How to reduce noise at rendering with Arnold in 3ds Max

Autodesk Support

Oct 8, 2023

Products and versions covered

Issue:

Depending on the scene and light setup in 3ds Max, rendering results in Arnold can be noisy. Especially reflections on metal surfaces might have noise:

User-added image

Causes:

Missing updates.
Low Sample values.
Scene material properties.

Solution:

To reduce the noise in rendering results with 3ds Max and Arnold:

Ensure the most recent MAXtoA version is installed

Make sure that the latest Arnold plugin version (MAxtoA) is installed.

Adjust Sample settings within the scene

Get familiar with the Sample settings of the Arnold renderer in 3ds Max. See all related information here: How to denoise Arnold renders for optimal results in 3ds Max.

Use Arnold Shaders

Download the 3ds Max Material Library based on the Arnold Standard Surface shader and use it as a starting point to explore: MAXtoA Material Library.

Use the Arnold Denoiser options

Use the Arnold Denoiser options to find the best balance of render time and automated noise reduction: Denoiser.

Note: The article How to denoise Arnold renders for optimal results in 3ds Max shows tutorial videos on using these denoising features.

Adjust the scene setup in 3ds Max

Avoid to setup camera and lights within closed boxes or spheres at the visualization of rooms. Lighting within closed boxes can produce a lot of noise due to bouncing light calculation. If the camera perspective allows it, try to keep one side of a box open.

Products:

3ds Max; Arnold;

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