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V-Ray rendering

Gaussian splats can render through V-Ray using Chaos’s native Gaussian splat object. The plugin creates and keeps that object in sync for you.

Supported setup

Maya 2025-2027 with V-Ray for Maya loaded (V-Ray 7+).

Engine When it works
V-Ray CPU Always (recommended baseline)
V-Ray GPU V-Ray 7 Update 2 or later (typical on Maya 2026+; also on Maya 2025 if V-Ray is updated)

How it works (in plain terms)

When V-Ray is loaded and you import a splat, the plugin:

  1. Creates a world-level hold transform named from your splat shape (…_vrayHold) with a VRayGaussianSplat under it (…_vrayGS).
  2. Places that hold as a sibling of your splat transform - not parented under the locator (Chaos reports huge bounds that would break Maya selection if nested).
  3. Keeps the hold’s translate / rotate / scale locked to your splat, so V-Ray beauty follows when you move the object.
  4. Feeds V-Ray a base-color version of the capture (Chaos does not take full view-dependent SH the way Arnold does).
  5. Syncs intensity, tint, color space, size, and visibility with the Attribute Editor.

In the Outliner you should see something like (names follow your shape; example below):

world
├── cactus_splat
│   └── cactus_splatShape           ← viewport / Arnold
└── cactus_splatShape_vrayHold      ← follows the splat automatically
    └── cactus_splatShape_vrayGS    ← V-Ray beauty

Leave the hold where it is

Do not parent *_vrayHold under the splat. Do not delete it if you need V-Ray beauty. Move and place the splat transform; the hold follows.

The Maya viewport / Arnold path can still use SH Degree. V-Ray beauty will not change when you scrub SH Degree - that is expected.

The Attribute Editor Rendering section also shows a short V-Ray notes banner (CPU always; GPU needs Update 2+; base-color beauty).

Before you start

  1. Load V-Ray for Maya before you import (or re-import after loading it).
  2. Use the plugin build that matches your Maya year (2025, 2026, or 2027).
  3. Set the renderer to V-Ray.
  4. Choose CPU, or GPU if your V-Ray build is Update 2+.

CPU vs GPU

  • CPU works on every supported V-Ray 7 install.
  • GPU needs V-Ray 7 Update 2+. Early V-Ray 7 builds (common on some Maya 2025 installs) leave GPU IPR empty - switch to CPU or update V-Ray.

Checklist

  1. Load V-Ray.
  2. Import your capture (File → Import → Gaussian Splats Import).
  3. In the Outliner, confirm a world-level *_vrayHold with *_vrayGS under it (sibling of your splat transform).
  4. In the Script Editor, look for a message that a V-Ray Gaussian splat was created.
  5. Set renderer to V-Ray, pick CPU or GPU (see above), and start IPR / production.

If you imported while V-Ray was unloaded, load V-Ray and re-import, or tweak Intensity / Tint / Splat Size so the hold can be created.

Which controls affect V-Ray?

Control Affects V-Ray?
Intensity, Tint Color, RGB Primaries, Splat Size Yes
Visible in Reflections / Refractions, Cast Shadows Yes
Up Axis Yes (baked into the file V-Ray reads)
SH Degree No (base color only)
Opacity Adjust, Primitive Percent, Self Shadow No (Arnold-oriented)

Color tips

  • Locator Default is remapped to Chaos sRGB so typical display-encoded captures match the viewport better.
  • Explicit sRGB / ACEScg / Raw map 1:1.
  • If colors still look wrong, try RGB Primaries → sRGB, and check V-Ray’s global Gaussian splat color options in Render Settings.

Unloading V-Ray safely

Maya may refuse to unload V-Ray while its settings node or data types are still in use. That is normal.

Avoid Force unload

Force-unloading V-Ray often leaves File-menu hooks broken and can crash Maya the next time you open File. Prefer: turn off Auto load, then restart Maya.

Troubleshooting

Symptom Fix
Empty V-Ray render Confirm Outliner has *_vrayHold → *_vrayGS; load V-Ray before import; try CPU
Empty on GPU IPR Update V-Ray to 7 Update 2+, or switch to V-Ray CPU
Beauty ignores Maya move / rotate / scale Re-import, or nudge Intensity / Tint / RGB Primaries so sync rewires
Wrong orientation Set Up Axis (for example -Y up) and refresh / re-import
SH Degree does nothing in V-Ray By design - use Arnold or the viewport for SH
Crash after unloading V-Ray Restart Maya; don’t Force unload

See also