Autodesk Arnold 6 for Maya (2020 and newer)

Autodesk Arnold is widely used for high-quality rendering in Maya, and enabling GPU acceleration significantly speeds up rendering workflows. Using RTX-accelerated ray tracing and AI-based OptiX denoising, you can achieve faster interactive renders and final output, especially for complex scenes.

How to Enable GPU-Accelerated Rendering and Denoising in Arnold

1. Launch Arnold for Maya
   Open the software from the default path:
   C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Arnold\maya20##\arnold.exe

2. Ensure the MtoA Plugin is Enabled

   

   • Go to Windows > Settings/Preferences > Plugin Manager.

   • Make sure the MtoA (Maya to Arnold) plugin is enabled for GPU-based rendering.

3. Activate GPU Rendering

   • Open Windows > Rendering Editors > Render Settings.

   • In the Render Settings window, go to the System tab.

   • In the Render Device dropdown, select GPU to activate NVIDIA GPU rendering.

4. Turn on AI Denoising

   • In the Render Settings window, switch to the AOVs tab.

   • Expand the OptiX Denoiser section and check Denoise Beauty AOV for faster noise reduction during rendering.

5. Toggle Between Beauty and Denoised Renders

   

   • Start rendering by clicking the Play button in the Arnold RenderView.

   • Switch between beauty and denoised renders in the Arnold RenderView’s dropdown menu.

Top Tips to Speed Up Arnold Rendering in Maya

1. Update GPU Drivers
   Ensure your NVIDIA Studio Drivers are always updated. They provide the best optimizations for creative applications like Arnold, making rendering faster and more stable.

2. Optimize Camera (AA) Sampling
   Lower Camera (AA) samples to around 3 or 4 for most scenes, and activate Adaptive Sampling to dynamically adjust based on noise thresholds. This balance reduces render times without sacrificing too much quality.

3. Leverage RTX for Ray Tracing
   RTX GPUs use RT Cores for ray tracing and Tensor Cores for AI-based denoising. This results in faster ray tracing and final-frame rendering, making NVIDIA RTX GPUs particularly powerful for Maya and Arnold.

4. Use NVLink for Large Projects
   For large projects, NVLink allows the VRAM of multiple GPUs to be pooled, which is useful when rendering scenes that require more memory than a single GPU can handle.

Best GPUs for Arnold in Maya

1. NVIDIA RTX 3090
   The RTX 3090 is one of the most powerful GPUs available for rendering in Arnold. With 24GB of VRAM, it can handle large, complex scenes efficiently, making it ideal for professionals working on demanding projects.

2. NVIDIA RTX 3080
   A great balance between cost and performance, the RTX 3080 delivers excellent GPU rendering for most production-level scenes. It’s faster than the previous generation but offers lower VRAM compared to the 3090.

3. NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti
   The RTX 3060 Ti is a budget-friendly option with solid performance for smaller scenes or less VRAM-demanding projects. It’s ideal for freelancers or small studios looking for GPU power without breaking the bank.

By enabling GPU acceleration and following these tips, you can achieve faster and more efficient rendering in Autodesk Arnold, improving workflow and output quality for your 3D projects.