So, you’ve downloaded some custom shaders and you want to get them into Maya? Here’s how:
- Set ARNOLD_PLUGIN_PATH to point to the location of the shader DLL/SO and MTD files.
- Set MTOA_TEMPLATES_PATH to point to the location of the shader template .PY files.
That’s it. MtoA uses those environment variables to find the shaders (the .DLL or .SO files), the shader metadata files (.MTD), and the shader templates (.PY).
A metadata file tells Maya how to handle the shader (for example, where to show it in the Assign New Materials window).
A shader template defines the UI for the shader in the Attribute Editor.
Arnold Support Corner 
Hi,
May I ask you more details about where to find these shaders and templates folders please?
Cheers.
Depends on the custom shaders. Some shader packs, like alShaders, have everything in the same folder when you extract the downloaded archive.
Thank you Guys,
Just a QUestion, when you say:
Set ARNOLD_PLUGIN_PATH to point to the location of the shader DLL/SO and MTD files.
Set MTOA_TEMPLATES_PATH to point to the location of the shader template .PY files.
You mean (in windows advanced system properties) to set a System or User Environment Variable with that name pointing to those paths?
MToA already have some internal thing going on so it does not need those Variables to be setted up, right?
And, again in MToA when in Render Settings>System, disabling the “Absolute Texture Paths” Flag can resolve problems with larger than 128 caracthers Path’s?
Thanks again =)
You could use Maya.env to set those environment variables, or you could set them as System or User env vars.
i did that, but i cant see it in maya
please can you do a example please, new in this and dont have anyone to guide me
Here’s an example:
https://support.solidangle.com/x/yw8lAQ