povray
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Description:
Persistence Of Vision RAYtracer (POVRAY)
Type: Formula  |  Latest Version: 3.7.0.10@0  |  Tracked Since: Oct 26, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Multimedia
Tags: graphics 3d rendering raytracing multimedia
Install: brew install povray
About:
POV-Ray is a high-performance, script-based ray tracing program that generates photorealistic images. It creates detailed 3D scenes by calculating the path of light rays, producing stunning visual effects and animations. This tool is valued for its precision, configurability, and ability to run on headless servers for batch rendering.
Key Features:
  • Cross-platform command-line and GUI rendering
  • Scene Description Language (SDL) for precise control
  • Advanced features like radiosity and ambient occlusion
  • Support for complex geometric primitives and textures
Use Cases:
  • Generating architectural visualizations and product mockups
  • Creating scientific visualizations and data renders
  • Producing high-quality 3D animations for film or art
Alternatives:
  • Blender – Blender offers an integrated 3D creation suite with a real-time viewport, whereas POV-Ray is focused purely on offline ray tracing via scripts.
  • Mitsuba 3 – Mitsuba is a research-oriented renderer with different spectral capabilities, while POV-Ray is a classic, accessible tool for artistic and general-purpose rendering.
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Oct 26, 2025 10:05am 14 VERSION_BUMP 7e09c6bc
Sep 16, 2025 2:52pm 14 VERSION_BUMP 6de357ea
Dec 27, 2024 2:21pm 12 VERSION_BUMP dec4cbe5
Dec 16, 2024 6:40am 12 VERSION_BUMP 73af0b50
Sep 29, 2024 10:19pm 11 VERSION_BUMP d3335121