Render Layer
Method #
This node renders all its child nodes and their sub-trees to a separate composition layer within the scene. Composition layers share the same camera view and may share the same depth space but have different render targets, allowing them to have their own post processing chain separate to the main render and other composition layers. The Affecting Lights input may be used to specify which lights are allowed to affect the objects in this layer. Render Layers, when used with lighting, add significant additional processing time and memory overhead so should be used sparingly.
This node is commonly used to render 3D elements with different post processing effects applied than those on the rest of the scene.
Parameters
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
Parameter Details Layer Blend Mode How this layer will blend the rest of the node system. Find out more in the Blend Modes page.
Alpha Control the alpha values for the layers.
Composition Order Prioritise this layer to be rendered on top of others in the scene. If this value is the same as others, the nodegraph position decides render order.
Own Depth Buffer Give the composition layer its own depth buffer - so objects are not occluded by those in other layers.
Deferred Lighting Enabled Enable deferred rendering for connected nodes.
Composite Output Position Select which side of the viewport the render layer is rendered to. Only available with “Output Render Layers Side By Side” in the Root node.
Background Colour Change the background colour.
Preview In Viewport Isolate the Render Layer in the viewport.
Inputs
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Layer Blend Mode | How this layer will blend the rest of the node system. Find out more in the Blend Modes page. |
| Alpha | Control the alpha values for the layers. |
| Composition Order | Prioritise this layer to be rendered on top of others in the scene. If this value is the same as others, the nodegraph position decides render order. |
| Own Depth Buffer | Give the composition layer its own depth buffer - so objects are not occluded by those in other layers. |
| Deferred Lighting Enabled | Enable deferred rendering for connected nodes. |
| Composite Output Position | Select which side of the viewport the render layer is rendered to. Only available with “Output Render Layers Side By Side” in the Root node. |
| Background Colour | Change the background colour. |
| Preview In Viewport | Isolate the Render Layer in the viewport. |
| Name | Description | Typical Input |
|---|---|---|
| Affecting Lights | Add which lights will affect the objects in the rendered layer. By default, all will affect the layer. | Light |
| Excluding Lights | Add which lights won’t affect the objects in the rendered layer. By default, all will affect the layer. | Light |