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
Re: Cycles for Softimage
This is a typical effect for any ray-tracer renderers. It appears for low-poly objects with smooth shading. There is shadow terminator property (in Cycles Mesh property). It helps to resolve this render error.
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Hirazi Blue
- Administrator
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- Joined: 04 Jun 2009, 10:15
Re: Cycles for Softimage
Okay, thanks for the info...
...so much to learn still after all these years...
...so much to learn still after all these years...
Stay safe, sane & healthy!
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Surface_VR
- Posts: 39
- Joined: 11 May 2020, 12:22
Re: Cycles for Softimage
Great!
The word "static" is used, but it is theoretically possible to turn visibility on and off, isn't it?
Maybe in the future sequential reading will no longer be a dream!?
The word "static" is used, but it is theoretically possible to turn visibility on and off, isn't it?
Maybe in the future sequential reading will no longer be a dream!?
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Hirazi Blue
- Administrator
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- Joined: 04 Jun 2009, 10:15
Re: Cycles for Softimage
Luckily I spoke too soon... I removed my previous post.
Sorry for the noise, I was extremely frustrated.
A system reinstall seems to have fixed the problem
I was having with Sycles not rendering with CUDA at all...
Still crashes on activating Optix though.
Sorry for the noise, I was extremely frustrated.
A system reinstall seems to have fixed the problem
I was having with Sycles not rendering with CUDA at all...
Still crashes on activating Optix though.
Stay safe, sane & healthy!
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Shekn
- Posts: 254
- Joined: 30 Dec 2016, 19:18
Re: Cycles for Softimage
There are many possible reasons for crashes. May be some error with OptiX driver, or bug in the Cycles render engine. Try to select only one OptiX render device in the render settings. Is it still crash? Also try to render in the Blender some simple scene with selected OptiX device. May be the Blender will be crashed too. Then we can only wait, when Blender developers will fix it.
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wireframex
- Posts: 425
- Joined: 08 Jun 2009, 21:02
- Location: France
Re: Cycles for Softimage
Hi
Just tried rendering with Optix GPU without any pb only if I uncheck CPU option
EDIT : the gain is about 40-45% with Optix GPU rendering mode (compared with normal GPU mode without CPU)
Just tried rendering with Optix GPU without any pb only if I uncheck CPU option
EDIT : the gain is about 40-45% with Optix GPU rendering mode (compared with normal GPU mode without CPU)
"without mastery, power is nothing" - Softimage Addict User
CPU 3990x 128 Threads / 2 x 3090 RTX - 24 Go / 96 Go memory
CPU 3990x 128 Threads / 2 x 3090 RTX - 24 Go / 96 Go memory
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Cinnsealach
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 03 Oct 2020, 07:33
Re: Cycles for Softimage
Greetings, long time lurker de-cloaking :]
Apologies if this has been asked already or if it's a dumb question - Is there any way to get this to work in XSI 7.01? (I never bothered upgrading after adesk took over).
It seems to install without any errors but does not appear in the renderer selection drop menu.
Apologies if this has been asked already or if it's a dumb question - Is there any way to get this to work in XSI 7.01? (I never bothered upgrading after adesk took over).
It seems to install without any errors but does not appear in the renderer selection drop menu.
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Shekn
- Posts: 254
- Joined: 30 Dec 2016, 19:18
Re: Cycles for Softimage
No, it's imposiible. Because there are some changes in API between XSI 7 and Softimage 2015.
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I3D
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- Skype: ironic3d
Re: Cycles for Softimage
Hi, how can I transfer color attributes from an ICE particle "Randomize Color" on an object using cycAttribute? I've tried setting the emission material and attached a log node to the output of the randomize color, but no matter what value I type in cycAttribute nothing gets rendered. Any ideas?
Thank you
Thank you
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opoppopopp
- Posts: 213
- Joined: 16 Jun 2009, 04:23
Re: Cycles for Softimage
You mean you can replicate the example in the document, with a meshI3D wrote: 29 Oct 2020, 04:03 Hi, how can I transfer color attributes from an ICE particle "Randomize Color" on an object using cycAttribute? I've tried setting the emission material and attached a log node to the output of the randomize color, but no matter what value I type in cycAttribute nothing gets rendered. Any ideas?
Thank you
But can not make the same setup working with particle points ?
I believe "density" is a per object data, like in Sycles with emFluid
So cycAttribute won't working with per point data?
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Shekn
- Posts: 254
- Joined: 30 Dec 2016, 19:18
Re: Cycles for Softimage
Sycles does not render particles. It can render only mesh instances instead of these particles. To use points attributes in the shader of the mesh instances, you should add to the pointcloud object CyclesPointcloud property and turn on the parameter "Use Pointcloud Attributes for Instances". This is a screen with an example:
Material with cycAttribute node is the material of the instance object. The material of the pointcloud does not matter.
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sirdavid32
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Re: Cycles for Softimage
Thank you for sharing this Shekn, this goes a long way how to integrate Softimage and Cycles with an ICE mindset. It's impressive, to say the least.
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Web: http://www.3dcinetv.com
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I3D
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Re: Cycles for Softimage
Thanks Shekn, that is exactly what I was looking for. 
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I3D
- Posts: 122
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- Skype: ironic3d
Re: Cycles for Softimage
Hi opoppopoppopoppopopp wrote: 29 Oct 2020, 15:56 You mean you can replicate the example in the document, with a mesh
But can not make the same setup working with particle points ?
I believe "density" is a per object data, like in Sycles with emFluid
So cycAttribute won't working with per point data?
No I wanted to render instanced geometry from a particle animation, I was able to do so, however the randomize color attributes wasn't being rendered on the instanced meshes. But Shekn response resolved it.
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opoppopopp
- Posts: 213
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Re: Cycles for Softimage
It shouldn't render particle shape? or just I am miss understanding.Shekn wrote: 29 Oct 2020, 17:34 Sycles does not render particles. It can render only mesh instances instead of these particles. To use points attributes in the shader of the mesh instances, you should add to the pointcloud object CyclesPointcloud property and turn on the parameter "Use Pointcloud Attributes for Instances". This is a screen with an example:
pic_01.png
Material with cycAttribute node is the material of the instance object. The material of the pointcloud does not matter.
of course 'blob' shape not working, but others seems ok?
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Shekn
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Re: Cycles for Softimage
When you render particles with (for example) a cube shape, then the renderer crates a polygonal abstract cube and use it as an instance for particles. The same for spheres, cones and so on. Exceptions are only point and blob shapes. Because it is not polygonal objects. So, these particles are also instances. And yes, for these primitive shapes, the render use material of the pointcloud (because there is no real object for it), but for user defined instance shapes it use the material from the master object.