Perceptual Tone Mapping
Lightworks has just released a new version of their Author suite, Lightworks Author 2011, which includes the usual bugfixes and little improvements. But this one has 2 big new features: Perceptual Tone Mapping and Image Based Lighting.
Perceptual Tone Mapping is a new tone map shader from Lightworks that closely mimics the action of the human eye in converting the real-world luminance levels calculated by Lightworks Global Illumination to those which can be displayed and viewed on a computer display or printer. The Perceptual Tone Mapper has a complex Lightworks developed auto setup algorithm, designed to produce an image with a balanced luminance range. If the image requires minor adjustment, the Perceptual Tone Mapper allows simple control of the ‘exposure’ and ‘contrast’ of the image, as well as other refining controls.
The Image Based Lighting feature is another welcome addition, bringing a new degree of realism and subtle lighting effects to their photorealistic rendering suite.
Available for both PC & Mac at their site.
