KeyShot Plugin for Autodesk® 3ds Max®

The KeyShot Plugin for Autodesk 3ds Max supports 3ds Max 2025, which was added in version 1.5 (released June 3, 2024). The same release also made the plugin versionless, so it runs on all KeyShot versions with an active lifecycle. If you are on 3ds Max 2025, this version covers you. For older 3ds Max releases or the exact builds handled, check the developer's page, since compatibility can shift between updates and the details here reflect the 1.5 release specifically.

The KeyShot Plugin for Autodesk 3ds Max lists KeyShot as a prerequisite, so you need KeyShot installed for the plugin to work. The plugin renders, updates, and exports 3ds Max geometry to KeyShot and maintains changes through Luxion's Live Linking technology, which establishes a link between 3ds Max and KeyShot. Without KeyShot present, there is nothing on the receiving end of that link. Set up KeyShot before installing the plugin, and see the developer's page for any version pairing guidance.

The KeyShot Plugin for Autodesk 3ds Max is versionless as of version 1.5, which means it runs on all KeyShot versions with an active lifecycle. Rather than tying the plugin to one KeyShot release, this approach lets it work across the currently supported KeyShot versions, and KeyShot itself remains a required prerequisite. For the current list of KeyShot versions considered to have an active lifecycle, check Luxion's documentation or the developer's page, since that set changes over time as older KeyShot versions reach end of life.

The KeyShot Plugin for Autodesk 3ds Max uses a custom installer rather than the standard App Store installer. That means installation follows Luxion's own setup process instead of the usual Autodesk App Store flow, so follow the instructions provided with the download. KeyShot must be installed first, since it is listed as a prerequisite. For the exact installation steps and any setup requirements, refer to the developer's page, as the custom installer handles the plugin differently from typical App Store apps.

The KeyShot Plugin for Autodesk 3ds Max is listed as free in this catalog. For current licensing terms and any conditions tied to using it alongside KeyShot, check the developer's page, since licensing can change and KeyShot itself is a separate prerequisite you will need. The plugin's role is to connect 3ds Max and KeyShot through Live Linking, so your KeyShot license and the plugin are distinct items to account for.