Nvidia Material Definition Language (MDL)

2022: Nvidia reveals platform source for making realistic objects

In August 2022, Nvidia revealed the source code for the Material Definition Language (MDL) realistic object platform. The new tools are powered by neurographics, a new technology that combines AI and graphics to create an accelerated graphics pipeline that learns from data, company officials said. These SDKs and research contribute to each stage of the content creation process, including 3D content creation, physics and animation, and user experience formation.

The list of new SDKs introduced by the company includes NeuralVDB, a groundbreaking update to the industry standard OpenVDB, Kaolin Wisp, the Pytorch library creating the foundation for neural field research, 3D MoMa, a new inverse rendering pipeline allowing users to quickly import a 2D object into the graphics engine, and more.

Now MDL can be used to create high-quality material without having to make compromises or options for less capable renders

Nvidia also explained that it uses MDL Distiller open sourcing to provide best-in-class MDL support implementations for all types of rendering. Built as a companion technology to the SDK and MDL, Distiller is a fully automated solution for converting all MDL materials into a reduced material model of a simpler renderer. As a render designer, you can now provide appropriate MDL Distiller instructions rather than material artists providing simpler materials for simple renders.

As noted in Nvidia, MDL can now be used to create one high-quality, single material without the need to make compromises or options for less capable renders. Approximations and simplifications are left to the software. Once the renderer improves its capabilities, for example, MDL Distiller rules can be updated and older materials improved without having to re-edit content. New open source GLSL backend technologies provide MDL support for OpenGL or Vulkan-based renderer developers, closing the gap with established graphics API standards. MDL Distiller and GLSL backend will allow many more developers to use the capabilities of MDL^[1][2]

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