To render a VDB file, it is recommended to use the Arnold VDB Volume node, which is a premade network for rendering VDB Volumes. The UI combines parameters from the Volume Container, standard_volume, and Volume VDB Nodes.

This can be created at the scene level by Tab > Arnold > Arnold VDB Volume.

Select the VDB Volume tab and in the File Name, put the path to the VDB file. In the grid parameter, select the volume element you want to view, choosing from density (smoke), heat (flames), or temperature. It is recommended to choose density here, see below.

• Navigate down through the arnold_vdb node, the shopnet and arnold_vopnet to see the shading network creating the volumes. By default, you will see that it is set up for density (smoke) only as the vdb file is connected to the scattering and attenuation of the standard_volume.

If a light, camera, and ROP are added to the scene and rendered, you will see the result of this network.

• Create another Volume OpenVDB node and add the VDB file. In grid this time select heat.

• The information coming from the heat field needs to be colored. Create a ramp_rgb node and connect the Volume OpenVDB to the input. Choose colors like those below to map the range.

• Connect the ramp_rgb to the emission input of the standard_volume shader.

• Rendering again should now also show the flames.