These Release Notes cover what's new, download and installation instructions and frequently asked questions for Brazil "Rio" 2. Please read these notes and the bug filing instructions before reporting any issues.

Give us your feedback on our forum.

What's New in Brazil "Rio" Rendering System 2.1b build-1618

Release Date

May 27, 2008

Changes for this build

This release adds 3ds Max 2009 compatibility, Ray Level overrides to the Reflect/Refract map and a Minipanel for quick access to commonly changed Brazil r/s v2 which automatically attaches to the 3ds Max 2009 VFB. A detailed list of changes is available.

Earlier Changes

For information about previous changes, please see the Brazil 2.1b build-1587 Release Notes.

Brazil Rio Features

For an overview, please see Brazil r/s v2 Features.

Downloading and Installing

System Requirements

Before installing, make sure your computer meets the system requirements.

Downloading Rio

SplutterFish provides Brazil r/s for 3ds max and Rhino 3D in a variety of configurations. You can get the FREE Rio Learning Edition here. For other Brazil Editions, please see our product pages, and visit our online store to purchase.

Installing Rio

Please note that installing Rio will overwrite any existing installations of Brazil 2 in 3ds Max. It is recommended, but typically not required, that you uninstall previous installations of Brazil r/s / Brazil Rio.

Removing Rio

You can remove Rio through the Add/Remove Software Control Panel applet, or through the Start Menu on Windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do a FREE version like this?

It's no secret that SplutterFish has a long history of freely providing critical (and fun!), high-end 3D tools to the CG community -- many which are now shipped "in-the-box" as part of 3ds Max. We don't believe that lack of access to tools should be the reason for keeping creative individuals from expanding their skills and realizing their potential as artists.

We do, however, make our living by selling the commercial version of Brazil r/s, and we hope that by continuing to support the community in this way, that community will continue to grow and support our efforts as well.

What's not included in the Rio Edition?

This build is based upon and includes all the features of the current Brazil r/s Pro-beta build, but is selectively feature-limited so as to make it primarily usable for personal and educational purposes. Rio will not work well in a mixed "Brazil r/s" and "Brazil Rio" environment. A list of disabled features and limitations includes:

• No support for network rendering
• Image size has been limited to 1024x511 maximum
• File saving/loading limitations:
  • Scene files can be created/saved/loaded freely between Rio versions
  • Scene files saved in Brazil Rio will be loadable/savable in Brazil r/s
  • Scene files saved in Brazil r/s will be loadable, read-only, in Brazil Rio (meaning you will not be able to re-save the loaded file)

This version is much faster and more complete than previous versions of Rio and contains the same features that were used to generate all the images in the Gallery.

What's the difference between Rio and a full evaluation of Brazil r/s?

An evaluation is typically a 30-day, full-featured, time-locked version of Brazil r/s and it includes access to all our normal support services, network rendering, floating licensing, full documentation and examples, etc. Evaluation licenses are handled on a case by case basis.

For further information on evaluating or purchasing the full version of Brazil r/s, please contact sales@splutterfish.com.

How do I get started?

Those that have used previous Brazil r/s and Rio versions should be able to pick up the basics of Rio fairly quickly. Documentation is provided and we recommend you check out the Brazil r/s Field Guide for tutorials and training material. Brazil is different than other renderers in that it gives you the flexibility and control to overdrive the system in ways you might not expect. Brazil/Rio 2 is a high-performance, very-fast renderer, but you may have to change some of your current work habits to experience what the renderer is truly capable of.

How can I contribute?

Report bugs

If you find any, let us know For now, just report any bugs to our forums -- please try and avoid reporting bugs that are already there - thanks

Contribute something back to the community

Help us improve the documentation, contribute to the Materials Gallery, upload something to the Image Gallery, Write a tutorial for the Brazil r/s Field Guide, etc.)

Help someone else

Hang out on our forums and help out someone who needs it.

Buy something from SplutterFish

We all need to make a living doing this, and we depend on the grass-roots of this community, so if you're in a position to purchase or to encourage someone else too, please do

Disclaimers

Please don't mirror this software without permission. For information on distribution and licensing, drop an e-mail to contact@splutterfish.com.

If you have any comments or suggestions, drop a line on our forums.