D5 Render 2.10 introduces a game-changing feature: real-time path tracing for global illumination (GI). Built on the ReSTIR GI framework, this new solution uses path tracing to construct a lighting cache, bringing real-time GI closer to Ground Truth (reference standard). The result? Enhanced realism, more accurate reflections, and an immersive rendering experience.
In this blog, we’ll break down how real-time path tracing works in D5 Render 2.10, its benefits, customizable parameters, and best practices for achieving stunning results.
1. How to Enable Real-Time Path Tracing in D5 Render 2.10
Since real-time path tracing is still in its experimental phase, users need to manually enable it:
- Open Menu Bar → Preferences → Rendering
- Toggle Real-Time Path Tracing
Once enabled, D5 Render will immediately switch to the new global illumination algorithm, and the real-time viewport will reflect the enhanced GI calculations.
2. Real-Time Path Tracing: Feature Overview
Enabling real-time path tracing upgrades the entire rendering pipeline, including the viewport, image output, video output, and render queue. Users also gain access to adjustable parameters for fine-tuning GI precision, reflections, and sampling quality.
To access these options:
- Navigate to the Display menu (top right corner of the viewport).
- Adjust the GI Precision, Reflection Depth, and Sample Count settings as needed.
Key Features:
Accumulate Mode: Activates a static render preview, continuously refining the image based on user-defined parameters. This allows for near-final render quality in real-time.
Custom Parameters: While D5 Render’s default settings deliver excellent results, you can further customize your renders with adjustable parameters like GI Precision, Reflection Depth, and Sample Count. These settings provide greater control over lighting accuracy, reflection details, and overall render quality, ensuring optimal results for specific project needs.
3. Key Improvements in the New GI Algorithm
More Accurate GI Caching
One of the biggest advantages of real-time path tracing over the previous D5 GI lies in its approach to lighting calculation and caching. Instead of relying on the older approximation-based caching algorithm, real-time path tracing computes lighting through path tracing and caches the results before the full rendering process begins. This significantly improves the accuracy of the GI cache, leading to:
- Improved Diffuse Indirect Lighting: The new algorithm delivers finer details in diffuse indirect lighting, creating more natural and lifelike scenes.
- Accurate Indirect Lighting in Material Reflections: One of the standout features is the enhanced accuracy of indirect lighting in material reflections. This ensures that reflective surfaces, such as metals or glass, behave more realistically.
Example: High-Reflectivity Metal Surface
- D5 Render 2.9: The preview failed to display accurate indirect reflections on high-reflectivity surfaces, leading to darker and inaccurate results.
- D5 Render 2.10 (Path Tracing GI): The preview now correctly renders metallic reflections in real time, improving real.
Optimized GI Bounce Details
D5 Render 2.10 further enhances the GI bounce algorithm, leading to:
✔️ More accurate GI at object junctions, such as walls meeting floors or furniture touching the ground.
✔️ Better light and shadow interplay, making furniture surfaces appear more three-dimensional and natural.
4. Custom Parameters in Real-Time Path Tracing
For users seeking greater control over render quality and performance, D5 Render provides three key customization parameters under the Display menu:
GI Precision: Balancing Speed & Quality
Controls the precision of global illumination bounces, impacting both real-time preview and final render quality.
- Lower GI Precision → Faster accumulation, less accurate indirect lighting.
- Higher GI Precision → More realistic light distribution, brighter and more detailed, longer render times.
Tip:
In complex indoor spaces, multiple light bounces are needed to illuminate deeper areas accurately. Higher GI Precision (e.g., 3) ensures brighter and more realistic indirect lighting, while lower settings (e.g., 1) may leave deeper areas darker and less accurate.
Reflection Depth: Enhancing Reflection Accuracy
Determines the number of times light bounces between reflective surfaces (e.g., mirrors, polished floors, glass).
Settings:
- Lower values = Fewer reflections (faster, but may look less realistic).
- Higher values = More accurate multi-bounce reflections.
Tip:
In a scene with a glass skyscraper or a bathroom with mirrors, set a higher Reflection Depth to:
- Improve mirror realism in real-time viewport previews.
- Ensure multi-bounce reflections appear accurately in polished materials.
Sample Count: Reducing Noise & Refining Details
Controls the number of samples per pixel, affecting noise levels and final image clarity.
Settings:
- Lower Sample Count (e.g., 64): Faster rendering but potential blurring or noise in complex lighting conditions.
- Higher Sample Count (e.g., 256+): Cleaner, more accurate details at the cost of longer rendering times.
- Maximum: 1024 samples per frame.
Tip:
For small, naturally lit interior spaces, low sample counts may result in smeared or blurry lighting.
Increasing Sample Count refines light distribution and shadow details.
5. Important Notes & Best Practices
Understanding the Impact of Custom Settings
- Higher settings = longer render times.
- D5 Render’s default settings already deliver excellent real-time and final render quality.
- Users should balance quality vs. performance based on project requirements.
Recommended Settings for Different Use Cases
6. Conclusion: The Future of Real-Time Path Tracing in D5 Render
D5 Render 2.10 isn’t just an upgrade—it’s a paradigm shift. By introducing real-time path tracing, it redefines what’s possible in architectural visualization, offering designers an unparalleled blend of speed, precision, and realism. This isn’t merely about better renders; it’s about transforming workflows, empowering creativity, and delivering results that were once thought impossible in real-time.
As the technology matures, expect even more: smarter algorithms, smoother workflows, and tools that push the boundaries of design efficiency. D5 Render 2.10 is a glimpse into the future—a future where quality and performance coexist seamlessly.
Download D5 Render 2.10 today and explore real-time path tracing for yourself!
