Basic Scene Example

This is a diagram of the most simple possible scene that will render an object. These are the plugins and parameters you will need to create and connect:

Last updated 7 April 2026

Required Elements

This is a diagram of the most simple possible scene that will render an object. These are the plugins and parameters you will need to create and connect:

You need a camera to shot rays through. Every scene should have a RenderView plugin.
You need a light source or everything will be black. We used one type of light plugin here, but it can be any other type of light.
You usually have at least one geometric object in the frame. This is the Node plugin with the attached GeomStaticMesh.
The object won't be rendered unless a material is applied to it. Here we used MtlSingleBRDF, but there are many more material and BRDF types.

Code

Here's the complete code which constructs the minimal scene in different languages. It uses LightRectangle to get more directional lighting than the dome light would provide:

Python

<code data-v-c2b1f83f=""># Compatibility with Python 2.7.from __future__ import print_function# The directory containing the vray shared object should be present in the PYTHONPATH environment variable.# Try to import the vray module from VRAY_SDK/python, if it is not in PYTHONPATHimport sys, osVRAY_SDK = os.environ.get('VRAY_SDK')if VRAY_SDK: sys.path.append(os.path.join(VRAY_SDK, 'python'))import vray# When VRAY_SDK is set, the App SDK binding will search for the VRaySDKLibrary binary and its dependencies inside VRAY_SDK/bin. # If the directory structure of a product that uses App SDK doesn't include the binaries inside a /bin folder, VRAY_App SDK_BIN can be used instead of VRAY_SDK.# In that case, the App SDK binding will try to load the binaries directly from the folder that VRAY_APPSDK_BIN points at.# If no environment variables are set, the search path could be passed as the parameter of the function vray.setSDKLibraryPath(path) with vray.VRayRenderer() as renderer: # Create a new static geometry mesh = renderer.classes.GeomStaticMesh() # Assign a box geometry mesh.vertices=vray.VectorList( vray.Vector(-26.7598, -30.5826, 0.0), vray.Vector(26.7598, -30.5826, 0.0), vray.Vector(-26.7598, 30.5826, 0.0), vray.Vector(26.7598, 30.5826, 0.0), vray.Vector(-26.7598, -30.5826, 125.389), vray.Vector(26.7598, -30.5826, 125.389), vray.Vector(-26.7598, 30.5826, 125.389), vray.Vector(26.7598, 30.5826, 125.389) ) mesh.faces=vray.IntList( 0, 2, 3, 3, 1, 0, 4, 5, 7, 7, 6, 4, 0, 1, 5, 5, 4, 0, 1, 3, 7, 7, 5, 1, 3, 2, 6, 6, 7, 3, 2, 0, 4, 4, 6, 2 ) mesh.normals=vray.VectorList( vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0) ) mesh.faceNormals=vray.IntList( 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 ) # Create a BRDF with diffuse color newBRDF = renderer.classes.BRDFDiffuse() # We specify solid green color newBRDF.color = vray.Color(0.0, 1.0, 0.0) # Create a new material with single BRDF newMaterial = renderer.classes.MtlSingleBRDF() # Assign the BRDF to the material newMaterial.brdf = newBRDF # Create a new node for the box newNode = renderer.classes.Node() newNode.material = newMaterial # Assign the new material to the new node newNode.geometry = mesh # Assign the mesh # We must specify transform in order to position the box in the world newNode.transform = vray.Transform(vray.Matrix(vray.Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0)), vray.Vector(-20.6777, 131.6402, 0)) # Create the light light = renderer.classes.LightRectangle() # We must specify transform in order to position the light in the world light.transform = vray.Transform(vray.Matrix(vray.Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0)), vray.Vector(-20.6777, 131.6402, 150)) # Set white color light.color = vray.AColor(1.0, 1.0, 1.0) # Increase the light's size (by default it's 1x1) light.u_size = 50 light.v_size = 50 # Increase the default intensity light.intensity = 100 # Create the camera renderView = renderer.classes.RenderView() # Position the camera towards the box renderView.transform=vray.Transform(vray.Matrix(vray.Vector(0.92, 0.37, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.12, -0.3, 0.94), vray.Vector(0.35, -0.87, -0.32)), vray.Vector(59, -140, 44)) # Set Field of view (horizontal) in radians renderView.fov=1.65806 renderer.start() renderer.waitForRenderEnd(60000)</code>

C++

<code data-v-c2b1f83f="">#define VRAY_RUNTIME_LOAD_PRIMARY#include "vraysdk.hpp"#include "vrayplugins.hpp"using namespace VRay;using namespace VRay::Plugins;int main(int argc, char* argv[]) { // The first parameter is the VRaySDKLibrary DLL/SO/DYLIB name (full path optional). Here the default name is used. // When VRAY_SDK is set, the App SDK binding will search for the VRaySDKLibrary binary and its dependencies inside VRAY_SDK/bin. // If the directory structure of a product that uses App SDK doesn't include the binaries inside a /bin folder, VRAY_APPSDK_BIN can be used instead of VRAY_SDK. // In that case, the App SDK binding will try to load the binaries directly from the folder that VRAY_APPSDK_BIN points at. // If no environment variables are set, the full path containing the VRaySDKLibrary filename could be passed as the first parameter. // The second parameter is enable or disable the V-Ray Frame Buffer (VFB) VRayInit init(NULL, true); // Create an instance of VRayRenderer with default options VRayRenderer renderer; // Create a new static geometry GeomStaticMesh mesh = renderer.newPlugin<GeomStaticMesh>(); // Assign a box geometry Vector vertices[] = { Vector(-26.7598, -30.5826, 0.0), Vector(26.7598, -30.5826, 0.0), Vector(-26.7598, 30.5826, 0.0), Vector(26.7598, 30.5826, 0.0), Vector(-26.7598, -30.5826, 125.389), Vector(26.7598, -30.5826, 125.389), Vector(-26.7598, 30.5826, 125.389), Vector(26.7598, 30.5826, 125.389) }; mesh.set_vertices(VectorList(vertices, vertices + 8)); int faces[] = { 0, 2, 3, 3, 1, 0, 4, 5, 7, 7, 6, 4, 0, 1, 5, 5, 4, 0, 1, 3, 7, 7, 5, 1, 3, 2, 6, 6, 7, 3, 2, 0, 4, 4, 6, 2 }; mesh.set_faces(IntList(faces, faces + 36)); Vector normals[] = { Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0), Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0), Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0), Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0), Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0), Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0) }; mesh.set_normals(VectorList(normals, normals + 36)); int faceNormals[] = { 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 }; mesh.set_faceNormals(IntList(faceNormals, faceNormals + 36)); // Create a BRDF with diffuse color BRDFDiffuse newBRDF = renderer.newPlugin<BRDFDiffuse>(); // We specify solid green color newBRDF.set_color(Color(0.0, 1.0, 0.0)); // Create a new material with single BRDF MtlSingleBRDF newMaterial = renderer.newPlugin<MtlSingleBRDF>(); // Assign the BRDF to the material newMaterial.set_brdf(newBRDF); // Create a new node for the box Node newNode = renderer.newPlugin<Node>(); newNode.set_material(newMaterial); // Assign the new material to the new node newNode.set_geometry(mesh); // Assign the mesh // We must specify transform in order to position the box in the world newNode.set_transform(Transform(Matrix(Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0)), Vector(-20.6777, 131.6402, 0))); // Create the light LightRectangle light = renderer.newPlugin<LightRectangle>(); // We must specify transform in order to position the light in the world light.set_transform(Transform(Matrix(Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0)), Vector(-20.6777, 131.6402, 150))); // Set white color light.set_color(AColor(1.0, 1.0, 1.0)); // Increase the light's size (by default it's 1x1) light.set_u_size(50); light.set_v_size(50); // Increase the default intensity light.set_intensity(100); // Create the camera RenderView renderView = renderer.newPlugin<RenderView>(); // Position the camera towards the box renderView.set_transform(Transform(Matrix(Vector(0.92, 0.37, 0.0), Vector(0.12, -0.3, 0.94), Vector(0.35, -0.87, -0.32)), Vector(59.0, -140, 44))); // Set Field of view(horizontal) in radians renderView.set_fov(1.65806f); // Start rendering renderer.startSync(); // Wait until rendering has finished or 60000ms have elapsed renderer.waitForRenderEnd(60000); return 0;}</code>

C#.NET

<code data-v-c2b1f83f="">using System;using System.IO;using VRay;using VRay.Plugins;namespace ConsoleApplication1{ class Program { // When VRAY_SDK is set, the App SDK binding will search for the VRaySDKLibrary binary and its dependencies inside VRAY_SDK/bin. // If the directory structure of a product that uses App SDK doesn't include the binaries inside a /bin folder, VRAY_APPSDK_BIN can be used instead of VRAY_SDK. // In that case, the App SDK binding will try to load the binaries directly from the folder that VRAY_APPSDK_BIN points at. // If no environment variables are set, the search path could be passed as the parameter of the function Globals.SetSDKLibraryPath(path); static string SCENE_PATH = Path.Combine(Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("VRAY_SDK"), "scenes"); static void HandleStartEvent(object source, System.EventArgs e) { Console.WriteLine("The V-Ray render process has started!"); } static void Main(string[] args) { try { using (VRayRenderer renderer = new VRayRenderer()) { // Create a new static geometry GeomStaticMesh mesh = renderer.NewPlugin<GeomStaticMesh>(); // Assign a box geometry Vector[] vertices = new Vector[] { new Vector(-26.7598, -30.5826, 0.0), new Vector(26.7598, -30.5826, 0.0), new Vector(-26.7598, 30.5826, 0.0), new Vector(26.7598, 30.5826, 0.0), new Vector(-26.7598, -30.5826, 125.389), new Vector(26.7598, -30.5826, 125.389), new Vector(-26.7598, 30.5826, 125.389), new Vector(26.7598, 30.5826, 125.389) }; mesh.Vertices = vertices; int[] faces = new int[]{ 0, 2, 3, 3, 1, 0, 4, 5, 7, 7, 6, 4, 0, 1, 5, 5, 4, 0, 1, 3, 7, 7, 5, 1, 3, 2, 6, 6, 7, 3, 2, 0, 4, 4, 6, 2 }; mesh.Faces = faces; Vector[] normals = new Vector[] { new Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), new Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), new Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), new Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), new Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), new Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), new Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), new Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), new Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), new Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), new Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), new Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), new Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), new Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), new Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), new Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), new Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), new Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), new Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), new Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), new Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), new Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), new Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), new Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), new Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), new Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), new Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), new Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), new Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), new Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), new Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0), new Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0), new Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0), new Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0), new Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0), new Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0) }; mesh.Normals = normals; int[] faceNormals = new int[]{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 }; mesh.FaceNormals = faceNormals; // Create a BRDF with diffuse color BRDFDiffuse newBRDF = renderer.NewPlugin<BRDFDiffuse>(); // We specify solid green color newBRDF.Color = new Color(0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f); // Create a new material with single BRDF MtlSingleBRDF newMaterial = renderer.NewPlugin<MtlSingleBRDF>(); // Assign the BRDF to the material newMaterial.Brdf = newBRDF; // Create a new node for the box Node newNode = renderer.NewPlugin<Node>(); newNode.Material = newMaterial; // Assign the new material to the new node newNode.Geometry = mesh; // Assign the mesh // We must specify transform in order to position the box in the world newNode.Transform = new Transform(new Matrix(new Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), new Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), new Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0)), new Vector(-20.6777, 131.6402, 0)); // Create the light LightRectangle light = renderer.NewPlugin<LightRectangle>(); // We must specify transform in order to position the light in the world light.Transform = new Transform(new Matrix(new Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), new Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), new Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0)), new Vector(-20.6777, 131.6402, 150)); // Set white color light.Color = new AColor(1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f); // Increase the light's size (by default it's 1x1) light.USize = 50; light.VSize = 50; // Increase the default intensity light.Intensity = 100; // Create the camera RenderView renderView = renderer.NewPlugin<RenderView>(); // Position the camera towards the box renderView.Transform = new Transform(new Matrix(new Vector(0.92, 0.37, 0.0), new Vector(0.12, -0.3, 0.94), new Vector(0.35, -0.87, -0.32)), new Vector(59, -140, 44)); // Set Field of view (horizontal) in radians renderView.Fov = 1.65806f; renderer.Start(); renderer.WaitForRenderEnd(60000); } } catch (Exception ex) { Console.WriteLine(ex.ToString()); } } }}</code>

Node.js

<code data-v-c2b1f83f="">var path = require('path');var vray = require(path.join(process.env.VRAY_SDK, 'node', 'vray'));// When VRAY_SDK is set, the App SDK binding will search for the VRaySDKLibrary binary and its dependencies inside VRAY_SDK/bin. // If the directory structure of a product that uses App SDK doesn't include the binaries inside a /bin folder, VRAY_APPSDK_BIN can be used instead of VRAY_SDK.// In that case, the App SDK binding will try to load the binaries directly from the folder that VRAY_APPSDK_BIN points at.// If no environment variables are set, the search path could be passed as the parameter of the function vray.setSDKLibraryPath(path);var renderer = vray.VRayRenderer();// Create a new static geometryvar mesh = renderer.classes.GeomStaticMesh();// Assign a box geometrymesh.vertices = vray.VectorList( vray.Vector(-26.7598, -30.5826, 0.0), vray.Vector(26.7598, -30.5826, 0.0), vray.Vector(-26.7598, 30.5826, 0.0), vray.Vector(26.7598, 30.5826, 0.0), vray.Vector(-26.7598, -30.5826, 125.389), vray.Vector(26.7598, -30.5826, 125.389), vray.Vector(-26.7598, 30.5826, 125.389), vray.Vector(26.7598, 30.5826, 125.389));mesh.faces = vray.IntList( 0, 2, 3, 3, 1, 0, 4, 5, 7, 7, 6, 4, 0, 1, 5, 5, 4, 0, 1, 3, 7, 7, 5, 1, 3, 2, 6, 6, 7, 3, 2, 0, 4, 4, 6, 2);mesh.normals = vray.VectorList( vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, -1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0), vray.Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, -1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(-1.0, 0.0, 0.0));mesh.faceNormals = vray.IntList( 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35);// Create a BRDF with diffuse colorvar newBRDF = new renderer.classes.BRDFDiffuse();// We specify solid green colornewBRDF.color = new vray.Color(0.0, 1.0, 0.0);// Create a new material with single BRDFvar newMaterial = new renderer.classes.MtlSingleBRDF();// Assign the BRDF to the materialnewMaterial.brdf = newBRDF;// Create a new node for the boxvar newNode = renderer.classes.Node();newNode.material = newMaterial; // Assign the new material to the new nodenewNode.geometry = mesh; // Assign the mesh// We must specify transform in order to position the box in the worldnewNode.transform = vray.Transform(vray.Matrix(vray.Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0)), vray.Vector(-20.6777, 131.6402, 0));// Create the lightvar light = renderer.classes.LightRectangle();// We must specify transform in order to position the light in the worldlight.transform = vray.Transform(vray.Matrix(vray.Vector(1.0, 0.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.0, 0.0, 1.0)), vray.Vector(-20.6777, 131.6402, 150));// Set white colorlight.color = new vray.AColor(1.0, 1.0, 1.0);// Increase the light's size (by default it's 1x1)light.u_size = 50;light.v_size = 50;// Increase the default intensitylight.intensity = 100;// Create the cameravar renderView = renderer.classes.RenderView();// Position the camera towards the boxrenderView.transform = vray.Transform(vray.Matrix(vray.Vector(0.92, 0.37, 0.0), vray.Vector(0.12, -0.3, 0.94), vray.Vector(0.35, -0.87, -0.32)), vray.Vector(59, -140, 44));// Set Field of view (horizontal) in radiansrenderView.fov = 1.65806;// Start renderingrenderer.start();renderer.waitForRenderEnd(60000, function () { renderer.close();});</code>

Required Elements

Code

Python

C++

C#.NET

Node.js

Related articles

Advanced

Advanced Camera

Advanced Render Elements

Animation

Animation with Moving Objects