IOR – Index of Refraction Reference
Light bends. How much depends on the material. That number is the Index of Refraction — and getting it right is the difference between a render that looks like plastic and one that looks like glass, water, or diamond.
IOR is a precision reference for anyone who works with light: 3D artists, VFX professionals, optical engineers, photographers, and students of physics and optics.
250+ Materials. Instantly Searchable.
Browse a curated library covering gems, glass, metals, liquids, biological tissue, crystals, polymers, gases, and more — all cross-referenced against published scientific sources including NIST, USGS, and academic literature. Values are organized by category and fully searchable by name, type, or property.
Interactive Optical Visualizer
Every material comes with a live, physics-accurate display. Drag the IOR and angle sliders and watch how light bends in real time. Explore:
• Snell's Law — angle of refraction as light crosses the boundary
• Fresnel Reflectance — how much light reflects vs. transmits at any angle
• Brewster's Angle — the angle at which reflected light is perfectly polarized
• Total Internal Reflection — the critical angle beyond which light can't escape
• Dispersion — how different wavelengths separate inside a medium
Theory, Not Just Tables
The Theory section walks through the optics fundamentals — Snell's Law, Fresnel equations, Brewster's Angle, TIR, and more - with interactive visualizers, equations, and curated video references. Whether you're learning the math or just need a refresher, it's all here.
Built for 3D Artists
Working in Blender, Maya, modo, LightWave, KeyShot, Cinema 4D, Houdini, or any renderer that exposes an IOR parameter - Arnold, V-Ray, Octane, Redshift, Cycles?
IOR gives you the exact value you need for physically accurate materials. Stop guessing. Stop Googling. Look it up in seconds.
Favorites & History
Easily favorite any material for instant access.
Tap and hold on any material in the lists, and it will add or remove a Favorites Star. Sort favorites by Category, A–Z, or IOR value. Your most-used materials are only one tap away.
iPad & iPhone
Optimized for both, Portrait and Landscape.
