and Cylindo, a 3D furniture visualization platform for e-commerce. Headquartered in Karlsruhe, Germany, and Sofia, Bulgaria, Chaos employs more than 700 people across 11 offices worldwide.