Real IES 3.5 is now available, introducing Real IES Sketch, a new tool developed to provide a streamlined, radial approach to designing and editing photometric files.
Following the release of version 3.4, which brought features like Real IES Duo and dedicated metadata management, this update focuses on expanding capabilities for true 360-degree lighting design while maintaining compatibility across major rendering engines and real-time pipelines.
Real IES Sketch: A Radial Approach to Photometric Design
Traditional photometric file creation often relies on a classic side-view layout. While effective for standard distributions, certain workflows demand more intuitive, radial design capabilities.
Real IES Sketch reimagines this process. Building upon foundational concepts explored previously in Real IES 2 (such as the Light Graph feature), Sketch offers a complete, dedicated environment for radial photometric shaping.
- True 360-Degree Control: Unlike previous workarounds, such as Real IES Duo, which combined two beams but sacrificed a C-Plane in the process, Real IES Sketch allows users to generate complete, true 360-degree light beams utilizing two full C-Planes in just a few clicks.
- Streamlined Workflow: Designed for efficiency, the interface lets technical artists and lighting designers quickly establish intensity profiles, configure flux and power inputs, and inspect beam behaviors visually.
Benefits for Real-Time and Offline Renderers
Like all updates to Real IES, version 3.5 integrates seamlessly into existing production pipelines. Whether working in offline rendering or real-time engines spanning from 3ds Max to Unreal Engine:
- Optimized Performance: Utilizing proper, native 360-degree IES profiles helps reduce unnecessary light duplication, saving draw calls and optimizing performance in real-time setups.
- Universal Compatibility: Generated files maintain standard IES format compliance, ensuring predictable and physically accurate results across all major third-party renderers.
Free Update for Existing Users
As part of our ongoing commitment since version 1.0 in 2015, all updates, minor or major, remain entirely free for anyone who has purchased Real IES.
We encourage lighting artists, technical directors, and developers to test Real IES Sketch in their upcoming projects. Feedback from the community is always welcome as we continue to refine and expand the software’s toolset.
Download the latest update today and explore the new radial design workflow.
