Pixar makes animation software RenderMan free for non-commercial use

Pixar makes RenderMan free for non-commercial use. From the next release, interested parties can download the rendering software for free after registration, the subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company announced.

The software for non-commercial use is no different from the commercial version, Pixar emphasizes. “There are no watermarks, no time limits, and no limited functionality. The only restriction is that the software may only be used for non-commercial use.” For example, the animations created with RenderMan may not be distributed with the aim of earning money.

Pixar announced the price change for its 3D animation technology on Thursday via its site. According to the animation company, this is a strategic decision, allowing RenderMan to be and remain a standard within the creative industry. In addition, Pixar believes that restricting access to the software, for example by setting a price, can block the industry. Finally, the company hopes to attract more future customers by providing a free version of RenderMan to, for example, students or researchers.

RenderMan makes it possible to create visual effects for 3D animations and films, among other things. The software has been used in World War Z, Men in Black 3 and TED, among others. RenderMan is free for non-commercial use starting with the next release, expected in August, and available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. For the paid variant you have to pay about 500 dollars.