To get your content into Kraken, begin by clicking the New button located on the right side of the Explore or Import modules.
Clicking the New button opens the New Asset wizard which gives options for the two main methods for getting your content into Kraken.
Kraken Pro supports two methods for adding content:
- Creating new blank assets: You can create a blank asset and then upload the asset’s associated files, such as a model file and texture files. You can use this method for 3D models and non-3D content. Use this method if your 3D content is not supported by the AI-Powered Intake.
- Importing assets with AI-Powered Intake: Kraken can process some 3D formats automatically, including generating thumbnails and applying categories and tags. For information on the formats that Kraken supports, see Format and rendering engine compatibility.
Creating assets with a new blank asset
You can create assets based on almost any type of file by starting with a blank asset, uploading files to the asset, and adding metadata and tags. Then you can search for, use, and share the asset just like any other Kraken asset.
Follow these steps to create a blank asset and add files:
- On the Library tab, click the New button.
- In the popup window, click Create Blank Asset.
- Give the new asset a name.
- Select a category for the new asset and add relevant tags and metadata.
- Upload a thumbnail image or gallery images by dragging and dropping them into the upload area of the Details tab of the Preview Panel for this new asset.
- Upload associated 3D or data files to the asset by dragging and dropping them into the upload area of the Files tab of the Preview Panel.
- Under the Files tab of the Preview Panel select a file as the primary file for the asset by clicking the circular context button. A file marked as the primary file will be downloaded when the download button is clicked from the main library panel.
Importing 3D models with AI-Powered Intake
Kraken’s AI-Powered Intake supports content from several 3D creation applications and render engines. For specific instructions for your content creation applications, see these sections:
- Importing Maya assets
- Importing Blender assets
- Importing Cinema 4D assets
- Importing 3ds Max assets
- Importing FBX and OBJ assets
To import a 3D asset, you must put the model file and its referenced files (such as textures) in a ZIP file. When you organize the files and name the ZIP file correctly, Kraken recognizes the file as a 3D model, creates an asset with a name based on the ZIP file name, and can generate a thumbnail image, categorize your content and apply relevant tags. To indicate the type of model in the ZIP file, modify the file name to include the format.
Note: Kraken does not modify, edit, resave, or otherwise manipulate your asset’s paths. When you download an asset, the files are in the same paths as they were when you uploaded the asset.
Kraken can accept files up to 5GB.
Use these file extensions to indicate the type of 3D asset:
| 3D asset file extensions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| File type | Extension | Example | |
| Maya | .maya.zip | MyAsset.maya.zip | |
| Cinema 4D | .c4d.zip | MyAsset.c4d.zip | |
| Blender | .blend.zip | MyAsset.blend.zip | |
| 3ds Max | .max.zip | MyAsset.max.zip | |
| FBX | .fbx.zip | MyAsset.fbx.zip | |
| OBJ | .obj.zip | MyAsset.obj.zip | |
Format and rendering engine compatibility
Kraken supports the following formats, rendering engines, and plugins:
| 3ds Max (.max) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Versions 2012-2022 | |||
| V-Ray | Corona | Scanline | Arnold |
| Versions 3.x-5.x | Versions 1-8 | Versions 2012-2022 | Versions 4.x-5.x |
| Maya (.maya) | |
|---|---|
| Versions 2015-2022 | |
| V-Ray | Arnold |
| Versions 3.x-5.x | Versions 3.x-5.x |
| Cinema 4D (.c4d) | |
|---|---|
| Versions R16-R23 | |
| V-Ray | Arnold |
| Versions 3.x-5.x | Version 4.x |
| Blender (.blend) | |
|---|---|
| Versions 2.7-3.2 | |
| Cycles | Evee |
| Version 3.2 | Version 3.2 |
Compatibility notes
- The formats labeled “Arnold” refer to the Arnold plugin version, not the Arnold render engine version.
- Kraken processes FBX files with embedded textures with Maya 2022.
- Kraken processes OBJ files with embedded textures using 3ds Max 2022.
Thumbnails
Kraken automatically generates a thumbnail rendering of each asset. If you include cameras in the scene, Kraken also renders those views out as thumbnails, up to 5 cameras. Kraken names the thumbnails according to the camera names and selects the first thumbnail in alphabetical order as the signature thumbnail for the asset. For example, if there are 3 cameras in the scene named “Camera_A”, “Camera_B”, and “Camera_C,” Kraken uses the render from “Camera_A” as the default thumbnail.
You can change the signature thumbnail on the Details panel by clicking and dragging the thumbnail images to reorder them. The first thumbnail in the Details panel is the thumbnail that appears in search results.
Importing Lens-compatible content
To view content in Lens, the models must be formatted correctly for real-time viewing. For example, the content must have baked texture maps or flat values for its material maps. In most cases, export content as an FBX file unless the instructions for a specific file type are different.
For specific instructions for your content creation applications, see these pages: