How to use A23D 3D Models in V-Ray

This guide explains how to import 3D models from A23D into a V-Ray host application. V-Ray is a renderer, so the model is imported into the host application first; after that, you assign V-Ray materials and render with V-Ray. In supported hosts, use the A23D Asset Importer for the import step. The A23D Asset Importer is an importer, not a file converter.

1. Download and Extract the Model

  1. Sign in to your A23D account.
  2. Browse to the asset you want to use.
  3. In the Software dropdown on the asset page, select V-Ray.
  • A23D automatically delivers the model in the format best suited to most V-Ray DCC hosts (.fbx) - no manual format selection required. Keep the .fbx file and texture files together because the model references its dependent files.
  1. Click Download and save the .zip to a known location on your computer.
  2. Extract (unzip) the archive to access the .fbx model and the accompanying texture folder.

2. Import the Model in the Host Application

3ds Max

  1. Use the A23D 3ds Max Asset Importer when available.
  2. If importing manually, go to File > Import > Import.
  3. Set the file type to Autodesk (*.fbx) and select the A23D FBX file.
  4. In the FBX Import Options dialog, enable geometry normals and material import.
  5. Set units to match your scene. A23D assets are meter-scale.
  6. Click OK.

Maya

  1. Use the A23D Maya Asset Importer when available.
  2. If importing manually, go to File > Import.
  3. Set the file type to FBX and select the A23D FBX file.
  4. Enable normals and material import in the FBX options.
  5. Click Import.

Cinema 4D

  1. Use the A23D Cinema 4D Asset Importer when available.
  2. If importing manually, go to File > Merge Project or File > Open.
  3. Select the A23D FBX file.
  4. Confirm unit scale and material import options.
  5. Click OK.

Blender

  1. Use the A23D Blender Asset Importer when available.
  2. If importing manually, go to File > Import > FBX (.fbx).
  3. Select the A23D FBX file.
  4. Confirm scale/orientation if prompted, then import.
  5. Assign or convert materials to your V-Ray for Blender material workflow if needed.

Rhino

  1. Go to File > Import.
  2. Select the A23D FBX file.
  3. Enable material import and use the Y-up/Z-up mapping option if the model arrives rotated.
  4. Open the V-Ray Asset Editor to assign VRayMtl materials.

SketchUp

SketchUp does not natively import FBX or OBJ. Use one of these accurate workflows:

  1. Import with the A23D SketchUp Asset Importer if you are using the A23D SketchUp bundle. The A23D SketchUp Asset Importer imports A23D assets into SketchUp.
  2. Use a maintained FBX importer extension for SketchUp only when the A23D importer is not available.
  3. Use a SketchUp-native package if your A23D download provides one.

After the geometry is in SketchUp, assign V-Ray materials using the V-Ray Asset Editor > Materials panel.

3. Verify Scale and Orientation

  1. A23D models are authored in meters. Check that your host scene units match.
  2. If the model is too large or small after import, correct it in the host application before building final materials.
  3. If the model imports rotated, use the host's up-axis import option or rotate the asset once and freeze/apply transforms where appropriate.

4. Assign VRayMtl Materials

Imported FBX materials may arrive as host-native materials. Convert or rebuild them as VRayMtl materials for final rendering:

  1. Open the V-Ray Material Editor / Asset Editor.
  2. Create or convert a material to VRayMtl.
  3. Load the A23D PBR texture maps into the matching V-Ray slots:
  • Base Color / Albedo -> Diffuse
  • Roughness -> Reflection roughness
  • Metalness -> Metalness
  • Normal -> Bump through a VRayNormalMap node
  • Height -> V-Ray displacement controls
  • Opacity -> Opacity
  1. Assign the VRayMtl material to the imported geometry.

Additional Resources

V-Ray Documentation
SketchUp Help - Supported Import and Export File Types

Need some help?

Contact our team at support@a23d.co