Photo (above): I couldn’t find my Pixar walking teapot, so an old Star Wars toy had to do instead.
Back in my day in visual effects (2002-2008), Pixar’s Renderman® was the de-facto factor rendering environment. There was absolutely no other product that could do what Renderman® could at any price range. Needless to say, Pixar got a lot of money for it as they were a virtual monopoly.
But times change and now there are other kids on the block. Pixar has serious competition. A few VFX studios have moved away from Renderman® to alternative rendering and rendering management systems.
Given the recent news, it looks a though Pixar is getting worried, because for the first time in Renderman’s history they’re giving it away for non-commercial use free of charge. No watermarking, no crippled functionality. The whole kit and caboodle. Free.
Additionally, prices are being slashed for commercial users too.
This makes it a most attractive option for those looking to learn the ropes of VFX. It’s often been talked about the lack of skills in the industry from those leaving school/university. This gives them a chance to get their hands on the tools that, hopefully, many studios have deployed within their infrastructure.
Now, if only Autodesk would make it easier for non-commercial users who are NOT students to get their mitts on Maya and the ilk.
Autodesk used to offer a Personal Learning Edition of Maya that was available to all, but all output was watermarked. Then they did away with that and restricts the “free” version to officially registered students. Everybody else gets to use a trial. If you’re unemployed or looking to get into the industry as a Maya artist, you’ve got to pony up the rather expensive license.
If the VFX and creative industries want more skilled students (read: cheap but skilled labour), then vendors such as Pixar and Autodesk and the other major players in off-the-shelf commercial software sector must make available options that give people the opportunity to tinker legitimately outside of school/other work time and not seek out dodgy copies elsewhere.
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