Working with the 3ds Max color management (new OCIO defaults)

Overview

This article strives to clarify the setup, answer some frequently asked questions about OCIO-based color management in 3ds Max, and familiarize users with helpful workflows.

Table of contents:

• Rundown of the new 3ds Max OCIO defaults
• FAQ
  • How to match my .png / .jpg output files to the VFB result?
  • How to match my .exr / .vrimg output files to the VFB result?
  • How to match the AI Enhancer result to the VFB?
  • How to match a specific color to the result in the VFB?
  • How to retain the original look of a certain texture?
  • How to retain the original look of my Background layer's image?
  • How to correctly bake texture nodes in the Material Editor?
• Limitations

Rundown of the new 3ds Max OCIO defaults

The 3ds Max Color Management settings are located in Rendering > Color Management. 

• Color Management Mode

  The default mode uses the OCIO configuration file that is shipped with 3ds Max. 

  It is located in the 3ds Max folder:
  C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 20XX\ColorManagement\ocio_configs\3dsmax_default_ocio\

   

  

• Rendering Color Space

  The default mode uses ACEScg as a rendering color space.

  

  The color space is automatically synced with the V-Ray Color management settings (Render setup>Settings>Color management).

  

• Display and Views

  These settings depend on your monitor's calibration and the view transform you wish to apply to the image. The default mode is "Automatic" and generally should not be adjusted.

  

  To customize the individual settings, disable "Automatic" and check "Show Advanced Settings".

•  Input Image Files

  The table shows the rules for automatically assigning color spaces to input images based on their filename. It works similarly to the “Auto RGB primaries for VRayBitmap textures” in the V-Ray color management settings, with the option for customization.

  

• Render Output Defaults

  These settings control the color transformations applied to the output files. Their function is identical to the “Save in Image” option in the OCIO Display Correction layer in the VFB and analogous to the Gamma application when using the legacy Gamma Workflow. 

  

  The Render Output Defaults affect all image outputs going through 3ds Max. This includes:

  • The 3ds Max Common output  (Render Setup > Common > Render Output)
  • V-Ray’s Separate render channels (Render Setup > V-Ray > Separate Render Channels)
  • VFB’s “Save Separate/Current channels”

In 3ds Max 2026, there's an option to apply the Display / View Transform to Linear/Log images; however, the common workflow for Linear/Log images is to apply the conversions in the post-processing software.

To set up V-Ray to do the color management independently, disable the 3ds Max Color Management and adjust the appropriate settings. Learn how in our ACEScg Workflow Setup guide.

FAQ

How to match my .png / .jpg output files to the VFB result?

To get identical results between the output gamma-encoded formats and the VFB result, you must save the Display Correction into the image. You can do that in two ways:

1. By setting the Render Output Defaults in the 3ds Max Color Management Options to “Display / View Transform” and matching the Display and View Transform settings for Gamma-Encoded formats to the ones in the VFB's OCIO Layer.

   

2. By setting the Render Output Defaults in the 3ds Max Color Management Options to “No Conversion” and checking the VFB OCIO Display Correction layer’s “Save in Image” option. This way, V-Ray applies the transformations.

   

   
   IMPORTANT: To avoid double display correction application, you must use only ONE of the methods.

How to match my .exr / .vrimg output files to the VFB result?

Linear images saved through the Render Settings (Render Setup > Frame Buffer > Raw Image File) or from the VFB (Save all image channels to single file) by default are saved without Display correction (Raw), even if the VFB OCIO Display Correction layer’s “Save in Image” option is active.

The standard workflow to get matching results between various post-processing applications and the VFB is to apply an identical Display Correction (OCIO configuration and settings) in the post-processing application. For example:

In ChaosPlayer

1. Open the image in ChaosPlayer
2. Go to the Color Mapping rollout
3. Right-click on the Lookup Table option
4. Select Import
5. Load the OCIO configuration used in 3ds Max
   By default, it is located here:
   C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 20XX\ColorManagement\ocio_configs\3dsmax_default_ocio\

6. Match the settings to the ones in the VFB's OCIO layer in 3ds Max. If using the defaults, they should be:
   
   Color Space: ACEScg
   Input Interpretation: Linear
   Display: sRGB
   View: ACES 1.0 SDR-video

   

In Photoshop

1. Open the image in Photoshop
2. Go to Edit > Convert to OpenColorIO

3. Set Input color space to "ACEScg"

   

4. Match the View and Display settings to the ones in the VFB's OCIO layer in 3ds Max. The settings can be found in the OpenColorIO menu (Window > OpenColorIO). If using the defaults, they should be:

   Working Space: ACEScg
   View: ACES 1.0 SDR-video
   Display: sRGB - Display

   

Including existing VFB color corrections

If you happen to have existing color correction layers in the VFB that you wish to include, we advise exporting them as a LUT file to be applied in post-production. To do that:

1. Set the VFB's Display Correction to None
2. Right-click on the Display Correction Layer
3. Click the "Save all CCs as LUT" option
4. Load the LUT file in the post-production software

Alternative method

An alternative method is to save the Display Correction in the Linear files, similar to 8-bit formats. You can do that in two ways:

1. By setting the Render Output Defaults in the 3ds Max Color Management Options to “Display / View Transform” and matching the Display and View Transform settings for Linear and Log formats to the ones in the VFB's OCIO Layer.

   

2. By setting the Render Output Defaults in the 3ds Max Color Management Options to “No Conversion”, checking the VFB OCIO Display Correction layer’s “Save in Image” option, and activating the “Save VFB color corrections to RGB channel” (in the Save V-Ray image file browse menu). This way, V-Ray applies the transformations.

   

   

   IMPORTANT: To avoid double display correction application, you must use only ONE of the methods.

    

How to match the AI Enhancer result to the VFB?

When sending an image to the Chaos Collaboration to be AI-enhanced while working with the 3ds Max OCIO defaults, V-Ray converts the image's RGB Primaries from ACEScg to sRGB and does not bake the chosen View Transform. To get matching results, you need to load the AI-Enhanced result back into VFB, apply the correct Display Correction and re-save.

The steps are as follows:

1. Download the AI-Enhanced image (.png) from Chaos Cloud
2. Load the image in the VFB (File > Load)
3. Switch the Display Correction to OCIO
4. Set the Input Color Space to "scene-linear Rec.709-sRGB"
5. Set the Display Device to sRGB and View Transform to ACES 1.0 SDR-Video

6. Check the "Save in Image" option

   

7. Go to File > Save current channel

8. In the browser window, set the Color conversion mode to "No Conversion"
   This is done to avoid applying a double View Transform (due to "Save in Image" being active)

   

    

How to match a specific color to the result in the VFB?

To match a certain color's look (f.e, from the web) to the result in the VFB, you need to adjust the Color Picker and Color Swatch's Display and Views properties to consider the "ACES 1.0 SDR-video" View Transform.

The steps are as follows:

1. Go to Customize > Color Management
2. In the Display and Views rollout, click "Show Advanced Settings"
3. Uncheck the "Color Picker" and "Color Swatches" options

4. Set both their View Transform options to "ACES 1.0 SDR-video"

   

5. For this example, we chose to match the #f04e41 web color.

   

6. Create a VRayColor node
7. Set the VRayColor's RGB Primaries to "None"

8. Open the Color Picker and input your web color name or its RGB values.

   

    

9. Apply the VRayColor node to an object and Render

10. Click the "Show corrected colors" button to see RGB values instead of Raw values - the colors should match.

    

How to retain the original look of a certain texture?

To retain a certain texture look (f.e, sRGB) when working with the 3ds Max OCIO defaults, an inverse-transform must be applied through the VRayOCIO node. 

IMPORTANT: The config.ocio file that is shipped with 3ds Max does not (as of 3ds Max 2026) contain an input space corresponding to “ACES 1.0 - SDR Video” to inverse-transform an image. A custom config.ocio must be used. Alternative OCIO configs that work well are provided by Marcin Piotrowski. Learn more in the Chaos Forums.

The steps are as follows:

1. Create a VRayBitmap node and load an image
2. In the VRayBitmap node:
   • Set the Color space transfer function to Type: None

   • Set the RGB color space parameters to RGB primaries: Raw

     

3. Create a VRayOCIO map node and use the VRayBitmap as its Basemap
4. In the VRayOCIO:
   • Load the custom OCIO config

   • Set the Mode to ColorSpace and its parameters to:

     In: ACES 1.0 - SDR Video sRGB

     Out: ACEScg

How to retain the original look of my Background layer's image?

To retain a certain Background layer look (e.g., sRGB), an inverse transform must be applied through the VFB Background layer's color transformation options.

IMPORTANT: The config.ocio file that is shipped with 3ds Max does not (as of 3ds Max 2026) contain an input space corresponding to “ACES 1.0 - SDR Video” to inverse-transform an image. A custom config.ocio must be used. Alternative OCIO configs that work well are provided by Marcin Piotrowski. Learn more in the Chaos Forums.

The steps are as follows:

1. Go to Rendering > Color Management

2. Set the Color Management Mode to “OCIO - Custom Config File” and load the custom OCIO configuration

   

3. Open the V-Ray Frame Buffer
4. Create a Background layer and load an image
   • Set Color transformation to OCIO

   • Set Input color space to “ACES 1.0 - SDR Video sRGB”

     

How to correctly bake texture nodes in the Material Editor?

To get identical results between a map and its baked version, loaded in a VRayBitmap, it must be saved without the 3ds Max render output defaults applied. Otherwise, the Display Correction will be baked, and it will have double Display Correction applied when bringing it back.

The steps are as follows:

1. Open the Slate/Compact Material Editor
2. Right-click on the map and choose Render Map
3. Set desired settings and choose an output path
4. In the Render Output Window, set the Color Conversion to “No Conversion”

5. Load the baked texture back via a VRayBitmap

6. Choose the appropriate “Color space transfer function” depending on the image format. Generally, the “From 3ds Max” type yields correct results.

   

Limitations

[Fixed in 3ds Max 2026] 3ds Max OCIO color management doesn't work with DR

This is а known Autodesk limitation concerning network rendering through Backburner and DR, both of which use 3ds Max in server mode (3dsmaxcmd), and the new OCIO color management.

For previous versions, the workaround is to disable the 3ds Max Color Management and set up V-Ray to do the color management independently. Learn how in our ACEScg Workflow Setup guide.
 

The Alpha channel is display-corrected when saving non-linear images (.jpg, .png)

This is a known Autodesk limitation. It affects all image outputs going through 3ds Max. This includes:

• The 3ds Max Common output  (Render Setup > Common > Render Output)
• V-Ray’s Separate render channels (Render Setup > V-Ray > Separate Render Channels)
• VFB’s “Save Separate/Current channels”

It also affects other color data channels and other render engines' outputs (e.g., Scanline, Arnold).

You can workaround it by setting the Render Output Defaults in the 3ds Max Color Management Options to “No Conversion” and checking the VFB OCIO Display Correction layer’s “Save in Image” option.

[Fixed in 3ds Max 2026] Missing Alpha when saving .pngs through the Common tab

This is a known Autodesk issue. It occurs when outputting .pngs with an active “Save Alpha Channel” option through the Common output (Render Setup > Common > Render Output) and the new 3ds Max OCIO defaults.

You can work around it by:

• Saving .png images through the V-Ray settings: “Separate render channels” output, or the VFB
• Selecting an existing .png file with the correct bit depth and alpha before entering the new path
• Reverting to the legacy Gamma Workflow

Different results when rendering through 3dsmaxcmd.exe

This is a known Autodesk issue. It occurs when outputting 8-bit images (.jpg,.png) through 3dsmaxcmd.exe with the “outputName” flag and the new OCIO color management. The images are saved as “Un-tonemapped”, rather than having the "ACES SDR 1.0 - Video" view transform baked in. The issue affects Arnold and Scanline as well. 

The workaround is to add the “-gammaCorrection = 1” flag when committing the 3ds Max scene.

Wrong texture color space when importing SketchUp models through the ATF SketchUp Importer and OCIO

This is a known Autodesk issue. When using the integrated SketchUp to 3ds Max importer, the OCIO rules are not automatically applied, leaving SketchUp textures (in Bitmap nodes) to be "ACEScg" by default. 

To resolve this, the textures must be reloaded manually.
 

A full list of limitations concerning the 3ds Max OCIO color management is published in the Autodesk documentation - 3ds Max 2025, 3ds Max 2026.

[Fixed in V-Ray 7, update 2, hotfix 3] The VRayBitmap's preview window (View image button) looks different than the render/color swatch.

This is a known limitation concerning the "Color space transfer function" and "RGB primaries" parameters not affecting the preview window. What is seen in the rendering and viewport is correct. The issue has already been reported for developer investigation.