Octane Render

OTOY Octane Render is an unbiased GPU path tracer that runs as a plugin inside Cinema 4D, Blender, 3ds Max, Maya, and Houdini, plus a Standalone application. Import A23D 3D models with the A23D Asset Importer in supported hosts such as Cinema 4D, Blender, 3ds Max, and Maya, or use the host's native import workflow where an A23D importer is not available. The A23D Asset Importer imports assets into the host application; it is not a file converter. A23D PBR textures then integrate into Octane through its Universal Material or Standard Surface shader.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about using A23D assets with Octane Render

Do I need a plugin to use A23D assets in Octane Render?

Octane itself is the renderer plugin inside your DCC. For importing A23D 3D models, use the A23D Asset Importer where available, then assign or rebuild the material with Octane Universal Material for Octane rendering. In hosts without an A23D importer, use the host application's native import workflow.

Which file format should I download for use in Octane Render?

You don't need to pick a format manually - just select Octane Render in the Software dropdown on the asset page and A23D delivers the right format automatically. For Octane that's .fbx, accompanied by a PNG PBR texture set.

How do I use A23D PBR textures in Octane?

Create an Octane Universal Material (or Octane Standard Surface) and load the A23D maps:

• Albedo / Diffuse -> Albedo
• Normal -> Normal (via an Image texture node, set type to Normal)
• Roughness -> Roughness
• Metallic -> Metallic
• Ambient Occlusion -> multiply into Albedo, or use as a separate AO texture
• Height / Displacement -> Displacement (via the Vertex Displacement / Texture Displacement)
• Opacity -> Opacity
• Emissive -> Emission

The Universal Material exposes the same channels across every Octane host, so the workflow is identical in Cinema 4D, Blender, 3ds Max, Maya, and Standalone.

How do I use A23D IES lighting profiles in Octane?

Octane supports IES profiles natively on its Octane Light objects (Spot Light, Area Light). Load the A23D .ies file into the IES parameter of the light to emit with the manufacturer-accurate distribution.

Can I use A23D Decals in Octane?

Yes. Apply the A23D decal as an additional material projection on a thin plane or use Octane's Composite Material to layer decal albedo and opacity on top of a base material. The Cinema 4D Octane plugin and Blender's Octane integration both support decal-style material stacking.

What texture resolution should I use with Octane?

Octane is GPU-bound, so use 4K maps for hero materials, 2K for general scene assets, and 1K for distant or background props. This keeps GPU memory in check, especially when working with multi-GPU configurations or out-of-core rendering.