Maya

The A23D Maya Asset Importer lets you send A23D assets from the website directly into your Maya scene. The A23D Bridge panel shows download and import progress, lets you choose a custom asset folder, and can also import downloaded A23D assets from disk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about using A23D assets with Maya.

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

The A23D Asset Importer is the recommended way to use A23D assets in Autodesk Maya because it supports direct website imports and automatic material setup. You can still download files manually from A23D and import supported formats yourself.

Which Maya versions are supported?

The latest A23D Asset Importer is compatible with Maya 2026 and newer, while also supporting Maya 2020 - 2025, across Windows, macOS, and Linux.

How do I install the A23D Asset Importer for Maya?

Download the plugin from the Maya integration page, unzip it, and copy both A23DAssetImporter.mod and the A23DAssetImporter folder into your Maya modules folder. Start Maya, open Windows > Settings/Preferences > Plug-in Manager, then enable Loaded and Auto load for A23D_AssetImporter.py.

How do I download an asset from the A23D website to Maya?

Open A23D > Show A23D Panel in Maya and keep the A23D Bridge panel open or docked. On the A23D website, choose Maya in the Software dropdown, choose a resolution, and click Send to Maya.

Can I choose where website downloads are saved?

Yes. In the A23D Bridge panel, use Settings > Asset Folder if you want to use a custom download location. Leave the field empty if you do not need a custom location.

Can I import an asset that is already on my computer?

Yes. Open the A23D Bridge panel, click Import from disk, and select the extracted A23D asset folder. You can also use A23D > Import A23D Assets.

Which file format should I download for manual use in Maya?

For manual imports, .fbx is usually best for 3D models. If you are using the add-on's website import flow, choose Maya on the asset page and click Send to Maya instead.

Can I use A23D Decals in Maya?

Yes. Apply the A23D decal as a material on a small plane positioned just above the host surface, then use the supplied opacity map on the shader's Opacity channel to mask the decal. For non-destructive projection, V-Ray's VRayDecal and Redshift's RS Decal objects work directly with A23D decal textures.

How do I use A23D IES lighting profiles in Maya?

In Arnold, add an aiAreaLight or aiPhotometricLight, switch the type to Photometric, and load the A23D .ies file. V-Ray and Redshift both have dedicated IES light objects that accept the .ies directly. The luminaire then emits with the manufacturer-accurate beam shape and falloff.

Which renderers are supported?

The plugin builds materials for the renderer active in your Maya render settings. It supports Arnold, V-Ray, Redshift, RenderMan, Octane, Maxwell, and Maya's standard material workflow.

What texture resolution should I use in Maya?

Use 4K maps for close-up assets, 2K for general scene assets, and 1K for distant or background props. Lower resolutions are lighter to work with in large scenes.