OctaneRender 2026.4.0.0 for Houdini Production (2026.4.0.0)
Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2026 3:06 am
This is a production release of the OctaneRender™ 2026.4.0.0 for Houdini™ plugin compiled with the Octane 2026.4 core. This 2026.4.0.0 release is available for the latest Houdini production builds on Windows x64, Linux.
Houdini production builds supported by this release: 20.5.684, 21.0.671, 21.0.700, 21.0.729 and 22.0.368.
If you are not sure if your Houdini version is compatible with the plugin - just run it and you will see an error message in case of incompatibility.
Linux Note
On Linux only default Houdini builds are supported.
This means that for Houdini 20.5, 21.0 and 22.0 gcc11.2 builds are supported.
New features
To learn more about the new features and improvements of OctaneRender 2026.4, please check out the 2026.4 release post
Known bugs
On Linux, MPlay IPR may not be working. If you are having problems with it, please switch to QT5 IPR and disable "Render to MPlay" in ROP nodes.
Octane doesn't support OCIO V2.5 (the version shipped with Houdini 22.0) at the moment, so when you use Houdini 22.0, you will need to use the OCIO file shipped with Houdini 21.0 or this one in the offical ocio github link, and specify the ocio file in a .json file similar to below
Downloads
Release 2026.4.0.0 Studio+ license
Windows Houdini 20.5.684
Windows Houdini 21.0.671
Windows Houdini 21.0.700
Windows Houdini 21.0.729
Windows Houdini 22.0.368
Linux Houdini 20.5.684 (gcc11.2)
Linux Houdini 21.0.671 (gcc11.2)
Linux Houdini 21.0.700 (gcc11.2)
Linux Houdini 21.0.729 (gcc11.2)
Linux Houdini 22.0.368 (gcc11.2)
Release 2026.4.0.0 macOS Prime license
MacOS Houdini 20.5.684
MacOS Houdini 21.0.671
MacOS Houdini 21.0.700
MacOS Houdini 21.0.729
MacOS Houdini 22.0.368
Release 2026.4.0.0 Demo version
Windows Houdini 20.5.684
Windows Houdini 21.0.729
Windows Houdini 22.0.368
Linux Houdini 20.5.684 (gcc11.2)
Linux Houdini 21.0.729 (gcc11.2)
Linux Houdini 22.0.368 (gcc11.2)
Release Notes
=============================================
RELEASE 2026.4.0.0
=============================================
PLUGIN FEATURES AND FIXES:
Octane Material Builder Changes
We have updated the Octane Material Builder to ensure full compatibility with Octane Solaris (LOPS).
The "new" octane material builder mimicks the mtlx material-builder and uses a simple subnet setup. There are now also dedicated outputs for surface and medium for better UX (however any subnet & subnet output will work). The original custom octane vopnet - while depreciated - will continue to work - so any existing scenes will continue to work as expected.
UV/Tile set node proper implementation
The UV tiles and tile grid image nodes up until now didn't really work correctly. This is now fixed and they work with Udim <UDIM>, uv (two dimensional) <U><V>, index (one dimensional) <I> -> File pattern mode, or custom file lists -> File list mode
Two new Tool vop hdas
This is the beginning of some higher level HDAs inside the material build context that might simplify some workflows for UX purposes.
NOTE: Because of the current tab mask these tools aren't visible in the older vopnets. They should be visible in the new one. You can however still get them into the vopnet by creating it under /mat and then copy and pasting it into the vopnet. Octane Decal Tool - A tool that makes creating in material subnet level decals easy (for labels etc). It creates a projection and mask (with depth & smooth falloff control) that can be combined with image nodes. It also has some buttons that allow for quick creation of object level control nulls, binding to an existing obj and baking the transforms, for easy in viewport manipulation and placement. NOTE: This tool has nothing to do with Octane's decal object, but is purely in shader. This makes it more robust and easier/possible to use for instancing and animated scenarios, without having to also manage placing, moving etc decal objects in the obj level. Octane Field Tool - A tool that simplifies the creation of field (planar, spherical and angular falloff), and has the same control null/object buttons as the decal tool, for quick viewport placement and manipulation.
Channel Format (bit depth and BC compression) Overhaul
Based on user feedback and exploration from there, we discovered that there was a disconnect between how octane standalone manages the channel formats and the plugin, causing to certain channel format settings not working correctly. Basically octane standalone limits the available format types based on image input. This update now matches this behaviour and should resolve various issues that were associated with this (image compression being rebaked on each load, 32 bit hdris resetting on IPR reload etc). The new default for the channel format is "Automatic" and this should work fine in most cases. After you add an image to the path, you will see additional options in the channel format dropdown based on the filetype etc.
The only reasons you would want to touch this setting is:
a. You are working with 32bit hdris/exrs etc (the default setting is 16bit, which in some cases might clip the highest highlights - for example in the sun and cause a less bright lighting setup)
b. You want to use image compression
The Render target now has per texture channel format parameters for the various texture slots
NOTE: Since the RT settings had to change quite a bit, so if you're coming from an older octane version - you might need to update the HDA to the latest hda version (using the asset toolbar) - or set the channel format types anew - normal image nodes should be converted by default.
Other changes:
Still updating
Note
From 2025.1.Beta_1.0, Octane plugin for Houdini uses Houdini package file. Each build ships a script (createPackageFileForOctane.bat for Windows, createPackageFileForOctane.sh for Linux and Mac) to help create the Octane.json file as below under C:\Users\<username>\Documents\houdiniXX.Y\packages on windows, ~/Library/Preferences/houdini/XX.Y/packages on Mac, or ~/houdiniXX.Y/packages on Linux.
Important Note
2024.1.0.2 fixed the problem that the layered material nodes cannot be loaded properly, however this fix affects all layered material nodes and OSL material nodes in existing saved .hip files. When loading a .hip file for the first time using this build, it's necessary to adjust the connections of these nodes. Once the file is saved with the updated connections, the issue will be resolved.
Common Issues and Solutions
- If the plugin doesn't work at all, set
- If you're missing
- If you are having any issues with the Deadline - please submit a support ticket to the AWS.
Happy rendering,
Your OTOY Team
Houdini production builds supported by this release: 20.5.684, 21.0.671, 21.0.700, 21.0.729 and 22.0.368.
If you are not sure if your Houdini version is compatible with the plugin - just run it and you will see an error message in case of incompatibility.
Linux Note
On Linux only default Houdini builds are supported.
This means that for Houdini 20.5, 21.0 and 22.0 gcc11.2 builds are supported.
New features
To learn more about the new features and improvements of OctaneRender 2026.4, please check out the 2026.4 release post
Known bugs
On Linux, MPlay IPR may not be working. If you are having problems with it, please switch to QT5 IPR and disable "Render to MPlay" in ROP nodes.
Octane doesn't support OCIO V2.5 (the version shipped with Houdini 22.0) at the moment, so when you use Houdini 22.0, you will need to use the OCIO file shipped with Houdini 21.0 or this one in the offical ocio github link, and specify the ocio file in a .json file similar to below
Code: Select all
{
"enable" : true,
"show" : true,
"load_package_once" : true,
"env": [
{"OCIO" : "${OCIO-C:/OCIO/cg-config-v2.2.0_aces-v1.3_ocio-v2.4.ocio}"}
]
}
Release 2026.4.0.0 Studio+ license
Windows Houdini 20.5.684
Windows Houdini 21.0.671
Windows Houdini 21.0.700
Windows Houdini 21.0.729
Windows Houdini 22.0.368
Linux Houdini 20.5.684 (gcc11.2)
Linux Houdini 21.0.671 (gcc11.2)
Linux Houdini 21.0.700 (gcc11.2)
Linux Houdini 21.0.729 (gcc11.2)
Linux Houdini 22.0.368 (gcc11.2)
Release 2026.4.0.0 macOS Prime license
MacOS Houdini 20.5.684
MacOS Houdini 21.0.671
MacOS Houdini 21.0.700
MacOS Houdini 21.0.729
MacOS Houdini 22.0.368
Release 2026.4.0.0 Demo version
Windows Houdini 20.5.684
Windows Houdini 21.0.729
Windows Houdini 22.0.368
Linux Houdini 20.5.684 (gcc11.2)
Linux Houdini 21.0.729 (gcc11.2)
Linux Houdini 22.0.368 (gcc11.2)
Release Notes
=============================================
RELEASE 2026.4.0.0
=============================================
PLUGIN FEATURES AND FIXES:
Octane Material Builder Changes
We have updated the Octane Material Builder to ensure full compatibility with Octane Solaris (LOPS).
The "new" octane material builder mimicks the mtlx material-builder and uses a simple subnet setup. There are now also dedicated outputs for surface and medium for better UX (however any subnet & subnet output will work). The original custom octane vopnet - while depreciated - will continue to work - so any existing scenes will continue to work as expected.
UV/Tile set node proper implementation
The UV tiles and tile grid image nodes up until now didn't really work correctly. This is now fixed and they work with Udim <UDIM>, uv (two dimensional) <U><V>, index (one dimensional) <I> -> File pattern mode, or custom file lists -> File list mode
Two new Tool vop hdas
This is the beginning of some higher level HDAs inside the material build context that might simplify some workflows for UX purposes.
NOTE: Because of the current tab mask these tools aren't visible in the older vopnets. They should be visible in the new one. You can however still get them into the vopnet by creating it under /mat and then copy and pasting it into the vopnet. Octane Decal Tool - A tool that makes creating in material subnet level decals easy (for labels etc). It creates a projection and mask (with depth & smooth falloff control) that can be combined with image nodes. It also has some buttons that allow for quick creation of object level control nulls, binding to an existing obj and baking the transforms, for easy in viewport manipulation and placement. NOTE: This tool has nothing to do with Octane's decal object, but is purely in shader. This makes it more robust and easier/possible to use for instancing and animated scenarios, without having to also manage placing, moving etc decal objects in the obj level. Octane Field Tool - A tool that simplifies the creation of field (planar, spherical and angular falloff), and has the same control null/object buttons as the decal tool, for quick viewport placement and manipulation.
Channel Format (bit depth and BC compression) Overhaul
Based on user feedback and exploration from there, we discovered that there was a disconnect between how octane standalone manages the channel formats and the plugin, causing to certain channel format settings not working correctly. Basically octane standalone limits the available format types based on image input. This update now matches this behaviour and should resolve various issues that were associated with this (image compression being rebaked on each load, 32 bit hdris resetting on IPR reload etc). The new default for the channel format is "Automatic" and this should work fine in most cases. After you add an image to the path, you will see additional options in the channel format dropdown based on the filetype etc.
The only reasons you would want to touch this setting is:
a. You are working with 32bit hdris/exrs etc (the default setting is 16bit, which in some cases might clip the highest highlights - for example in the sun and cause a less bright lighting setup)
b. You want to use image compression
The Render target now has per texture channel format parameters for the various texture slots
NOTE: Since the RT settings had to change quite a bit, so if you're coming from an older octane version - you might need to update the HDA to the latest hda version (using the asset toolbar) - or set the channel format types anew - normal image nodes should be converted by default.
Other changes:
- Updated quickmaterial channel Format parms to work correctly with new "dynamic" channel format dropdown
- Ctrl+z in material editor should update IPR now
- Added missing cell noise
- ROP list in IPR now sorted alphabetically
- Fixed outdated "Channel Format" options in image nodes -> this also fixed an issue where compressed image formats would recache after
- reopening Houdini session
- Shader merge now dynamically updates it output pin type based on merged node -> Now also works when directly connecting a material to
- subnet output
- Using focus picker in ipr now automatically disables the "auto-focus" in render target/setup
- Removed the Packed Prim warning and language, since volumes are now supported in packed prim instancing
- Fixed the defaults in the field tool
- Fixed shader merge not working when referencing a null node
- Fixed RT HDRI colorspaces not working correctly (broken links)
- Fixed instance motionblur when having attibute MB enabled with multiple substeps
- Octane now supports rendering packed alembic instances
- Fixed octane scatter crash on mac
- Fixed orbx sop not working (more orbx updates/improvements coming soon!)
- Fixed crash on macos when clicking "layers" in IPR
- Support 16bit float Copernicus nodes
Still updating
Note
From 2025.1.Beta_1.0, Octane plugin for Houdini uses Houdini package file. Each build ships a script (createPackageFileForOctane.bat for Windows, createPackageFileForOctane.sh for Linux and Mac) to help create the Octane.json file as below under C:\Users\<username>\Documents\houdiniXX.Y\packages on windows, ~/Library/Preferences/houdini/XX.Y/packages on Mac, or ~/houdiniXX.Y/packages on Linux.
Code: Select all
{
"enable": true,
"env": [
{
"OCTANE_AUTOSPAREPARAMS": {
"value": 1
}
},
{
"OCTVERSION": "<path_to_plugin_directory>"
},
{
"HOUDINI_PATH": {
"value": "$OCTVERSION"
},
"HOUDINI_MENU_PATH": {
"value": "$OCTVERSION/config/Menus"
},
"HOUDINI_SCRIPT_PATH": {
"value": "$OCTVERSION/scripts"
},
"PATH": {
"value": "$OCTVERSION/bin"
},
"PXR_PLUGINPATH_NAME": {
"value": "$OCTVERSION/dso/usd_plugins"
}
}
]
}
2024.1.0.2 fixed the problem that the layered material nodes cannot be loaded properly, however this fix affects all layered material nodes and OSL material nodes in existing saved .hip files. When loading a .hip file for the first time using this build, it's necessary to adjust the connections of these nodes. Once the file is saved with the updated connections, the issue will be resolved.
Common Issues and Solutions
- If the plugin doesn't work at all, set
HOUDINI_DSO_ERROR = 2 in houdini.env and check for messages in the terminal.- If you're missing
libglut.so.3, install the freeglut package.- If you are having any issues with the Deadline - please submit a support ticket to the AWS.
Happy rendering,
Your OTOY Team