vMaterials
NVIDIA vMaterials is a curated collection of NVIDIA Material Definition Language (MDL) materials and lights representing common real-world materials used in design and architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) workflows. Integrating the Iray or MDL SDK quickly brings this free library of hundreds of ready-to-use materials to your application, eliminating the need to write shaders.
vMaterials 2.4 for WindowsvMaterials 2.4 for LinuxvMaterials 2.4 for MacOSX
Users who still want to use version 1.7 vMaterials can install it alongside the 2.x and use it as a complementary material catalog.
Product Features
Photoscanned Materials as a Free Library
vMaterials can be used as a digital real-world reference, created using highly detailed photogrammetry texture maps and designed for physical accuracy.
Custom-built models for different material types and intuitive parameters guarantee a user-friendly experience at the highest performance level.
Algorithms Against Pattern Repetition
Texture-based materials are limited to the captured section, which makes them susceptible to visible repetition. vMaterials offers several ways to solve this common problem:
Infinite Tiling—Removes repetitive texture patterns with an intelligent rearrangement of individual elements.
Tiles Randomization—Assigns randomized parameters to each tile, creating an infinite variety of tiles.
Atlas Scattering—Breaks up large homogeneous areas, such as paved roads, by scattering individual objects across the field to create a random distribution that makes the material appear endless.
Quick Integration and MDL Features
The MDL SDK offers a range of tools that enable the rapid integration of physically based materials into any rendering application. Using MDL materials is beneficial due to their transferability and additional useful tools that are integrated into the materials:
Search by Keywords—Allows you to search using specific keywords that describe a topic or use case in which a material is most frequently used. It can be filtered according to these words.
Scale Dimension—Adjusts the applied material to the measurement of the physical dimensions of the object.
Round Corners—Creates detailed edges with simple geometry.
Unique Thumbnails for Preview
Create custom thumbnails or use one of the two free options provided by default.
Options include spheres for a simple material preview or specific models that showcase the physics of the material, such as a splash for liquid materials.
Ways to Get Started With vMaterials
To best utilize vMaterials to its full potential, the MDL SDK should be used. For the fastest way to experience vMaterials, using Iray and downloading the material library is the way to go.
Course Platform Walkthrough
Watch the DLI Platform training video to get a better understanding of how to deliver DLI workshops as a certified instructor.
Ready for Omniverse
The vMaterials library is directly available in NVIDIA Omniverse? as a ready-to-use package for your projects.
Integration in Any Software
vMaterials are built on MDL, and they can easily be saved and opened in other supporting applications.
Use the MDL SDK to implement vMaterials.
Supported Applications
vMaterials is already integrated into or can be added to various applications that use Iray or the MDL SDK.
Examples include Adobe—Substance Designer, Autodesk—VRED, Dassault Systems—Solidworks Visualize, and Siemens—NX.
Key Features
Free use of almost 2600 common material appearances for AEC and design
Highly detailed photogrammetry texture maps
Algorithm against pattern repetition
Tweakable with intuitive parameter controls
Digital reference for real-world materials
Custom-built models for different material types
Based on NVIDIA MDL (Material Definition Language)
Physically accurate
- Cross-platform capability
Platform and Dependencies
Across Windows, Linux, and Mac, vMaterials can be used with the right MDL dependency.
MDL 1.7 (vMaterials 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4)
MDL 1.6 (vMaterials 2.0)
MDL 1.4 (vMaterials 1.7)
vMaterials Learning Library
More Resources
Ethical AI
NVIDIA’s platforms and application frameworks enable developers to build a wide array of AI applications. Consider potential algorithmic bias when choosing or creating the models being deployed. Work with the model’s developer to ensure that it meets the requirements for the relevant industry and use case; that the necessary instruction and documentation are provided to understand error rates, confidence intervals, and results; and that the model is being used under the conditions and in the manner intended.
vMaterials offers digital reference samples for material manufacturers, enabling accurate product representation in customer designs and boosting confidence. Contact us to digitize your catalog.