Arnold 7.0.0.0

Enhancements

Build

• ARNOLD_ prefix for definitions: Arnold-USD now uses ARNOLD_ prefix for definitions to differentiate from core definitions. (#823)
• CMake testsuite: The cmake build system is now capable of running tests via kick and usdrecord. (#124 #27)
• BOOST_ALL_NO_LIB: When building via CMake, the implicit linking of boost libraries can be disabled.

Procedural

• Procedural Path Mapping: The procedural now supports Arnold Path Mapping when loading USD files. (#818)
• Light Linking: The procedural now supports light linking. (#787)

Imaging

• UsdImaging adapters: Arnold-USD now includes a set of UsdImaging adapters for Arnold specific schemas, that allows direct use of procedurals and Arnold shapes in Hydra. (#185 #741)
• Deep rendering: The render delegate now supports rendering of deep AOVs via DelegateRenderProducts. (#650)
• Hydra scene delegate: Arnold-USD now includes an experimental scene delegate for Hydra. (#764)
• Progressive disabled when using Husk: Progressive rendering is now disabled when rendering via husk. (#755)
• Custom PrimID Hydra Buffer: The render delegate now uses a dedicated primId AOV to support selections in Hydra viewports. This improves support for render-time procedurals and leaves the built-in id parameter unchanged on shapes. (#812)
• DoubleSided in the Render Delegate: The render delegate now supports the built-in doubleSided parameter on USD primitives and correctly supports overrides via Arnold-specific primvars. (#805)
• Motion Blur using Velocity and Acceleration: The render delegate now extrapolates point positions if velocity or acceleration primvars exist and there are no multiple samples for the position. (#673)
• Fast camera updates: The render delegate now handles camera-only updates more efficiently, improving the first time to pixel. (#869)
• Standard Surface Fallback: The render delegate now uses a standard surface as a fallback, when no materials are assigned to a prim. (#861)
• String array parameters: String array primvars are now converted to built-in parameters. (#808)
• Multiple hydra sessions: The render delegate now uses the multiple render session API. (#783)

Scene Format

• Multiple frames in a single file: The USD writer is now able to append multiple frames to a single USD file. (#777)

Bugfixes

Build

• #746 Issue with dependency between the procedural build and the testsuite
• #810 Can't build schemas when there are spaces in the project folder path
• #830 HdArnoldNativeRprim::GetBuiltinPrimvarNames lacks the override modifier
• #835 Building for USD 21.08 fails because the lack of SdfTypeIndicator
• #837 Schemas fail to generate with python 3 because of dict.iteritems()
• #845 Driver using AiOutputIteratorGetNext fails to compile when using a newer Arnold build
• #851 Don't configure plugInfo.json in-source
• #849 AiArrayGetXXXFuncs are not available anymore in newer Arnold builds
• #856 Cleanup solution introduced in #845
• #874 Allow to prepend PATH folders when building schemas
• #772 Testsuite fails when using USD 21.05/21.02
• #765 Can't compile when using USD 21.05
• #775 Remove deprecated functions, warnings, and fix some bugs
• #767 Unable to compile using cmake with a Python 3 build of USD
• #792 Build error using Houdini 18.0 on OSX

Procedural

• #847 Procedural should check the camera of the proper universe for motion blur settings
• #802 B-spline curves not using radius in procedural
• #816 The procedural does not use "driver:parameters:aov:name"

Imaging

• #751 Render delegate crashes when changing material terminals interactively
• #797 Warning messages when HdArnoldRenderPass is deleted
• #858 Can't hide/unhide lights in Hydra
• #853 Missing indices for facevarying primvars in Hydra abort renders
• #821 The render delegate crashes when using render session API
• #884 Render delegate shouldn't call AiBegin/AiEnd if Arnold is already active
• #843 Disabling render purposes does not hide geometries in hydra
• #887 Int parameters are not converted to unsigned int shader parameters in the render delegate
• #761 Change render_context string to RENDER_CONTEXT for render hints

Scene Format

• #871 Enforce writing multiple frames when no default is authored

Schemas

• #798 SdfMetadata Clashing with another NdrDiscovery Plugin

Arnold 6.2.1.1

Bugfixes

Procedural

• #778 Procedural doesn't read some animated parameters properly
• #768 Custom typed primitives are not written if they already exist

Render Delegate

• #795 GfMatrix4d attributes are not converted to AI_TYPE_MATRIX parameters
• #790 Reset the disp_map parameter instead of setting nullptr when there is no displacement

Arnold 6.2.1.0

Enhancements

Build

• Common Library: Arnold-usd now includes a set of common functions and string definitions to share across multiple modules. (#466)

Procedural

• Half and Double precision: Storing data using half or double precision is now supported. (#672)
• Velocity blur: The procedural now uses the velocity attribute to create motion keys for point-based shapes, when there are no position keys or the topology changes between frames. (#221)
• NodeGraph schemas: The procedural now supports using the NodeGraph schema for shader networks. (#678)
• Crease Sets: The procedural now supports crease sets on polymesh. (#694)
• Purpose: Usd Purpose is now supported in the procedural. (#698)
• Transform2D: The procedural now supports remapping UsdTransform2D to built-in Arnold nodes. (#517)
• Multi-Threading: The procedural now use USD's WorkDispatcher which improves the performance of multi-threaded expansion in many cases. (#690)

Render Delegate

• Half and Double precision: Storing data using half or double precision is now supported. (#669)
• Light and Shadow linking: The render delegate now supports light and shadow linking. (#412)
• Motion blur for the Point Instancer: The render delegate now calculates motion blur when using the point instancer. (#653)
• Pause and Resume: Pausing and resuming renders are now supported in the render delegate. (#595)

Scene Format

• Write with default values: The scene format now supports optionally writing parameters with default values. (#720)

Schemas

• Removal of the ArnoldUSD DSO: The Schemas now work without generating a C++ library. This simplifies the build process and removes the need of installing DSOs that are not used. (#705)

Bugfixes

• #715 Initialization order issue with constant strings common source file

Build

• #656 Arnold-USD fails to build with USD 21.02
• #663 render_delegate/lights.cpp fails to compile for pre-21.02 on windows
• #692 The render delegate fails to build on Windows due to template parameter names
• #707 Schema generator scons should use USD_BIN instead of USD_LOCATION + bin to find usdGenSchema
• #722 Failing to generate schemas when targeting Houdini on macOS
• #730 Translator fails to build when targeting USD 20.08

Procedural

• #674 Testsuite fails after standard_surface default changes in 6.2.0.0
• #564 Changing topology only works when rendering the first frame of the USD file
• #681 Read render settings at the proper frame
• #683 Don't apply skinning if the usdStage comes from the cache
• #508 Nested procedurals ignore matrix in the viewport API
• #687 Crash with empty primvar arrays
• #679 Attribute subdiv_type should have priority over USD subdivisionScheme
• #282 Primvars are not inherited from ancestor primitives
• #215 Issue with instanced primitives' visibility
• #244 Curves with vertex interpolation on width
• #732 Support wrap, bias, and scale in USdUvTexture
• #724 ID not passed to the shapes generated in the procedural

Render Delegate

• #651 Error rendering USD file with samples in productName
• #660 Crease sets and subdivision scheme is not imported correctly
• #727 Arnold does not use wrapS and wrapT values on UsdUVTexture shader node when rendering UsdPreviewSurface
• #759 Primvars are not correctly set on the instancer if there is more than one prototype

Scene Format

• #615 USD Writer crashes when node name contains hyphen character
• #718 Inactive render vars are still rendered when using the scene format

Arnold 6.2.0.1

Bugfixes

Render Delegate

• #654 Transform is not synced for the points primitive

Arnold 6.2.0.0

Enhancements

Build

• USD Procedural Name: It is now possible to overwrite the USD procedurals name, which allows deploying a custom USD procedural alongside the core shipped one. (#600)

Procedural

• Cache Id: The procedural now supports reading stages from the shared stage cache via the cache id parameter. (#599)
• Per ray-visibility: The USD procedural now supports per-ray visibilities exported from Houdini. (#637)

Render Delegate

• Hydra Cameras: The render delegate now supports physical camera parameters, including depth of field and Arnold specific camera parameters. (#31 #591 #611)
• Search Paths: The render delegate now exposes search paths for plugins, procedurals, textures, and OSL includes. (#602)
• Autobump Visibility: The render delegate now supports setting autobump_visibility via primvars. (#597)

Scene Format

• Authoring extent: Extents on UsdGeom shapes are now correctly authored when using the USD scene format. (#582)

Schemas

• Prefix for Schema Attributes: Arnold schemas now prefix their attributes for better compatibility with built-in USD schemas. (#583)
• Inheriting from UsdGeomXformable: Arnold schemas now inherit from UsdGeomXformable instead of UsdTyped. (#558)
• Creating XForms: The USD scene format now correctly creates UsdGeomXform parents for shapes instead of UsdTyped. (#629)

Bugfixes

Build

• #624 CMake fails building schemas for a beta Arnold build.
• #641 The render delegate fails to build using gcc 4.8.5 .

Procedural

• #621 UVs not read from facevarying primvar if indexes are not present.
• #643 Don't error out when a procedural object_path points at an inactive primitive.

Render Delegate

• #592 Invalid face-varying primvars crash the render delegate.
• #481 std::string, TfToken, and SdfAssetPath typed VtArrays are not converted when setting primvars.
• #619 Several built-in render buffer types are not translated to the right Arnold AOV type.
• #634 Fixing disappearing meshes when playing back animation.
• #638 Motion start and motion end is not set reading animated transformation.
• #605 Issues with UVs when rendering the kitchen scene.

Scene Format

• #596 Invalid USD is produced if polymesh is made of triangles and nsides is empty.

Arnold 6.1.0.0

Enhancements

Build

• Installing license: The license is now copied to the installation folder when using scons. (#540)

Procedural

• Light Shaping: The procedural now supports the UsdLuxShapingAPI, allowing the use of spot and IES lights. (#344)

Render Delegate

• UsdTransform2d: The render delegate now supports the UsdTransform2d preview shader. (#516)
• Per face material assignments: Per-face material assignments are now supported. (#29)
• Render Stats: The Render Delegate now returns render stats via GetRenderStats. For now, this is used to show render progress in Solaris. (#537)

Schemas

• Schema for custom procedurals: The schemas now include ArnoldCustomProcedural for describing custom procedurals. (#487)
• Schema updates: Schemas now support cameras, render settings, and new output types. (#500)

Scene Format

• Parent Scope: There is a new flag to specify a custom root for all exported prims. (#292)
• ST for Texture Coordinates: Texture coordinates are now written as primvars:st to match the USD convention. (#542)

Bugfixes

Build

• #528 Render delegate fails to build when building for Katana.
• #553 Compilation failures because of License.md.
• #567 HdArnoldMaterial fails to compile for the latest USD dev branch.
• #560 plugInfo.json for schemas is broken with newer USD builds.

Procedural

• #513 Viewport representation in points mode doesn't have the correct matrix.
• #543 Visibility is not checked on the current frame.
• #556 motion_start and motion_end is only set if the matrix of the prim is animated.
• #565 Animated transforms not translated properly if set on parent xforms.
• #570 USD procedural is not picking up osl shader parameters.

Render Delegate

• #569 Render delegate not picking up OSL shader parameters.
• #577 Point light should have zero radius.
• #580 The Render Delegate's depth range is incorrect if USD is at least version 20.02.
• #570 Incorrect display of curve widths in Solaris when changing curve basis.

Arnold 6.0.4.1

Enhancements

Build

• #490 Allow overwriting the build directory location when using scons
• #549 Update Scons version.

Bugfixes

Build

• #533 Add BOOST_ALL_NO_LIB when building on windows.
• #501 The render delegate fails to build on gcc-4.8.5/Linux #501.
• #498 Can't build for Katana on Windows.

Procedural

• #513 Viewport representation in points mode doesn't have the correct matrix.

Render Delegate

• #488 Render Settings are not passed to the Render Delegate when using Husk.
• #518 HdArnold does not correctly handle texture coordinates when the primvar is not name st and varname in PrimvarReader_float2 is of type string.
• #530 Cylinder light not matching the viewport preview.

Arnold 6.0.4.0

Enhancements

Build

• 20.08 Support: Building for USD 20.08 is supported.

Procedural

• UsdRender schema: UsdRenderSetting, UsdRenderProduct and UsdRenderVar are now supported in the procedural. (#453)

Render Delegate

• Improved Solaris Primvar support: Primvars with arrays of a single element are converted to non-array user data in Arnold. This improves primvar support in Houdini Solaris. (#456)
• Basis Curves: The Render Delegate now supports rendering of Basis Curves. Overriding the basis parameter via primvars and periodic/pinned wrapping are not supported. (#19)
• Per instance primvars: Instancer primvars are now supported, with the exception of nested instancer primvars. (#478)
• Overriding the default filter: HDARNOLD_default_filter and HDARNOLD_default_filter_attributes can now be used to overwrite the default filter. (#475)

Bugfixes

Procedural

• #463 Texture coordinates of texcoord2f type are not read correctly

Render Delegate

• #475 The closest filter is used for AOVs without filtering information

Arnold 6.0.3.1

Build

• Testing the Scene Format: The testsuite now includes tests for the Scene format plugin. (#157)

• Hiding symbols: Weak symbols are now hidden in the Procedural on Linux and MacOS. (#409)

• Lambert for the Tests: The testsuite is now using the lambert as the default shader. (#416)

• Overwriting the C++ standard: The C++ standard can now be overwritten for builds on Linux and MacOS. (#446)

• Google Test: Google Test can now be used to write tests. (#311)

• Fixed an issue with the "resave" test parameter. (#402)

• Fixed an issue with test 62 and 68. (#414)

Procedural

• UsdGeomCamera: The UsdGeomCamera schema is now supported in the procedural. (#345)

• UsdSkel: The UsdSkel schema is now supported in the procedural. (#329)

• Image uvset: The built-in uvset is used now when a UsdPrimvarReader for st/uv is connected to UsdUvTexture. (#428)

• Textured Mesh Lights: Textured mesh lights are now supported. (#366)

• Fixed an issue when using multiple Procedurals. (#400)

• Fixed issues with Nested Procedurals when using the Procedural Viewport API. (#408 #435)

• Fixed a crash with empty node names. (#380)

• Fixed an issue with reading namespaced primvars. (#382)

• Fixed an issue when reading Light color and intensity parameters. (#364)

• Fixed several issues when reading primvars. (#333)

• Fixed an issue when reading RGB arrays. (#325)

Render Delegate

• Filters for AOVs: Filtering parameters are now read from the aovSettings map for RenderVars. (#319 #426 #437)

• LPE RenderVars: LPE RenderVars are now supported. (#317)

• Primvar RenderVars: Primvar RenderVars are now supported. (#318)

• SourceName for RenderVars: The sourceName aovSetting is now supported. This allows renaming Arnold AOVs and writing a single AOV to multiple Render Buffers with different filters. (#425)

• Fixed an issue that prevented using the GPU on Windows. (#398)

• Fixed a crash when running the Render Delegate in Solaris on Windows. (#394)

• Fixed a bug related to marking ignored Render Buffers as converged. (#431)

• Fixed an issue related to using incorrect LPEs. (#430)

• Fixed a crash when deleting an active RenderVar in Solaris. (#439)

• Fixed an issue when the USD Preview Surface is used as a Displacement shader. (#448)

• Fixed an issue with how the dataType parameter is interpreted. (#450)

Scene Format / Writer

• Roundtripping Node Names: Node names are now preserved when roundtripping scenes from Arnold to USD to Arnold. (#396)

• Per-channel connections: Per-channel connections are now written using adapter nodes. (#351)

• Motion Keys: Motion keys are now written to the USD file. (#334)

• Motion Blur: Motion blur is now supported. (#346)

• Fixed an issue when writing Toon light lists. (#374)

• Fixed an issue when writing linked ramp parameters. (#375)

• Fixed an issue when writing AI_TYPE_NODE user data. (#371)

• Fixed an issue when writing motion ranges. (#368)

• Fixed an issue when writing ginstance parameters. (#362)

• Fixed a crash when writing empty arrays. (#360)

• Fixed an issue when the number of motion keys for normals did not match the number of motion keys for positions. (#356)

• Fixed an issue when writing custom Matrix parameters. (#354)

• Fixed an issue when writing polymesh.subdiv_iterations.(#349)

• Fixed an issue when writing curves.num_points. (#324)

• Removed warnings when writing the displayColor primvar. (#312)

Arnold 6.0.3.0

Build

• USD requirement: USD 19.05 is now the earliest supported version.

• USD 20.02: USD 20.02 is now supported. (#260)

• Fixed build issues on Linux and MacOS. (#303)

• Fixed build issues when using USD 0.19.05.

Procedural

• Using the new instancer procedural: The procedural now uses the core shipped instancer procedural. (#256)

• Prim Visibility: The visibility token from UsdGeomImageable is now correctly inherited. (#218)

• Fixed a crash when using the Arnold Viewport functions. (#295)

• Fixed a crash when writing USD files with upper-case extensions. (#288)

Render Delegate

• Computed Primvars: Computed primvars are now supported, enabling previewing UsdSkel and Houdini crowds. (#265 and #267)

• Improved Rendering: The Render Delegate is now using the Arnold Render API correctly, leading to better responsiveness. (#270)

• Improved Render Buffers: The Hydra Render Buffer support is now significantly improved, including improved performance. (#8)

• 32-bit buffers: The render delegate now outputs 32-bit float buffers, instead of dithered 8 bit whenever possible. (#9)

• arnold:global: prefix: Prefixing Render Settings with arnold:global: is now supported.

• Shaping Parameters: Shaping parameters on Sphere Lights are now supported. This includes Spot and IES parameters, excluding IES normalize and IES angle scale. (#314)

• Barndoor Parameters: Solaris' Barndoor parameters are now roughly approximated using the barndoor filter. Note, Arnold does NOT match Karma. (#332)

• Fixed a crash when instancer nodes had uninitialized node pointers. (#298)

• Fixed a bug with aborted renders not marking the render pass as converged. (#4)

• Fixed a bug where the camera jumped to the origin in Solaris. (#385)

Scene Format/Writer

• Mask: The scene format plugin now supports a mask parameter, allowing selective export of Arnold nodes. (#274)

• Closures: Closure attributes are now written to the USD file. (#322)

• Options: The options node is now correctly translated. (#320)

• Fixed bugs with the string export functions. (#320)

• Fixed a crash when writing pointer attributes. (#342)