YafRay is a LGPL-licensed raytracer with immense processing capabilities.
Render Full Global Illumination: YafRay utilizes a complete global illumination system that provides users with high-quality results. It uses Monte Carlo and Quasi Monte Carlo approximations to solve illumination problems that arise in interior spaces. A photon mapping system, in conjunction with irradiance cache and shadow refinement, produces stunning results.
SkyDome Illumination: This lighting system takes into account light emitted from the sky and soft shadow calculations. It produces beautiful results that enhance photorealism.
HDRI Illumination: This feature is based on high dynamic range images (HDR). It can be used with SkyDome or complete GI illumination.
Caustics: This feature simulates light distortion produced by reflecting and transmitting materials such as crystals or mirrors.
Real DOF: YafRay's feature that reproduces the effects of natural focus. Objects after a fixed point in a scene will be out of focus.
Glossy/Blurry Reflections: If a surface is not a perfect reflector, distortion arises in the reflected light. YafRay simulates this effect, which grows bigger as the reflecting object is taken further away.
Flexibility Modular Framework: Yafray has a modular structure that allows for a microkernel with which the rest of the render elements connect, including scene loader, lights and shaders.
Integration in 3D Suites via Plugin: Thanks to its API and modular structure, Yafray is compatible with most 3D modeling programs. Suites such as Blender, Wing3D, and Aztec take advantage of this feature.
Platform Independence: YafRay is written in C++, which makes it platform independent. Yafray has binaries for common platforms such as GNU/Linux, Windows 9x/XP/2K, Mac OS X, and Irix.
Stand-Alone Render Engine: YafRay is an independent program with its scene description format. It can be used from the command line directly and by a script, and can be used with MAX, GMAX and Blender.
Distributed and Multithread Render: YafRay allows parallel or distributed rendering with multi-thread rendering, allowing for utilization of all present CPUs. Furthermore, rendering can be multi-process and done on MOSIX clusters.
Community Up LGPL License: Yafray was released under the LGPL license in 2001 by Alejandro Conty Estvez and Alfredo de Greef. This license allows for the distribution of Yafray freely and its source code.
Version 0.0.8: N/A