BAD HOMBURG, Germany, Oct 15, 2026 – Maxon has released Redshift 2027.0 for architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), introducing official support for Graphisoft Archicad alongside existing integrations with Vectorworks and Autodesk Revit. The release adds ray-traced preview features, custom material creation and controls for presentation lighting.
Architects can review and refine designs within their BIM applications, then move projects into Cinema 4D for advanced modeling, animation, simulation and production rendering. Maxon says the connected workflow avoids rebuilding models in a separate visualization environment. Applications range from design reviews to client presentations, animated walkthroughs and marketing assets.
“Architectural visualization increasingly has to do more than show what a building will look like; it must help communicate an idea, tell a story and, in many cases, become a finished marketing asset in its own right,” said Nicolas Burtnyk, executive vice president of Rendering at Maxon. “Redshift for Architects provides a path from fast visual feedback all the way through to the kind of high-end rendering, animation and simulation workflows used in film and advertising, within an environment that keeps them in their creative flow.”
Rendering and Material Controls
Redshift 2027.0 updates previews with transparent shadows, ray-traced refraction and ray-traced depth of field. Ray-traced refraction traces light interactions through glass and other transparent materials in the live preview. Ray-traced depth of field represents camera focus effects in the preview.
The new Custom Material Creation feature lets users build materials from scratch inside Redshift using physically based rendering controls. Architects can adjust surface appearance and match finishes without relying on materials converted from the BIM or Redshift Library.
Presentation Lighting Separate from the Model
The Light Manager lets users create and manage supplemental Redshift lights independently of the CAD model and its construction data. Architects can adjust lighting for an image or presentation without changing the lighting scheme.
Users can place and aim lights in the Redshift viewport, then adjust intensity and color temperature with ray-traced feedback. The CAD model can continue to represent the fixtures and illumination for the building.
Redshift for Archicad is commercially available on Windows and macOS and supports Archicad 30.
Source: Maxon
About Maxon
Maxon is a manufacturer of electric drive systems used in precision motion and automation applications. Founded in 1961, the company develops components such as DC motors, brushless motors, gearheads, encoders, sensors, and motor controllers. These components combine into mechatronic drive systems used in robotics, industrial automation, aerospace, automotive systems, medical technology, and measurement equipment. Engineers and manufacturers use Maxon products in devices that require compact size and precise motion control. Customers include equipment manufacturers, robotics developers, aerospace programs, and medical device companies. Maxon also develops custom drive solutions for specialized industrial and engineering applications. The company operates production facilities and sales offices in several regions worldwide. Maxon is headquartered in Sachseln, Switzerland. Global employees are about 3,000.
