Autodesk Arnold: Render detailed 3D characters and scenes

Global illumination rendering software

Image courtesy of Megalis VFX

What is Autodesk Arnold?

Autodesk Arnold software is an advanced Monte Carlo ray tracing renderer that helps you deliver beautiful and predictable results. Only single-user subscriptions are available via the Autodesk store. See FAQ.

With Arnold, you can:

Navigate through the software with simple and intuitive controls.

Produce professional-grade renders with full artistic control.

Get immediate results with interactive rendering.

See system requirements

Characters from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Still from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem made with Arnold

Eight Addams Family characters posing for a portrait

Characters from The Addams Family rendered with Arnold

Scene from The Umbrella Academy (video: 5 sec.). Video courtesy of Pixomondo.

Character model of woman rendered with Arnold

Space shuttle rendered with Arnold

Baby cartoon turtle cupped in a pair of hands

Animation render by Marza Animation

Why use Autodesk Arnold?

Manage complex projects

Arnold thrives on heavy data sets and handles complex work with ease.

Render high-quality 3D images

Deliver stunning photoreal or stylized results in fewer clicks.

Get a robust set of tools

Save time with powerful shaders, operators, textures, and utilities.

What you can do with Autodesk Arnold

Combat scene from Halo, rendered in Arnold (video: 4 sec.). Video courtesy of Pixomondo.

Manage complex projects with production-ready tools

Switch seamlessly between CPU and GPU rendering to suit your production needs for characters, scenery, and lighting. Get optimized performance when rendering elements such as hair, fur, and skin.

See all Arnold features

Character and environment rendered with Arnold. Image courtesy of Prasanth Chundakkattil.

Integrate and customize your pipeline

Easily integrate Autodesk Arnold with all the top 3D digital content creation tools, get the scalability and customization of an open and extensible architecture, and create custom shaders.

See all Arnold features

“It’s broadly used across the industry, which means a lot of studio talent is trained on it, so we don’t have to spend much time teaching our team how to use it.”

— Amaan Akram, Head of VFX, Untold Studios

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“It delivers predictable results, and we have a great relationship with the developers.”

— Raymond Kreppene, Chief Technology Officer, Qvisten Animation

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“[With Arnold], we would be able to generate raw renders that can help us create multiple ambiances out of a single render.”

— Christophe Rodo, ONI VFX Supervisor, Megalis VFX

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“Arnold and its operator networks were truly the MVPs of the show.”

— Trevor Kerr, Creative Director and 3D Supervisor, Possible

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Explore Arnold resources

videos

M&E YouTube Channel

Watch talks from industry experts, discover new tools and workflows, and much more.

Watch now

TUTORIALS

Arnold renderer YouTube channel

Find video tutorials of all levels to help you learn Arnold.

Start learning

BLOGS

Arnold blog

Read Arnold news and stories from animation, VFX, and games studios.

Read stories

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is Autodesk Arnold used for?

Arnold is an advanced Monte Carlo ray tracing renderer used to render realistic 3D characters, photorealistic designs, and complex scenes for film and TV, games, and design visualization projects.

Who uses Autodesk Arnold?

Arnold is used by 3D modelers, animators, lighting artists, and FX artists across the film, TV, games, and design visualization industries.

Which versions of Autodesk Arnold can I use if I subscribe to the current version? 

Your Autodesk Arnold subscription gives you access to install and use the three previous versions. Available downloads are listed in your Autodesk Account after subscribing. See also previous releases available for subscribers.

Which operating system does Arnold run on?

Arnold can run on Microsoft® Windows®, Apple® macOS®, and Linux®. See Arnold system requirements for details.

How can I buy a multi-user subscription of Arnold?

To buy a multi-user subscription of Autodesk Arnold, you must contact an Autodesk-authorized reseller. Buying Arnold via the Autodesk store gives you a single-user subscription. Learn more.

Can I install Arnold on multiple computers? 

With a subscription to Arnold software, you can install it on up to three computers or other devices. However, only the named user can sign in and use that software on a single computer at any given time. Please refer to the Software License Agreement for more information. 

How do I convert my Arnold free trial to a paid subscription? 

Launch your trial software and click Subscribe Now on the trial screen or buy Arnold here. When buying your subscription, enter the same email address and password combination you used to sign in to your trial. Learn more about converting a trial to a paid subscription.

How much does an Arnold subscription cost? 

The price of an annual Autodesk Arnold subscription is  and the price of a monthly Arnold subscription is . The price of a three-year Arnold subscription is . If you have infrequent users and are interested in a pay-as-you-go option, please visit www.autodesk.com/flex to learn more.

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