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What are the changes in Lumion since my version? - Summary

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Peter Mellor
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Lumion has improved a lot over the years, with more features and functionality in a number of key areas to help you get even better results.

There's been some massive changes. And one of those current changes is the introduction of Ray Tracing in Lumion 2023.

Here is a compilation of some key features covering versions 8 through to 2023.

If your current version is older than V8 then this article will still best cover the key changes.

If you are considering upgrading to Lumion 2023 we hope this will help you get a good idea of the changes.

Please request your Lumion Pro Trial so you can also have a direct look at the latest version and experience the features and things you can do.  

1.  Some of the Key Changes (V8 to Lumion 2023):

 Important: 

The following are a partial and summarized collection from the release information.  No specific order of importance or preference.  When needed you should refer to the details in the full Release Notes (see below: More Details Needed?).

 

   1.1: Build Mode:

  • Transform Gizmo.  For enhanced control on changing the Position or Rotation of an Object. Lumion 2023. [Usability, ease of use]

    L2023__Build__Select-Move__Gizmo_-_Move_on__Axis-all.png
    L2023__Build__Select__Rotate_tool__Gizmo__All.jpg
    L2023__Build__Select-Move__Gizmo_-_Move_on__planes_of_Space-All.png
  • Lumion 2023 also introduces an enhanced Snap tool for alignment of certain 'smart' Objects to surfaces. [Usability, ease of use]

    L2023__Build__Select__Move_Tool__Snap__button.png
  • Improved Scene building (see below in section User Interface and Workflow). Lumion 12. [Usability, ease of use, and Workflow Improvement].
  • Surface Decals* including Custom Decals, new object type as subcategory in the main F/X-Effects Category. Lumion 12. [Detailing].
    Decals_-_Effects_Library_Collections_b.png Decals-Custom.png

    Funky_Office_Decals_680p.jpg

  • License plates, Transport Category: Option to enable License Plates for pre-configured Objects in this category.  Includes custom plates. Lumion 12. [Detailing].

    4._Change_License_Plates_-_license_plates_LibraryUSA-Massachusetts_changed__fS.jpg
  • Shadows for Omni Lights and micro-shadows for Spotlights.:  Lumion 11. [Rendering Quality/Rendering Detail.]

    image121.jpg

  • OpenStreetMap: satellite imagery and Satellite maps in OpenStreetMap*.  Lumion 11. [Detailing.]

    L11_OSM_FISS_00018_640x480.png

  • Custom IES Spotlights.  Lumion 11. [Usability, ease of use, and Workflow Improvement].

    image34.png

  • Fine-detail Nature *.  Lumion 10. [Detailing].

    FineDetail_Tree.png

  • Paint Placement.  Lumion 10. [Usability, ease of use, and Workflow Improvement].

    MassPlacement.png
  • New Group function which lets you group certain Object types an easy-to-use custom Group Library. (significantly enhanced in later versions 11 and 12).  Lumion 8.   [Usability, ease of use, and Workflow Improvement].

    image105.png
    image101.png

  • New Variations function lets you import different versions of a model and switch between those Variations.  Lumion 8.

    Variations.png

   1.2: Materials:

  • Full PBR (Physically Based Rendering materials pipeline). Lumion 2023. [Usability, ease of use, Workflow Improvements, Rendering Quality].
    This significant and major improvement along with Ray Tracing provides the foundations for photo-realistic renderings.
    The Materials Editor now supports individual Maps for each of the key PBR material definitions.  Color, Texture (Color Map), Normal Map (Relief), Roughness Map (opposite of Gloss), Reflectiveness Map, Metalness Map, Emissiveness Map, Displacement Map, Opacity (opposite of Transparency) Map.
    And also supports Subsurface Scattering (This property simulates light being scattered within the surface of a (translucent) object. For example, how light penetrates human skin.). 
    And Clearcoat.  A colorless resin/coating that is applied over the top of the base coat. It's the layer that makes your car look glossy and shiny.
    A new Glass Material that merges the Glass (Standard) from old and the PureGlass Materials: 

    Material_Editor_-_StandardMaterial-Maps_for_these_properties.png
  • Displacement Maps: Materials Library and custom displacements maps.  Lumion 10. [Detailing].

    image72.png

    image45.png

    Displacement-beach.png

 

   1.3: Photo Mode:

  • Rendering Aspect Ratios: Easy to use, reliable, changing the dimensions/resolutions of renders for common media use.  Render to Landscape or to Portrait resolutions with the click of a button.  Supported ratios are: 16:9, 9:16, 1:1, 3:2, 2:3, 5:4, 4:5, 1.91:1, 1:1.91.

    Aspect_Ratios_dropdown_-_Clip_Editor.png  Aspect_Ratios_dispaly_for_a_Photo_Set-b-Downtown.png
  • High-quality Preview: lets you see the highest available quality preview of your project before you render.  Lumion 10. [Rendering Quality.]

    image113.png

  • Additional outputs for Photos: It is now possible to render additional outputs directly from Photo Mode, for example Depth Map, Normal Map, Sky Map,, Lighting Map, Alpha Map, MaterialID Map.  Lumion 8.

    mceclip0.png

 

   1.4: Movie Mode:

  • Rendering Aspect Ratios. Lumion 2023.  See Photo Mode above.
  • Camera Paths: Lumion 2023.  Making it easy to make specific camera animations and give the you more options on how to create them over and above using the Record Mode. 
    • Camera Preset Paths:
      Including Orbit Path, Dolly Path, Pan and Tilt Path, Follow Object Path.
      Camera_Presets_-tab1-Orbit.png

    • Imported Camera Path:
      Importing a camera animation from other 3d modeling software such as 3ds Max, Blender, etc. This allows more advanced users to be able to create simple to complex camera animation paths and apply that path to the Lumion camera. 

      Import_Camera_Path_fromMovieMode_1.jpg
  • See Improved Scene building (below in section User Interface and Workflow).
  • New 4K movie resolution option (3860x2160) when rendering Image Sequences and MP4 movies.  Lumion 8.
  • High-quality Preview: see Photo Mode.
  • Ease in/out control for Movie Clips(Movie Clip Editor) Lumion 10.0.

    image17.png

 

   1.5: Effects:

  • Ray Tracing Effect:  Bringing to you the world of photo-realistic ray trace rendering. Lumion 2023.  In a simple easy to use Effect with only a few key settings:

    Ray_Tracing_effect__blueBrdr.png

RT_example_from_website-Stg.jpg
Ray Tracing also sees a major update to the Color Enhancement Effect for Tonemapping and with a Histogram, among others.

  • See Improved Scene building (below in section User Interface and Workflow).
  • Orthographic View Effect: Plan views. Section views. From elevations to isometric. Lumion 11.  [Storytelling/communication of the Space.]

    OrthographicView.gif

  • Animated Phasing Effect*.  Lumion 11. [Storytelling/communication of the Space.]

    Phasing_-_Credit_-_Centric_Bamboo_and_Gorilla_Design_.gif

  • Photo Matching Effect *.  Lumion 10. [Storytelling/communication of the Space.]

    image98.png

  • Real Skies Effect. Lumion 9.  [Rendering Detail.]

    image30.png

  • Volumetric Lights Effect* for Spotlights and Omni Lights:  Lumion 12. [Rendering Detail.]

    Volumetric_Scene_V1_Render_680p.jpg

  • Sky Light Effect.  Lumion 8 and improved Sky Light 2 Effect. Lumion 9. [Rendering Quality.]

    SkyLight.png

  • Precipitation Effect.  Lumion 9, replaced the Rain and Snow Effect.  [Rendering Detail.] and Rain Streaks*:  Lumion 11. [Storytelling/communication of the Space.]

    image97.pngimage84.png
  • Soft Shadows function in the Shadow Effect that will blur shadows, the farther away from the shadow-casting objects they are.  And, new Fine Detail Shadows function in the Shadow Effect that will add micro-shadows to objects, for example to grass and leaves.  Lumion 8.

    ShadowEffect-SoftShadows.png

  • Variation Control Effect lets you switch between different versions of an Imported Model to show different materials and designs.  Lumion 8. Rendering Detail.] [Storytelling/communication of the Space.]

    VariationControl.png

 

   1.6: User Interface and Workflow:

  • Improved Scene building (massive UI update to continue the enhancements in the UI over the last few versions).  [Usability, ease of use, and Workflow Improvement.]
    Lumion 12 has undergone a major facelift, making it even easier and more enjoyable. These include:

    • 1.6.1: Improved Objects Library - Lumion Library and Imported Models Library:

      Collections_-_Collection_of_like_objects_-top_level_view_of_Library.png

    • 1.6.2: Improved Imported Models Library.

    • 1.6.3: Improved Materials workflow:

      Material_Editor_-_general-UI.png

    • 1.6.4: Improved Groups and Groups Library:

      Groups_-_Group_button__HelpText.png

    • 1.6.5: Improved Object animation functionality making it much easier and simpler to create animations.

      Advanced_Move_Effect_-_Edit_-_general_UI.png
      Advanced_Move_Effect_-_TypeIn_Position_b.png  Advanced_Move_Effect_-_Add_Keyframe_b_pointer.png

      • 1.6.5.1: Advanced Move Effect.

      • 1.6.5.2: Move Effect.

      • 1.6.5.3: Mass Move Effect.

      • 1.6.5.4: Movie Editor and Clip Editor.

    • 1.6.6: New Context Menu (important for workflows): for all Modes: 

      Photo_Mode_Preveiw_-_Photo_1_Context_Menu_button.png
      4._Movie_Mode_Editor_-_copy_Clip_2_to_Clip_4_-_mouseOver_and_click_Copy.png

       

 

   1.7: Other:

  • Foundation change (all Modes).  The core engine.  Lumion 11. [Rendering Performance and options.]
  • Anti-aliasing has been significantly improved when rendering images and movies.  Lumion 8.
  • Support:  In-built interactive learning tutorials:

    InBuilt_Tutorials.jpg

 

2. Here are some of the performance improvements:  

  • Proxies setting that automatically swaps Objects with proxy boxes to greatly improve Build Mode performance and maintain a high and steady FPS.

    Proxies.jpg

  • Switching between Modes is now faster.
  • Textures are imported faster, resulting in less time in importing your models.
  • Improved video memory management and overall stability which results in better performance in the editor and a decrease in render times.
  • Textures are now automatically converted internally to .DDS format with BC7 compression for better performance and more efficient graphics card memory utilization.
  • Improved performance for Build Mode: new real-time GPU up-sampling technology that can be used instead of the old editor settings. 

    Settings_-_Image_-_Editor_Resolution.png
    In Lumion 2023 this has been improved significantly to give better performance in the Editor with much better quality for the various draft modes of the Editor.

 

3. Content: Additions to the Lumion Object and Materials Library:

The total number of Library assets in the Lumion 2023 Pro Content Library to 7,130*.

2280* objects are now available in Lumion Standard.

The total number of materials in Lumion 2023 Pro is 1,452*.

* Lumion Standard contains approximately one-third of the Library (Objects and Materials) content of Lumion Pro.

Models/Objects Content:

Content_Totals_Lumion_2023.0_-_All_Pro_and_Norm_Totals_only.png

Materials:

Materials_-_Grand_total_for_L2023.png

 

4. Importing and LiveSync importing:

Lumion LiveSync for Revit, SketchUp, AutoCAD, ArchiCAD, Rhino, AllPlan, Vectorworks, FormIt, BricsCAD.

LiveSync_toolbar.png

Version 2 importer in Lumion for common file formats when not using LiveSync: FBX, DAE, SketchUp Skp, 3ds, Obj.  Improved .DWG model importer.

  • This improves importing performance and decreases importing time in comparison with older versions.
  • Optimization of Imported Model file sizes. Model files are now lighter and easier to process than before.

 

More Details Needed?

For a fuller list of main changes, see

For the full details we recommend looking at these Release Note articles (main updates/upgrades listed here):

See any of the upgrades and updates (v8 to Lumion 2023) in our News section:

 

See also our Video Tutorials:

  • Video Tutorials:  Lumion 2023: Video Tutorials
    Tutorials (with more to be added in the coming weeks from the release in mid March 2023) covering among others: an introduction of the key new features in Lumion 2023, Ray Tracing, Full PBR Workflow..

  • Video Tutorials:  Lumion 12: Video Tutorials
    Twenty three (23) tutorials covering: an introduction, importing, materials, reflections, lighting and some of the new features in V12.
  • Video Tutorials:  Lumion 11: Video Tutorials
    Seven (7) videos: overview, new features such as the Orthographic View Effect, Animated Phasing and an in-depth on Photo Matching.

 

 

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