How do I get photo realistic renderings in X17?

[agorres]

What happened to the photo realistic rendering capabilities? I just signed up again, the last time I used Chief was X13. I'm baffled as to why they wouldn't have photo realistic ray tracing; am I to buy some AI service now? 

[SHCanada2]

1 hour ago, agorres said:

What happened to the photo realistic rendering capabilities? I just signed up again, the last time I used Chief was X13. I'm baffled as to why they wouldn't have photo realistic ray tracing; am I to buy some AI service now? 

You need a graphics card that supports realtime ray tracing.

 

IF you have that, then yes you will get rendering like X13, except better now

 

Edited September 12 by SHCanada2

[scottharris]

There are several videos on ray tracing if you search that term on the chief website.  Here's a summary video to help 

 

https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/10288/ray-trace-rendering-using-area-lights.html

 

[Kbird1]

On 9/13/2025 at 8:13 AM, agorres said:

What happened to the photo realistic rendering capabilities? I just signed up again, the last time I used Chief was X13. I'm baffled as to why they wouldn't have photo realistic ray tracing; am I to buy some AI service now? 

 

If you are referring to CPU Raytracing it is now gone in X17 in favour of PBR (Physical Based Rendering) but as Jason pointed out you do need a Videocard capable of RTRT (Real-time RayTracing) this KB Article has more on that....

 

https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-03202/message-hardware-accelerated-ray-tracing-required-by-physically-based-clay-renderings-is-not-supported-on-this-computer.html

 

M.