AxF Sample Library

Sample AxF files produced by TAC7 and PANTORA

Appearance Exchange Format (AxF) files address the challenge of real world integration in virtual design by providing a vendor-neutral format that allows the full communication of visual appearance in a single, editable file in order to improve the virtualization process.

AxF provides a standard way to store and share all relevant appearance data – color, texture, gloss, refraction, translucency, special effects (sparkles) and reflection properties – across Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Computer-Aided Design (CAD), and state-of-the art rendering applications. AxF is a foundational component of the Total Appearance Capture Ecosystem and enables an entirely new level of consistency and accuracy in the digital representation of physical materials across these tools, streamlining the design process and accelerating time to market.

Experience working with AxF digital material files today. Choose from ready-to-use materials in BTF, SVBRDF and CarPaint formats. To download and work with the files you will need compatible 3D rendering software, such as Autodesk VRED™ Professional 2017, Lumiscaphe Patchwork 3D, Luxion KeyShot® and the NVIDIA  Iray®.

To learn more about AxF, download the whitepaper.


Materials in this section can be used in your environment for testing and are freely available for downloading for your users. Each compressed package contains an AxF material, a sample rendering in a default environment and possibly extra maps as noted for testing. The categories below are organized by release.


AxF 1.0 BTF

AxF 1.0 BTF

Size: 254 MB
Notes: BTF formats are more complex. These files are produced by the DOME and are currently not being upgraded (but may be in the future).


AxF 1.0 SVBRDF

AxF 1.0 SVBDRF

Size: 613 MB
Notes: AxF 1.0 SVBRDF format has the base level of maps supported: Diffuse, Specular, Roughness, Normal and Anisotropic.


AxF 1.1 SVBRDF

AxF 1.1 SVBDRF

Size: 846 MB
Notes: AxF 1.1 contains improvements for the SVBRDF format by adding a Fresnel map and a ClearCoat normal map with an Index of Refraction Map.


AxF 1.2 CarPaint Version 2 (CPA2)

AxF 1.2 CarPaint V2 CPA2

Size: 673 MB
Notes: AxF 1.2 contains improvements for the CarPaint model (CPA2). These improvements include a ClearCoat normal map for orange peel, and Index of Refraction Map, an improved flake model, and some improvements to the color table.


AxF 1.3 Non-Refracting ClearCoat CarPaint (CPA2)

AxF 1.3 Non-Refracting Clearcoat CPA2

Size: 150 MB
Notes: AxF 1.3 contains a version of the CarPaint version 2 (CPA2) with non-refracting clear coat. This format is required for compatibility with NVIDIA’s MDL format as integrated into iRay.


AxF 1.3 Non-Refracting ClearCoat SVBRDF

AxF Clearcoat

Size: 10 MB
Notes: AxF 1.3 SVBRDF with non-refracting clear coat. This format is required for compatibility with NVIDIA’s MDL format as integrated into iRay.

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