OctaneRender

OctaneRender is a proprietary GPU-based rendering engine developed by OTOY. It uses unbiased path tracing to simulate light transport and generate photorealistic images. Designed to take advantage of modern graphics hardware, OctaneRender runs on NVIDIA GPUs using CUDA and supports multi-GPU configurations to accelerate rendering workloads. It is distributed as a standalone application and as plugins for a range of host applications, enabling users to render directly within their preferred 3D software environment.

Key features include a node-based material system with physically based materials, image-based lighting using HDRIs, and support for caustics and complex light interactions. The engine offers global illumination through path tracing and provides multiple render passes or AOVs for compositing. It includes a live preview mode, often called Live Renderer or Live View, which allows interactive feedback and progressive refinement as samples accumulate. Denosing options, including AI-based denoising, help reduce noise in renders at lower sample counts. The software also supports various post-processing effects and tone-mapping controls.

OctaneRender supports distributed rendering across multiple GPUs and machines, enabling faster production renders for complex scenes. It is used across industries such as visual effects, product visualization, architecture, and animation. Licensing is commercial, with options for standalone use or integration within plugin workflows, and deployment options vary by edition and distribution model. As a GPU-accelerated renderer, OctaneRender emphasizes speed and realism, appealing to users who require physically plausible lighting and materials in their projects.