Octane Material Studio 1.0.3

Latest version tested and fully compatible with Octane Render 2026.4 (build 31.10.0) and Blender 5.2.

What's New in Version 1.0.3

• Update-safe global library: your global materials and your layout settings now live in Blender's per-user configuration folder, outside the addon folder. They stay in place through every future update and reinstall.
• Automatic one-time migration: on first start, version 1.0.3 picks up an existing library and your settings and moves them to the new location. The five starter materials shipped with the addon are only added if you do not have a library yet, they never replace your own materials.
• Full version number in the sidebar: the panel header now shows the exact version.

Updating from 1.0.2 or earlier

Blender clears the addon folder when it installs a new version. Up to version 1.0.2 your global library was stored inside that folder. For this one update, please save it first:

1. Open the folder %APPDATA%\Blender Foundation\Blender\5.1\extensions\user_default\OctaneMaterialStudio in the Windows Explorer. You can paste the path into the address bar.
2. Copy the folder global_materials and the file oms_preferences.json to a safe place, for example your Desktop.
3. Install Octane Material Studio 1.0.3 as described below.
4. Copy global_materials and oms_preferences.json back into the addon folder.
5. Start Blender. Version 1.0.3 moves your library and your settings to the new location on its first start.

From version 1.0.3 on this step is never needed again. Future updates leave your library untouched.

Overview

Octane Material Studio is a professional material management addon for Blender, built specifically for Octane Render. It gives you a central hub for all your Octane materials: create, organize, preview, and assign them from a single panel in the 3D Viewport sidebar. Manage your materials with rendered thumbnail previews, custom categories, favorites, a global material library that persists across all your projects, and an interactive eyedropper for direct viewport assignment. Part of the Octane addon suite together with Octane Light Studio and Octane HDRI Studio. Compatible with the free version of Octane Render.

Installation

1. Download and install the Octane Server from render.otoy.com, then launch and activate it before starting Blender.
2. Download and install Octane Prime for Blender, a special Blender build with integrated Octane.
3. In Blender, simply drag and drop the Octane Material Studio ZIP file into the Blender window and confirm. Alternatively go to Edit > Preferences > Add-ons, click Install and select the ZIP file. Do not extract it.
4. Enable the addon and find the OMS tab in the 3D Viewport sidebar, press N to open it.

Requirements

• Blender 5.0 or newer
• Octane Render for Blender, free version fully compatible, developed with Octane 2026.3 build 31.9
• Windows

Key Features

• 11 Octane Material Types: create Universal, Diffuse, Glossy, Specular, Mix, Toon, Metal, Layered, Composite, Hair, and Shadow Catcher materials with one click.
• Material List with Live Previews: every material is displayed with a rendered Octane thumbnail and full controls. Assign, rename, duplicate, render, delete, reorder, favorite, and global, all directly accessible per material.
• Grid View: switch to a thumbnail grid with an adjustable size slider for a visual overview of all your materials.
• Eyedropper Assignment: click the eyedropper, then click objects in the viewport to assign materials. A preview thumbnail follows your cursor. Click multiple objects in sequence, and switch materials by clicking another eyedropper button without cancelling first.
• Categories with Counts: organize materials into custom categories. The category bar shows counts at a glance, for example "All (24)", "Favorites (5)", "Metal (8)". Move materials between categories through the context menu.
• Favorites: star your most-used materials for quick access through a dedicated filter.
• Global Material Library: mark a material as global and it is saved persistently in Blender's user configuration folder. Open any new scene and your global materials are already there, with their categories and favorites. Edit a global material and the library updates automatically. Addon updates leave the library untouched.
• Smart Shader Editor Integration: select a material and the Shader Editor updates automatically. It uses an existing Shader Editor in your layout by default, so there are no unwanted pop-up windows. Configurable in the settings.
• Octane Rendering: a built-in preview scene with camera, lighting, and shaderball. Previews are cached as PNG files for instant loading. Render individually or batch-render all changed materials.
• Auto-Sync and Dirty Tracking: new materials are detected automatically and added. Renamed materials are tracked and updated. Changed materials are marked for re-rendering. Loading a file syncs everything.
• Duplicate with Smart Numbering: duplicate any material with automatic incremented naming, OctaneMat01 becomes OctaneMat02 becomes OctaneMat03.
• Reorder Materials: move materials up and down in the list to arrange them exactly as you want.
• Suite Integration: one-click switching between Octane Material Studio, Octane Light Studio, and Octane HDRI Studio.

Where Your Data Lives

Since version 1.0.3 your global library and your layout settings are stored here:

%APPDATA%\Blender Foundation\Blender\5.1\config\OctaneMaterialStudio

The folder contains global_materials with one .blend and one .json file per global material, and oms_preferences.json with your panel layout. Back up this folder if you want to keep your library safe, or copy it to another machine to take your materials with you. If you upgrade to a new Blender version, Blender creates a fresh configuration folder. Copy the OctaneMaterialStudio folder over to keep your library.

Quick Start

1. Open the OMS tab in the 3D Viewport sidebar, press N.
2. Click the plus button to create a new Octane material and choose the type from the dropdown. Universal is the default.
3. The material is added to the list and the Shader Editor opens automatically, so you can start editing your nodes.
4. Click the render icon to generate a preview thumbnail, or use the eyedropper to assign the material to objects in the viewport.
5. Create categories, mark favorites, and set your best materials as global to build your personal library.

Support

Andreas Fülscher

www.create-visions.de

[email protected]