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Andreea Lipan

Andreea Lipan

Last updated: February 20, 2024  •  3 min read

Bridge Update: Transfer Enscape Data to V-Ray for 3ds Max and Cinema 4D

Earlier this year, we announced our first steps towards enabling a unified visualization workflow with the initial release of Enscape to V-Ray compatibility (also referred to as ‘the Chaos Bridge’).

We’ve now introduced another element, in beta, to enhance this workflow: V-Ray Scene Exporter. Transfer key data from Enscape to V-Ray and other design applications, including 3ds Max and Cinema 4D.

This enables architects, designers, and 3D artists to collaborate more effectively, by enabling data exchange and data compatibility between industry-standard design applications.

Transfer Enscape scenes to other design tools

With the release of Enscape 3.5.6 and V-Ray 6.2, it is possible to export .vrscene files from Enscape and import them into V-Ray, 3ds Max, and Cinema 4D. We call this workflow “the Chaos Bridge’. 

With the current version of the Bridge, design professionals can:

  • Transfer geometry, 3D assets, lights, materials, and camera position via the .vrscene exporter.
  • Better collaborate with architects and 3D artists, through the exchange of key data from Enscape to V-Ray, 3ds Max, and Cinema 4D.
  • Transfer design decisions and design intent created with Enscape.
  • Adjust Enscape geometry in digital content creation tools, so that Enscape native 3D assets, lights, and materials can be further edited and enhanced.
  • Avoid the duplication of work that happens with the recreation of scenes in a different design application to what Enscape currently supports.

Take a look at how you can effortlessly transfer Enscape scenes to V-Ray for 3ds Max in this short tutorial.

How the Bridge has evolved

With the Chaos Bridge, for the very first time, architects, designers, and 3D artists can seamlessly harness the power of real-time rendering and achieve stunning photorealistic results within a unified workflow. 

Previously, there was no viable way of effectively transferring work from the design team to the visualization team. If a higher quality output was desired beyond what the real-time rendering program could offer, it posed a significant challenge as data remained locked, preventing any movement of the model from real time to photorealistic rendering. 

With the first iteration of the Chaos Bridge, Enscape projects could be rendered with V-Ray for SketchUp, Rhino, Revit, and Vantage. The 3D Artist would need both renderers installed in the same design application, which was a limitation.

Now, with the release of Enscape 3.5.6 and V-Ray 6.2 for 3ds Max and Cinema4D, users can move projects from a CAD/BIM environment (SketchUp, Revit, Archicad, Vectorworks, and Rhino) to a digital content creation (DCC) environment (3ds Max, Cinema 4D), which was previously impossible.

Perfect visualizations with less effort

Architects, designers, and archviz professionals can now collaborate even more effectively, and continue to perfect their visualizations in the design application they prefer. This integration delivers the advantages of both the Enscape and V-Ray renderers, without the constraint of being confined to a single host application.

Architectural projects can be enhanced with more realistic material capabilities, accurate interior lighting, enhanced 3D Assets, post-processing effects, and animation in V-Ray. 

A new export option in Enscape, the .vrscene file format, acts as a container for transferring geometry, 3D assets, lights, materials, and camera position. The relevant data for further developing the scene gets transferred. Geometry can then be adjusted in another 3D modeling application, different from the one it was originally created in.

Say an architect adds an entourage from the Enscape Asset Library. At the moment, these 3D assets are limited in how they can be adapted. Only predefined settings for color and material can be adjusted. But now, with the .vrscene exporter/importer, these assets can be refined in the DCC tool. The shape of an Enscape asset can be edited and each material can be changed. 

Test and share your feedback

The V-Ray scene exporter is in the beta testing phase and we appreciate your feedback at this stage. 

If you have particular ideas about this feature, please send them directly to us via this Feature Card. For general feedback and ideas, head over to the Enscape Portal and click on the “Submit an idea” button. We also encourage you to share your opinion on the Enscape Community Forum

Stay tuned for more updates in 2024! We plan to gradually increase the interoperability between Enscape, V-Ray, and other Chaos products and look forward to sharing more updates with you in the new year. 

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Andreea Lipan
Andreea Lipan

Andreea is the Enscape Product Marketing Manager, who focuses on tailoring the right narrative for Enscape functionalities and analyzing customer insights and workflows. With a background in architecture and interior design, her journey into the AEC industry as a university teaching assistant, architect, project coordinator, and freelance visualizer has been rewarding. It was through the process of discovering her passions, especially for VR, real-time rendering technologies, and exploring design challenges, that led her to Chaos to support creating user-friendly features for fellow architects and designers!