V-Ray

V-Ray by Chaos is a production rendering engine that runs as a plugin inside host applications such as 3ds Max, Maya, SketchUp, Rhino, Cinema 4D, Blender, Revit, and Houdini. A23D model import is host-specific: use the A23D Asset Importer in supported hosts such as Blender, 3ds Max, Maya, Cinema 4D, and SketchUp, or use the host application's native import tools where an A23D importer is not available. The A23D Asset Importer imports assets into the host application; it is not a file converter. Once the geometry is in the scene, build the material with VRayMtl, which supports a metalness/roughness PBR workflow consistently across V-Ray hosts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about using A23D assets with V-Ray

Do I need a plugin to use A23D assets in V-Ray?

V-Ray itself is the renderer plugin inside your DCC. For importing A23D 3D models, use the A23D Asset Importer when your host supports it, such as Blender, 3ds Max, Maya, Cinema 4D, or SketchUp. In other hosts, use the host application's native import workflow. V-Ray material setup still happens in the V-Ray Asset Editor or material system after the model is in the scene.

Which file format should I download for use in V-Ray?

You don't need to pick a format manually - just select V-Ray in the Software dropdown on the asset page and A23D delivers the right format automatically. For most V-Ray DCC hosts, .fbx is the right exchange format because it preserves mesh geometry, hierarchy, UVs, and material slots. In SketchUp, FBX is not a native import format; use the A23D SketchUp Asset Importer to import the A23D asset before assigning VRayMtl materials.

How do I use A23D PBR textures with VRayMtl?

Create a VRayMtl in the V-Ray Asset Editor / Material Editor and load the A23D maps into the matching slots:

• Albedo / Diffuse -> Diffuse
• Normal -> Bump using a VRayNormalMap wrapper
• Roughness -> Reflection roughness / Use Roughness mode
• Metallic -> Metalness
• Ambient Occlusion -> multiply with Diffuse, or use a VRayDirt node if you want runtime AO
• Height / Displacement -> V-Ray Displacement modifier or the host's V-Ray displacement controls
• Opacity -> Opacity slot

The VRayMtl mapping is conceptually the same across V-Ray hosts, though UI names vary by application.

Can I use A23D Height maps as true displacement in V-Ray?

Yes. Apply a V-Ray displacement modifier/control to the geometry and load the A23D Height map. Adjust the displacement amount in scene units, then render. V-Ray generates render-time surface relief, so silhouettes and shadows respond to the displacement when subdivision/settings allow it.

How do I use A23D IES lighting profiles with V-Ray?

V-Ray supports IES profiles on V-Ray Light objects. In the Light properties, load the A23D .ies file into the IES/Profile slot. The light then emits with the manufacturer-accurate beam shape, intensity distribution, and falloff.

Can I use A23D Decals in V-Ray?

Yes. Use VRayDecal where available for non-destructive projection, or use a standard material with the opacity map on a thin plane above the host surface. The decal renders with full PBR shading in V-Ray CPU and V-Ray GPU modes.

What texture resolution should I use with V-Ray?

For production arch viz and product renders, use 4K maps for hero materials, 2K for general scene assets, and 1K for distant or background elements. V-Ray handles 4K efficiently, but tiered resolution helps GPU memory use and keeps large scenes manageable.