---
title: "Volumetric Grid"
canonical: "https://documentation.chaos.com/space/VRAYHOUDINI/113279696/Volumetric%20Grid"
format: markdown
---
This page provides information on the Volumetric Grid as implemented in V-Ray for Houdini.
## **Overview**
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The V-Ray Volumetric Grid is a special kind of volumetric effect that works with grid-based cache formats, as opposed tо the [Environment Fog](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/VRAYHOUDINI/pages/113280242), which is a general purpose volumetric shader.
The Volumetric Grid setup requires two nodes - a geometry node with a volume object in it (e.g. V-Ray VolumeGrid Cache), and a second volume node in the mat network:
- [V-Ray VolumeGrid Cache](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/VRAYHOUDINI/pages/113280283) – Reads and visualizes volumetric cache data (*.aur*). Contains controls related to how volumetric geometry is loaded during rendering.
- [V-Ray VolumeGrid Shader](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/VRAYHOUDINI/pages/113279695) – Controls the rendering and shading properties for the volumetric cache. In addition to volumetric rendering, this node provides options for isosurface rendering and meshing.
This two-node setup allows users to export native Houdini volumes and render them with V-Ray using the V-Ray Volume Grid.
> ⚠️ Currently there are compatibility issues with Volume Rendering on macOS and Linux operating systems. This will be resolved as soon as possible.
## **Setting up the Volume Grid**
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To set up the V-Ray Volume Grid, perform the following steps:
1. Create a Geometry node with a volume object (such as V-Ray Volume Grid Cache node, VDB through File SOP, or Volumetric Geometry) inside it.
2. Create a mat network with a V-Ray Material Builder node. Inside the V-Ray Material Builder context, create a [V-Ray VolumeGrid Shader](https://docs-chaos.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/VRAYHOUDINI/pages/113279695) and connect it to the Output node.
3. Select the Geometry node and in the **Render** tab, connect the V-Ray Material Builder with the VolumeGrid Shader in the **Material** input.
> ⚠️ If you want to apply V-Ray VolumeGrid Shader with a Material SOP, you must first pack the volume object with a Pack SOP.