Small update - version 1.3.1. Download here: https://ssoftadd.github.io/syclesPage.html
Or simply replace the file with the same name by this dll: https://ssoftadd.github.io/download/cyclesRenderer.dll
This update fix only error of the wrong caching of a pointiness attribute.
Cycles for Softimage
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Sycles 2.4.1 V 2.4.1 released August 2026 —
This is a full integration of the Blender Cycles renderer into XSI. Version 2.4 is compiled with Cycles 5.3 (state of July 2026). The second generation of the addon (since 2.0) is a complete rewrite and works with Softimage 2015 SP2.
New since version 2.1.3 (from the github release notes): 2.4.1: fixed incorrect transforms of instances when the master model has rotation or scale, repacked with missing DLLs 2.4: Cycles 5.3. New Alpha parameter for the ImageTexture node, Sky Texture with Single and Multiple Scattering models, Thin Film for Metallic and Glass BSDF, new Raycast and Scene Time nodes, OSL custom camera, Linear 3D curve shape (also as per-object override), Geometry Approximation mode for NURBS surfaces, Render Time pass (CPU), texture optimisation (resolution, limit, tx texture cache) and a detailed scene export timing log 2.4: renders MaterialX shader trees from the MaterialXSI addon (converted to OSL). Note: OSL shading works on CPU render devices only 2.3.x: Cycles 4.5, OSL support is back, new Metallic BSDF and Set Normal nodes, phase function for Scatter Volume, Diffuse Roughness for Principled BSDF, more Noise Texture types, subdivision with motion deform, per-frame texture images, rendering of NURBS surfaces and curves (via custom properties), tile rendering, fixed shadow catcher, vector input ports for OSL shaders 2.2.x: nodes of Blender 4.3 (Ray Portal BSDF, Sheen BSDF, Gabor Texture, redesigned Principled BSDF), current Blender OCIO color profiles, custom velocity grids for VDB primitives, Particle Info node fed by ICE attributes, denoising of the final passes with OIDN or OptiX
Supported Softimage features (quoted from the download page):
Polygon meshes and hair geometry Texture coordinates Vertex colors Shaderball preview. For materials, shader nodes and texture nodes Basic limited support of the following built-in Softimage shader nodes: Phong, Lambert, Hair Shading, Image, converters between vector, color and scalar Ambience global environment light Limited support of built-in Softimage light sources Model instances ICE strands geometry ICE pointcloud instances ICE geometry attributes (vector, color and scalar) with context per-point and per-object Volume rendering. In particular supports emFluid, Explosia FX and openVDB for Softimage volumes Special VDB Primitive for rendering vdbs without ICE Output multilayered exr file with all rendered passes Rendermaps
The following features from Cycles itself are supported: CPU and GPU rendering. In particular multidevices are supported. This allows you to use cpu and gpu simultaneously. The libraries for GPU rendering are included in the package. All Cycles shader nodes OSL shaders OpenColorIO profiles (Blender profile included) All Cycles output passes (Combined, Depth, Normal and so on) Color and value shader AOVs Lightgroups Cycles camera properties, in particular all panorama modes Cycles light sources Denoising by using Open Image Denoise and OptiX denoiser
For more information, full documentation and a list of the available Cycles nodes see the download page linked below. There is no local backup because the addon is still frequently updated - the plugin can be downloaded on Shekn's github releases. The source code is available on github there as well.
This is a full integration of the Blender Cycles renderer into XSI. Version 2.4 is compiled with Cycles 5.3 (state of July 2026). The second generation of the addon (since 2.0) is a complete rewrite and works with Softimage 2015 SP2.
New since version 2.1.3 (from the github release notes): 2.4.1: fixed incorrect transforms of instances when the master model has rotation or scale, repacked with missing DLLs 2.4: Cycles 5.3. New Alpha parameter for the ImageTexture node, Sky Texture with Single and Multiple Scattering models, Thin Film for Metallic and Glass BSDF, new Raycast and Scene Time nodes, OSL custom camera, Linear 3D curve shape (also as per-object override), Geometry Approximation mode for NURBS surfaces, Render Time pass (CPU), texture optimisation (resolution, limit, tx texture cache) and a detailed scene export timing log 2.4: renders MaterialX shader trees from the MaterialXSI addon (converted to OSL). Note: OSL shading works on CPU render devices only 2.3.x: Cycles 4.5, OSL support is back, new Metallic BSDF and Set Normal nodes, phase function for Scatter Volume, Diffuse Roughness for Principled BSDF, more Noise Texture types, subdivision with motion deform, per-frame texture images, rendering of NURBS surfaces and curves (via custom properties), tile rendering, fixed shadow catcher, vector input ports for OSL shaders 2.2.x: nodes of Blender 4.3 (Ray Portal BSDF, Sheen BSDF, Gabor Texture, redesigned Principled BSDF), current Blender OCIO color profiles, custom velocity grids for VDB primitives, Particle Info node fed by ICE attributes, denoising of the final passes with OIDN or OptiX
Supported Softimage features (quoted from the download page):
Polygon meshes and hair geometry Texture coordinates Vertex colors Shaderball preview. For materials, shader nodes and texture nodes Basic limited support of the following built-in Softimage shader nodes: Phong, Lambert, Hair Shading, Image, converters between vector, color and scalar Ambience global environment light Limited support of built-in Softimage light sources Model instances ICE strands geometry ICE pointcloud instances ICE geometry attributes (vector, color and scalar) with context per-point and per-object Volume rendering. In particular supports emFluid, Explosia FX and openVDB for Softimage volumes Special VDB Primitive for rendering vdbs without ICE Output multilayered exr file with all rendered passes Rendermaps
The following features from Cycles itself are supported: CPU and GPU rendering. In particular multidevices are supported. This allows you to use cpu and gpu simultaneously. The libraries for GPU rendering are included in the package. All Cycles shader nodes OSL shaders OpenColorIO profiles (Blender profile included) All Cycles output passes (Combined, Depth, Normal and so on) Color and value shader AOVs Lightgroups Cycles camera properties, in particular all panorama modes Cycles light sources Denoising by using Open Image Denoise and OptiX denoiser
For more information, full documentation and a list of the available Cycles nodes see the download page linked below. There is no local backup because the addon is still frequently updated - the plugin can be downloaded on Shekn's github releases. The source code is available on github there as well.
download page: https://ssoftadd.github.io/syclesSecondGenPage.html / wiki with tutorials / all of Shekn's plugins / author on vimeo / si-community thread
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Shekn
- Posts: 254
- Joined: 30 Dec 2016, 19:18
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nospitters
- Posts: 52
- Joined: 06 Jul 2012, 16:08
- Location: bremen, germany
Re: Cycles for Softimage
hi shekn,
really great integration of cycles...thank you.
tried myself before to integrate cycles in si but without success...
just dowloaded it an tried first installing in xsi 2013sp1 but not worked, then in 2015sp1 and it worked.
now testing ice strand rendering and everything works great. makes a lot of fun.
what about xsi-hair? is that possible to implement too?
concerning gpu rendering support, can you explain a little more why exactly this wont work in xsi?
would be really great to have this option...there are not sooo many great gpu path tracer for xsi out there...
really great integration of cycles...thank you.
tried myself before to integrate cycles in si but without success...
just dowloaded it an tried first installing in xsi 2013sp1 but not worked, then in 2015sp1 and it worked.
now testing ice strand rendering and everything works great. makes a lot of fun.
what about xsi-hair? is that possible to implement too?
concerning gpu rendering support, can you explain a little more why exactly this wont work in xsi?
would be really great to have this option...there are not sooo many great gpu path tracer for xsi out there...
The Soulcage Department
http://www.soulcage-department.de
http://www.soulcage-department.de
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FXDude
- Posts: 1145
- Joined: 19 Jun 2012, 19:59
Re: Cycles for Softimage
huh! I totally missed this!
So Octane, and now also Cycles!
So Octane, and now also Cycles!
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FXDude
- Posts: 1145
- Joined: 19 Jun 2012, 19:59
Re: Cycles for Softimage
also...
HDRMaster plugin demo
HDRMaster plugin demo
And Kudos for what indeed seems like an excellent integration!HDR Master is a part of the Cycles addon - Cycles render integration into Softimage.
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Shekn
- Posts: 254
- Joined: 30 Dec 2016, 19:18
Re: Cycles for Softimage
Thank you guys.
It seems I found a way to integrate Cycles GPU rendering. I will try to do it in the next update (whenever it will be). About XSI internal hairs, I think that it is possible to integrate it too.
It seems I found a way to integrate Cycles GPU rendering. I will try to do it in the next update (whenever it will be). About XSI internal hairs, I think that it is possible to integrate it too.
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Draise
- Posts: 894
- Joined: 09 Oct 2012, 18:48
- Skype: ondraise
- Location: Colombia
Re: Cycles for Softimage
I have used Cycles in Blender and with my 6 gig card Gtx1060, compaired to my i7 I get a faster calculation by around x4 times. This is.. good news! I also have a new contract I can do in SI, so I will definately test this out.
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nospitters
- Posts: 52
- Joined: 06 Jul 2012, 16:08
- Location: bremen, germany
Re: Cycles for Softimage
gpu support would be fantastic....
looking forward for the update...
looking forward for the update...
The Soulcage Department
http://www.soulcage-department.de
http://www.soulcage-department.de
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Shekn
- Posts: 254
- Joined: 30 Dec 2016, 19:18
Re: Cycles for Softimage
Next update 1.4. Download here: https://ssoftadd.github.io/download/Sycles_1.4.xsiaddon
What's New:
1. Compiled with the version of Cycles from Blender 2.79. In particular, some render parameters have been added (and some have been removed). In most cases this is technical parameters.
2. Added denoising feature and Shadow Catcher property to polygonmesh object.
3. Standard XSI-hairs render support.
4. GPU rendering. The device for rendering can be specified on the Performance - Additional Settings - Device of the render parameters.
5. Two new tutorials on the manual (23 and 24) about how to render standard XSI-hairs and how to use Ray Visibility.
For testing GPU-rendering I used Nvidia card. I don't know how it will work on Radeon. So, if somebody can test Radeon - it will be great. But there are no guarantee that everything will be fine.
What's New:
1. Compiled with the version of Cycles from Blender 2.79. In particular, some render parameters have been added (and some have been removed). In most cases this is technical parameters.
2. Added denoising feature and Shadow Catcher property to polygonmesh object.
3. Standard XSI-hairs render support.
4. GPU rendering. The device for rendering can be specified on the Performance - Additional Settings - Device of the render parameters.
5. Two new tutorials on the manual (23 and 24) about how to render standard XSI-hairs and how to use Ray Visibility.
For testing GPU-rendering I used Nvidia card. I don't know how it will work on Radeon. So, if somebody can test Radeon - it will be great. But there are no guarantee that everything will be fine.
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owei
- Administrator
- Posts: 840
- Joined: 03 Jun 2009, 15:25
- Location: Siegen/Germany
Re: Cycles for Softimage
Wow! Great upfate and thanks for sharing!! 
Founder of www.si-community.com
http://www.pixelpanic.de
http://www.pixelpanic.de
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rray
- Moderator
- Posts: 1810
- Joined: 26 Sep 2009, 13:51
- Location: Bonn, Germany
Re: Cycles for Softimage
Great stuff! 5 mental ray years passing in 1 month 
softimage resources section updated Sep 26th 2026
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Draise
- Posts: 894
- Joined: 09 Oct 2012, 18:48
- Skype: ondraise
- Location: Colombia
Re: Cycles for Softimage
This is like a whole new update to softimage this week. First amazing uv update and now a new renderengine free and potentially included with SI! The denoiser is a huge time saver.
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funky75
- Posts: 46
- Joined: 08 Oct 2012, 09:03
Re: Cycles for Softimage
Hi guys,
Good job for the author!!
But I'm experiencing some rendering bugs...
Render is alternate black lines..
Any one in same case?
Edit : Tile size seems to be the prooblem...
Good job for the author!!
But I'm experiencing some rendering bugs...
Render is alternate black lines..
Any one in same case?
Edit : Tile size seems to be the prooblem...
Last edited by funky75 on 06 Oct 2017, 13:45, edited 1 time in total.
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rray
- Moderator
- Posts: 1810
- Joined: 26 Sep 2009, 13:51
- Location: Bonn, Germany
Re: Cycles for Softimage
Hi funky yes had the same issue, it worked with tile size 1 but that's probably slowing the render down. With denoiser I get rgb patterns.
softimage resources section updated Sep 26th 2026
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Shekn
- Posts: 254
- Joined: 30 Dec 2016, 19:18
Re: Cycles for Softimage
It's bad. Please, post here the screenshot with render result and render parameters. It's better to screen all tabs of parameters settings.
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rray
- Moderator
- Posts: 1810
- Joined: 26 Sep 2009, 13:51
- Location: Bonn, Germany
Re: Cycles for Softimage
Something to do with tiles but hard to tell. Can do test some different HW tonight.
without denoise:
with denoise:
options (all at default)
without denoise:
with denoise:
options (all at default)
softimage resources section updated Sep 26th 2026
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rray
- Moderator
- Posts: 1810
- Joined: 26 Sep 2009, 13:51
- Location: Bonn, Germany
Re: Cycles for Softimage
with bigger tile sizes (here 256X256) you see tiny versions of the image repeated:
softimage resources section updated Sep 26th 2026