This page gives some basic details about the Shadow Render Element and how it is used in compositing.
Overview
The Shadow Render Element is a color image that works as a reverse mask for shadows and can be used to lighten, darken or tint shadows. Shadows can be lightened in the composite by adding this pass, or darkened by subtracting this render pass from the final composite.
The Shadows render element is the product of multiplying the Raw Shadow Render Element with the Diffuse Render Element in the composite.
Note: Specific objects can be excluded from this Render Element by disabling the Generate Render Elements option in the V-Ray Object Properties for the selected object(s).
UI Path
||out Network|| > V-Ray Render Elements node > V-Ray > Render Channel > Color Channel > Type > Shadow
Attributes
The parameters for this render element appear in the V-Ray RenderChannelColor render channels node.
Denoise – Enables the render element's denoising, provided the Denoiser render element is present.
Consider for Anti-Aliasing – When enabled, anti-aliasing will be used where possible.
Filtering – Applies the image filter to this channel. Image filter settings are in the Image Sampler tab of the Sampler tab of the V-Ray Renderer node.
Color Mapping – When enabled, the Color Mapping options in the render settings will be applied to the current render channel.
Derive Raw Channels – Generates data in the raw channels by combining the respective color and the filter color channels.
VFB Color Corrections – Applies the post render color adjustments made from the VFB.
Common Uses
The Shadow Render Element is useful for changing the appearance of shadowed areas in a compositing or image editing application. Below are examples of possible uses.
Contrast added to the Shadows Render Element
Underlying Compositing Equation
Raw Shadow x Diffuse = Shadow
Notes
The Shadow pass can be both added and subtracted with the final beauty comp at a composite level without rerendering.
Shadows can be color-corrected using the Shadow element.