How to use OSL in Maya/Arnold

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use OSL shaders with Arnold in Autodesk Maya:

Step 1: Check Arnold Renderer Compatibility

• First, verify that you're using a version of the Arnold renderer that supports OSL. Arnold 5.2 and later versions support OSL.

Step 2: Enable OSL Shaders in Arnold

• To enable OSL in Arnold, go to the 'Render Settings' window.
• Under the 'System' tab, in the 'Render Options' section, make sure the 'Enable OSL Shaders' checkbox is ticked.

Step 3: Load the OSL Shader

• In the Hypershade window (Window > Rendering Editors > Hypershade), create a new Arnold 'osl_shader' node.
• In the Attribute Editor for the osl_shader node, click on the folder icon next to 'Shader' to locate and load your OSL file.

Step 4: Connect the OSL Shader to your Material

• Now, you need to connect the outputs from the OSL shader node to the inputs of your material nodes.
• The specifics of this step depend on the nature of your shader and the material setup.

Step 5: Assign the Material

• Assign the material with the connected OSL shader to your 3D object(s) in the usual way.

Step 6: Render Your Scene

• You can now render your scene using the Arnold renderer.
• You should see the effects of your OSL shader on your 3D object(s) in the rendered image.

Please remember that different versions of Arnold or Maya might have slightly different procedures. If you have trouble or need more detailed instructions, it's recommended to check the official Arnold for Maya documentation or relevant tutorials.