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07-848 2005

V-Ray for Maya

Installation from zip

Last updated 30 April 2026

Click here for the zip installation setup for earlier versions of V-Ray

Overview

Required steps to run V-Ray

Unpacking the .zip file

Windows

Linux

macOS

V-Ray Material Library Browser

Environment setup

Setup for Maya

Windows

OS

Action

Variable

Location

Description

Example

OS

Action

Variable

Location

Description

Example

Windows

Set

MAYA_RENDER_DESC_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>\maya_vray\ endererDesc

Needed to run batch rendering with Maya.

set MAYA_RENDER_DESC_PATH=D:\vray_builds\vray_51020_maya2020\maya_vray\ endererDesc

Windows

Set

VRAY_FOR_MAYAnnnn_MAIN1

<unpacked_zip_location>\maya_vray

Loads the V-Ray for Maya plugins.

set VRAY_FOR_MAYA2020_MAIN=D:\vray_builds\vray_51020_maya2020\maya_vray

Windows

Set

VRAY_FOR_MAYAnnnn_PLUGINS 1.1

<unpacked_zip_location>\maya_vray\vrayplugins

Loads the V-Ray plugins.

set VRAY_FOR_MAYA2020_PLUGINS=D:\vray_builds\vray_51020_maya2020\maya_vray\vrayplugins

Windows

Set

VRAY_PLUGINS 2

<unpacked_zip_location>\maya_vray\vrayplugins

Needed for V-Ray Standalone.

set VRAY_PLUGINS=D:\vray_builds\vray_51020_maya2020\maya_vray\vrayplugins

Windows

Set

VRAY_OSL_PATH_MAYAnnnn 1.2

<unpacked_zip_location>\vray\opensl

Loads OSL plugins for V-Ray.

set VRAY_OSL_PATH_MAYA2020=D:\vray_builds\vray_51020_maya2020\vray\opensl

Windows

Extend

PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>\maya_vray\bin\hostbin;<unpacked_zip_location>\maya_vray\bin

Required to run V-Ray itself.

set PATH=D:\vray_builds\vray_51020_maya2020\maya_vray\bin\hostbin;D:\vray_builds\vray_51020_maya2020\maya_vray\bin;%PATH%

Windows

Extend

MAYA_PLUG_IN_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>\maya_vray\plug-ins

Loads the V-Ray for Maya main plugins.

set MAYA_PLUG_IN_PATH=D:\vray_builds\vray_51020_maya2020\maya_vray\plug-ins;%MAYA_PLUG_IN_PATH%

Windows

Extend

MAYA_SCRIPT_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>\maya_vray\scripts

Loads the V-Ray for Maya scripts.

set MAYA_SCRIPT_PATH=D:\vray_builds\vray_51020_maya2020\maya_vray\scripts;%MAYA_SCRIPT_PATH%

Windows

Extend

MAYA_PRESET_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>\maya_vray\presets

Loads the V-Ray material presets.

set MAYA_PRESET_PATH=D:\vray_builds\vray_51020_maya2020\maya_vray\presets;%MAYA_PRESET_PATH%

Windows

Extend

PYTHONPATH

<unpacked_zip_location>\maya_vray\scripts

Loads the V-Ray python scripts.

set PYTHONPATH=D:\vray_builds\vray_51020_maya2020\maya_vray\scripts;%PYTHONPATH%

Windows

Extend

XBMLANGPATH

<unpacked_zip_location>\maya_vray\icons

Loads the V-Ray icons.

set XBMLANGPATH=D:\vray_builds\vray_51020_maya2020\maya_vray\icons;%XBMLANGPATH%

Windows

Set

VRAY_AUTH_CLIENT_FILE_PATH 3

arbitrary location

Points V-Ray to a V-Ray license.

set VRAY_AUTH_CLIENT_FILE_PATH=<folder_containing_vrlclient.xml>

Windows

Extend

MAYA_CUSTOM_TEMPLATE_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>\maya_vray\scripts

Loads the node editor and lookdev templates.

set MAYA_CUSTOM_TEMPLATE_PATH=D:\vray_builds\vray_51020_maya2020\maya_vray\scripts;%MAYA_CUSTOM_TEMPLATE_PATH%

Windows

Set

MAYA_TOOLCLIPS_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>\maya_vray\ oolclips

Enables toolclips for V-Ray.

set MAYA_TOOLCLIPS_PATH=D:\vray_builds\vray_51020_maya2020\ oolclips;%MAYA_TOOLCLIPS_PATH%

Windows

Extend

PXR_PLUGINPATH_NAME

<unpacked_zip_location>\maya_vray\usdplugins

Loads USD plugins for V-Ray.

set PXR_PLUGINPATH_NAME=D:\vray_builds\vray_51020_maya2020\maya_vray\usdplugins:$PXR_PLUGINPATH_NAME

Windows

Set

VRAY_APPSDK_PLUGINS

<unpacked_zip_location>\maya_vray\vrayplugins

Loads V-ray App SDK plugins.

set VRAY_APPSDK_PLUGINS=D:\vray_builds\vray_51020_maya2020\maya_vray\vrayplugins

OS

Action

Variable

Location

Description

Example

OS

Action

Variable

Location

Description

Example

Windows

Set

MAYA_RENDER_DESC_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>\maya_root\bin\ endererDesc

Needed to run batch rendering with Maya.

set MAYA_RENDER_DESC_PATH=D:\vray_builds\vray_51020_maya2020\maya_root\bin\ endererDesc

Windows

Extend

PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>\maya_root\bin

Required to run V-Ray itself.

set PATH=D:\vray_builds\vray_51020_maya2020\maya_root\bin;%PATH%

Linux

OS

Action

Variable

Location

Description

Example

OS

Action

Variable

Location

Description

Example

Linux

Set

MAYA_RENDER_DESC_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/rendererDesc

Needed to run batch rendering with Maya.

export MAYA_RENDER_DESC_PATH=/opt/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/rendererDesc

Linux

Set

VRAY_FOR_MAYAnnnn_MAIN1.3

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray

Loads the V-Ray for Maya plugins.

export VRAY_FOR_MAYA2020_MAIN=/opt/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray

Linux

Set

VRAY_FOR_MAYAnnnn_PLUGINS1.4

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/vrayplugins

Loads the V-Ray plugins.

export VRAY_FOR_MAYA2020_PLUGINS=/opt/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/vrayplugins

Linux

Set

VRAY_PLUGINS2.1

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/vrayplugins

Needed for V-Ray Standalone.

export VRAY_PLUGINS=/opt/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/vrayplugins

Linux

Set

VRAY_OSL_PATH_MAYAnnnn 1.5

<unpacked_zip_location>/vray/opensl

Loads OSL plugins for V-Ray.

export VRAY_OSL_PATH_MAYA2020=/opt/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/vray/opensl

Linux

Extend

MAYA_PLUG_IN_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/plug-ins

Loads the V-Ray for Maya main plugins.

export MAYA_PLUG_IN_PATH=/opt/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/plug-ins:$MAYA_PLUG_IN_PATH

Linux

Extend

MAYA_SCRIPT_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/scripts

Loads the V-Ray for Maya scripts.

export MAYA_SCRIPT_PATH=/opt/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/scripts:$MAYA_SCRIPT_PATH

Linux

Extend

MAYA_PRESET_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/presets

Loads the V-Ray material presets.

export MAYA_PRESET_PATH=/opt/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/presets:$MAYA_PRESET_PATH

Linux

Extend

PYTHONPATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/scripts

Loads the V-Ray python scripts.

export PYTHONPATH=/opt/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/scripts:$PYTHONPATH

Linux

Extend

XBMLANGPATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/icons/

Loads the V-Ray icons.

export XBMLANGPATH=/opt/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/icons/%B:$XBMLANGPATH

Linux

Set

VRAY_AUTH_CLIENT_FILE_PATH 3.1

arbitrary location

Points V-Ray to a V-Ray license.

export VRAY_AUTH_CLIENT_FILE_PATH=<folder_containing_vrlclient.xml>

Linux

Extend

MAYA_CUSTOM_TEMPLATE_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/scripts

Loads the node editor and lookdev templates.

export MAYA_CUSTOM_TEMPLATE_PATH=/opt/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/scripts:$MAYA_CUSTOM_TEMPLATE_PATH

Linux

Set

MAYA_TOOLCLIPS_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/toolclips

Enables toolclips for V-Ray.

export MAYA_TOOLCLIPS_PATH=/opt/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/toolclips:$MAYA_TOOLCLIPS_PATH

Linux

Extend

PXR_PLUGINPATH_NAME

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/usdplugins

Loads USD plugins for V-Ray.

export PXR_PLUGINPATH_NAME=/opt/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/usdplugins:$PXR_PLUGINPATH_NAME

Linux

Set

VRAY_APPSDK_PLUGINS

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/vrayplugins

Loads V-Ray App SDK plugins.

export VRAY_APPSDK_PLUGINS=/opt/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/vrayplugins

OS

Action

Variable

Location

Description

Example

OS

Action

Variable

Location

Description

Example

Linux

Set

MAYA_RENDER_DESC_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_root/bin/rendererDesc

Needed to run batch rendering with Maya.

export MAYA_RENDER_DESC_PATH=/opt/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_root/bin/rendererDesc

Linux

Extend

LD_LIBRARY_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_root/lib

Required to run V-Ray itself.

export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_root/lib:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH

macOS

OS

Action

Variable

Location

Description

Example

OS

Action

Variable

Location

Description

Example

macOS

Set

MAYA_RENDER_DESC_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/rendererDesc

Needed to run batch rendering with Maya.

export MAYA_RENDER_DESC_PATH=/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/rendererDesc

macOS

Set

VRAY_FOR_MAYAnnnn_MAIN1.6

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray

Loads the V-Ray for Maya plugins.

export VRAY_FOR_MAYA2020_MAIN=/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray

macOS

Set

VRAY_FOR_MAYAnnnn_PLUGINS1.7

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/vrayplugins

Loads the V-Ray plugins.

export VRAY_FOR_MAYA2020_PLUGINS=/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/vrayplugins

macOS

Set

VRAY_PLUGINS2.2

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/vrayplugins

Needed for V-Ray Standalone.

export VRAY_PLUGINS=/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/vrayplugins

macOS

Set

VRAY_OSL_PATH_MAYAnnnn1.8

<unpacked_zip_location>/vray/opensl

Loads OSL plugins for V-Ray.

export VRAY_OSL_PATH_MAYA2020=/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/vray/opensl

macOS

Extend

MAYA_PLUG_IN_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/plug-ins

Loads the V-Ray for Maya main plugins.

export MAYA_PLUG_IN_PATH=/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/plug-ins:$MAYA_PLUG_IN_PATH

macOS

Extend

MAYA_SCRIPT_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/scripts

Loads the V-Ray for Maya scripts.

export MAYA_SCRIPT_PATH=/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/scripts:$MAYA_SCRIPT_PATH

macOS

Extend

MAYA_PRESET_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/presets

Loads the V-Ray material presets.

export MAYA_PRESET_PATH=/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/presets:$MAYA_PRESET_PATH

macOS

Extend

PYTHONPATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/scripts

Loads the V-Ray python scripts.

export PYTHONPATH=/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/scripts:$PYTHONPATH

macOS

Extend

XBMLANGPATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/icons

Loads the V-Ray icons.

export XBMLANGPATH=/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/icons:$XBMLANGPATH

macOS

Set

VRAY_AUTH_CLIENT_FILE_PATH3.2

arbitrary location

Points V-Ray to a V-Ray license.

export VRAY_AUTH_CLIENT_FILE_PATH=<folder_containing_vrlclient.xml>

macOS

Extend

MAYA_CUSTOM_TEMPLATE_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/scripts

Loads the node editor and lookdev templates.

export MAYA_CUSTOM_TEMPLATE_PATH=/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/scripts:$MAYA_CUSTOM_TEMPLATE_PATH

macOS

Set

MAYA_TOOLCLIPS_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/toolclips

Enables toolclips for V-Ray.

export MAYA_TOOLCLIPS_PATH=/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/toolclips:$MAYA_TOOLCLIPS_PATH

macOS

Extend

PXR_PLUGINPATH_NAME

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/usdplugins

Loads USD plugins for V-Ray.

export PXR_PLUGINPATH_NAME=/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/usdplugins:$PXR_PLUGINPATH_NAME

macOS

Set

VRAY_APPSDK_PLUGINS

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/vrayplugins

Loads V-Ray App SDK plugins.

export VRAY_APPSDK_PLUGINS=/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/vrayplugins

OS

Action

Variable

Location

Description

Example

OS

Action

Variable

Location

Description

Example

macOS

Set

MAYA_RENDER_DESC_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_root/Maya.app/Contents/bin/rendererDesc/

Needed to run batch rendering with Maya.

export MAYA_RENDER_DESC_PATH=/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2018/maya_root/bin/rendererDesc

macOS

Extend

DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_root/Maya.app/Contents/MacOS

Required to run V-Ray itself.

export DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH=/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2018/maya_root/Maya.app/Contents/MacOS:$DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH

Notes:

Setup for V-Ray Standalone

Environment Variables

OS

Action

Variable

Location

Description

Example

OS

Action

Variable

Location

Description

Example

Windows

Set

VRAY_PLUGINS4

<unpacked_zip_location>\maya_vray\vrayplugins

Needed for V-Ray Standalone.

set VRAY_PLUGINS=D:\vray_builds\vray_51020_maya2020\maya_vray\vrayplugins

Windows

Set

VRAY_OSL_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>\vray\opensl

Loads OSL plugins for V-Ray.

set VRAY_OSL_PATH_MAYA2020=D:\vray_builds\vray_51020_maya2020\vray\opensl

Windows

Extend

PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>\vray\lib

Required to run V-Ray itself.

set PATH=D:\vray_builds\vray_51020_maya2020\vray\lib;%PATH%

Windows

Set

VRAY_AUTH_CLIENT_FILE_PATH5

arbitrary location

Points V-Ray to a V-Ray license.

set VRAY_AUTH_CLIENT_FILE_PATH=<folder_containing_vrlclient.xml>

OS

Action

Variable

Location

Description

Example

OS

Action

Variable

Location

Description

Example

Linux

Set

VRAY_PLUGINS4.1

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/vrayplugins

Needed for V-Ray Standalone.

export VRAY_PLUGINS=/opt/vray_builds/maya_vray/vray_51020_maya2020/vrayplugins

Linux

Set

VRAY_OSL_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/vray/opensl

Loads OSL plugins for V-Ray.

export VRAY_OSL_PATH=/opt/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/vray/opensl

Linux

Extend

LD_LIBRARY_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/vray/lib

Required to run V-Ray itself.

export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/vray/lib:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH

Linux

Set

VRAY_AUTH_CLIENT_FILE_PATH5.1

arbitrary location

Points V-Ray to a V-Ray license.

export VRAY_AUTH_CLIENT_FILE_PATH=<folder_containing_vrlclient.xml>

OS

Action

Variable

Location

Description

Example

OS

Action

Variable

Location

Description

Example

macOS

Set

VRAY_PLUGINS4.2

<unpacked_zip_location>/maya_vray/vrayplugins

Needed for V-Ray Standalone.

export VRAY_PLUGINS=/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/maya_vray/vrayplugins

macOS

Set

VRAY_OSL_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/vray/opensl

Loads OSL plugins for V-Ray.

export VRAY_OSL_PATH_MAYA2020=/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/vray/opensl

macOS

Extend

DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH

<unpacked_zip_location>/vray/lib

Required to run V-Ray itself.

export DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH=/vray_builds/vray_51020_maya2020/vray/lib:$DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH

macOS

Set

VRAY_AUTH_CLIENT_FILE_PATH5.2

arbitrary location

Points V-Ray to a V-Ray license.

export VRAY_AUTH_CLIENT_FILE_PATH=<folder_containing_vrlclient.xml>

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