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A triptych image showcasing three styles of a winter scene: the left side features a sketch-like representation of a snowy forest, the center displays a modern house with large windows in a snowy landscape, and the right side highlights the same house in a winter scenery with rocks and trees.

Chaos Corona 13: AI, GPU & Cartoon Vibes

12.06.2025
Corona 13 adds AI Enhancer, GPU rendering via Vantage Live Link, cel/outline shaders, Scatter Clusters, AI‑based asset variations, Firefly removal, VRScene import, Thin‑Film shader.

Corona 13 integrates the Chaos AI Enhancer, enabling quick, quality enhancements of complex vegetation and 3D humans—traditionally resource-heavy render elements. These can now be optimized with minimal effort and no interference with other scene elements. Especially useful in photorealistic archviz workflows where speed matters.

A man kneels on a wooden deck, showing a toy to two young boys. One boy is wearing a green shirt, the other in a white shirt. A woman stands in the background, holding a cup and observing them. Lush greenery surrounds the scene.

GPU-Driven Animation via Vantage

Users of 3ds Max and Cinema 4D can render animations using Chaos Vantage Live Link for full real-time GPU rendering with ray tracing, offering a fast alternative to CPU rendering. The real-time view in Vantage supports live scene updates regardless of complexity. A Vantage license or the new Archviz Collection is required.

A triptych image showcasing three styles of a winter scene: the left side features a sketch-like representation of a snowy forest, the center displays a modern house with large windows in a snowy landscape, and the right side highlights the same house in a winter scenery with rocks and trees.

Cel & Outline Shaders for Stylized Looks

With Cel and Contour shaders, artists can render scenes as stylized cartoons or simple outlined compositions. These effects can be used individually or combined—ideal for early-stage design visualization or stylized client presentations.

Scatter Clusters for Dense Detail

New Scatter Clusters allow controlled generation of object groupings (e.g., plants, rocks, debris) using noise or color maps. 3ds Max users also benefit from Painted Layers—support for Cinema 4D will follow soon.

A vibrant urban park scene featuring people enjoying various activities, including children playing, adults sitting on benches, and a playground. The background displays modern city buildings and greenery under a partly cloudy sky.

More Asset Variations in Cosmos

The Chaos Cosmos asset library now includes seasonal plant variants and more clothing options for 3D figures, giving users greater flexibility in storytelling and visual detailing.

A split image of a modern house showing a yard with fallen leaves on the left side and a clean yard on the right side. The house features large windows and a balcony, surrounded by a green lawn under a blue sky.

Firefly Removal at a Click

Unwanted bright pixel artifacts (aka “fireflies”) in stills and animations can now be removed with a single click—no more tedious post-processing needed.

VRScene Import from Enscape

Corona 13 supports direct import of .vrscene files from Enscape, allowing photorealistic rendering of Enscape projects in Corona. Note: Requires V-Ray to be installed.

A serene sky displaying three iridescent soap bubbles of different sizes floating among soft, fluffy clouds. The scene captures a whimsical, tranquil atmosphere against a blue backdrop.
A serene sky displaying three iridescent soap bubbles of different sizes floating among soft, fluffy clouds. The scene captures a whimsical, tranquil atmosphere against a blue backdrop.

Thin‑Film Shader for Iridescence

A new Thin‑Film shader simulates iridescent effects like oil slicks, anodized metals, dichroic glass, and soap bubbles. Useful for both realism and surrealism in materials.

Availability & Licensing

Corona 13 is available now for:

  • 3ds Max (2016–2025, Windows 64-bit)
  • Cinema 4D (R17–2025, Windows & macOS 64-bit)

Licensing options include monthly or yearly subscriptions. Corona 13 is also bundled in the Archviz Collection, which includes Corona, Chaos Cosmos, Phoenix, Player, Scans, Vantage, and Anima. A 30-day trial version is available.

Corona vs V-Ray

Corona 13 emphasizes streamlined, artist-friendly workflows with integrated creative tools—ideal for fast-paced archviz. While V-Ray offers deeper customization via node-based shading and hybrid CPU/GPU pipelines, Corona 13 focuses on usability and visual fidelity with minimal setup. Ideal for teams prioritizing speed, stylization, and clean results.

Note: Despite significant upgrades, test Corona 13 thoroughly in your production environment before rolling it out in mission-critical pipelines.

Bela Beier Author