It was 2 1/2 years ago that I mentioned Intel's Embree technology (See Link) in this thread (See Link).

Well, since then the list of of Renderers using Embree has done nothing but growing. To the last count, and to the best my knowledge, here are the softwares that use Embree's cutting-edge technology:

1. Stand-Alone Renderers: Vray for 3DSMax (See Link), VRay For Maya (See Link), Lux Render (See Link), Cycles (See Link), Thea Renderer (See Link), Corona Renderer (See Link), and Fluid Ray RT (See Link).

2. 3D Apps: Cinema 4D (See Link), Simlab Composer (See Link), Strata 3D (See Link), and even the 'Not So Entry Level' Cheetah3D (See Link).

All these softwares are claiming significant boosts in their rendering speeds, because of Embree. Strata 3D claims up to 800% speed increase with their Embree enabled renderer. Fluid Ray RT claims real-time GI with their renderer.

So my question is: Why isn't Carrara following suit? An Embree enabled Carrara could boost the speed of Carrara's ailing renderer by several orders of magnitude while significantly improving its render quality.

My own answer to this question is that Daz is totally unaware of the latest software technologies. Daz is stuck in a non-sensical Genesis 3 development that will never be finished, because its technical feasibility in Carrara is very questionable, instead of adding to Carrara features that would add real value to it, like Embree.

Oops! I forgot to mention this: (See Link)

at least we can use the Lux Renderer through Luxus and LuxCore but it would be nice to see any native development in Carrara

Dr. Bernie: "My own answer to this question is that Daz is totally unaware of the latest software technologies. Daz is stuck in a non-sensical Genesis 3 development that will never be finished, because its technical feasibility in Carrara is very questionable, instead of adding to Carrara features that would add real value to it, like Embree."

Maybe. But I think DAZ has just made a commercial decision to put all their money on DAZ Studio, Genesis, DUF format, etc. I really doubt they have the programmers to maintain Carrara, much less develop it. I have no basis for this, just the perspective of a longtime Carrara user.

It does remind me of a fond memory from the early 80's days of PC's: Lotus 1-2-3. The first application that sold IBM PC hardware, including to the large international company where I worked, a conservative IBM Mainframe/DEC mini outfit. A sad commentary: "On 11 June 2013, IBM announced it would withdraw the Lotus brand ... No service extensions will be offered. There will be no replacement programs." RIP.

@ Dr Bernie: I somehow missed Reality for Carrara, Luxus for Carrara, Luxrender for Carrara, Octane for Carrara...

@ Steve K.

I agree with you that Daz doesn't spend much money on Carrara. The 8.5.1.19 is proof positive of a 'release' done on a shoestring budget.

But Daz did invest some money on Carrara not long ago, when they spend months to implement the fast mipmapping filtering mode. To do this they must have used a well-paid experienced developer, because it's too complex for a summer-intern.

I suspect that fast mipmapping filtering mode was implemented to speed-up Carrara's native renderer to handle Genesis's high resolution textures.

If indeed I am correct, and fast mipmapping was done to speed-up the native renderer, then I call it 'The Engineering Blunder Of The Decade', because fast mipmapping is a technology of the 1990's not 21st century.

Daz developers beautifully missed the cutting-edge Embree technology, that everybody is using today, and opted instead for an obsolete technology of the 1990's. The infuriating point is that the cost of implementing Embree in Carrara wouldn't have been much more than what they spent on fast mipmapping.