KeyShot

KeyShot is a standalone real-time ray tracing application widely used for product, industrial, and consumer goods visualization. A23D models and PBR textures integrate directly into KeyShot through its broad format importer and physically based Material Editor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about using A23D assets with KeyShot

Do I need a plugin to use A23D assets in KeyShot?

No. KeyShot's native File > Import (and drag-and-drop) handle A23D models directly. The Material Editor and IES Light objects accept A23D PBR maps and .ies profiles without any third-party plugin.

Which file format should I download for use in KeyShot?

You don't need to pick a format manually - just select KeyShot in the Software dropdown on the asset page and A23D delivers the right format automatically. For KeyShot that's .fbx, which preserves hierarchy, transforms, and material slots cleanly.

How do I use A23D PBR textures with KeyShot materials?

Open the Material Editor on the target part and switch the material type to Advanced (or use the basic Metal / Plastic types where appropriate) so the metalness / roughness PBR workflow is exposed, then load the A23D maps via the Material Graph (or the Textures section):

• Albedo / Diffuse -> Diffuse / Color
• Normal map -> Normal (via a Normal Map node)
• Roughness -> Roughness (KeyShot uses roughness, not gloss - no inversion needed)
• Metallic -> Metalness
• Ambient Occlusion -> multiply into Diffuse, or load into the dedicated AO input where exposed
• Opacity -> Opacity / Cutout
• Emissive -> Emissive Color
• Height -> Displacement (via the Displacement node in Material Graph)

KeyShot's continuous ray tracer reflects every change instantly in the live preview.

Should I save A23D PBR textures as a custom KeyShot material?

Yes - once an A23D PBR material is configured, drag it into the KeyShot Library to save it as a reusable material asset. Future projects can apply it with a single drag-and-drop.

Can I use A23D Decals in KeyShot?

Yes. Apply the A23D decal color and opacity maps to a plane positioned just above the host surface. Use an Advanced material with the opacity map in the Opacity / Cutout slot, and parent the decal plane to the base geometry so they move together.

How do I use A23D IES lighting profiles in KeyShot?

Add a KeyShot IES Light object (under Lights -> IES Light), then load the A23D .ies file into its Profile slot. KeyShot immediately displays the manufacturer-accurate beam shape in the real-time preview.

What texture resolution should I use in KeyShot?

For studio product shots, use 4K for hero close-ups, 2K for full-product turntables, and 1K for accessory or background props. KeyShot is fast with high-resolution textures on modern GPUs, but tiered resolutions still keep scenes responsive when iterating on lighting and camera.