# OSL – strengths and limitations **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Tags:** osl\ **Created:** [June 7, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/osl-strengths-and-limitations/50088 "2014-06-07T17:41:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 2
**Author:** ![vlado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/779978/32.png) [@vlado](https://forums.chaos.com/u/vlado)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 7:53am UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/osl-strengths-and-limitations/50088/2 "2014-06-09T07:53:44Z")
> [@ECW-Support](https://forums.chaos.com/t/ecw-support/45104/9): > > I haven’t had much time to dig into OSL and what the capabilities / limitations are… but I’m reading that the next Renderman (19) will have support for it and Blender’s Cycles already has it. If I’m not wrong V-Ray 3 will also have some support for OSL: [Chaos Docs](http://docs.chaosgroup.com/display/VRAY3MAYA/VRayMtlOSL) Yes, we already have our initial OSL support included for the next beta. > So, let’s play with the idea that you would want to create a generic shader (such as the VrayMtl) in OSL, to be used in all of these OSL capable renderers… is that even a realistic idea? I’m talking a versatile material which could be used to create glass, metals, plastics etc.You can get quite far with this; in fact one of our developers posted an OSL shader that implements a large part of the functionality of the VRayMtl material. > Or would it be better to create a series of very specific OSL shaders, rather than going for a generic one?This I don’t know… you’ll have to try and see how it goes. > Would it even be possible to make the same shader work the same way / look the same in multiple renderers?To some extent it is possible, especially for texture shaders. However most renderers define their own extensions which are generally not portable. I suppose it is currently a bit like Alembic in the beginning where everyone does their own thing. F.e. many OSL shaders for Blender will run in Blender only. Best regards, Vlado --- _[View the full topic](https://forums.chaos.com/t/osl-strengths-and-limitations/50088)._