Shadow Raw

This page gives some basic details about the Shadow Raw render element and explains how it is used.

Overview

The Shadow Raw Render Element stores information about cast shadows calculated from the lighting in the scene. It is a "reverse" image in the sense that white areas indicate shadows while black areas indicate no shadow.

UI Path: ||Toolbar|| > V-Ray Menu icon > Render > VRayRenderElement > Type: Shadow Raw

Properties

The Shadow Raw render element has no controllable properties.

Common Uses

The Raw Shadows Render Element is useful for changing the appearance of shadowed areas after rendering in a compositing or image editing application. Below is an example of its use, where the Raw Shadows are added (plus) with the vrayRE_Raw_Light pass.

Shadow Raw Render Element

Original Beauty Composite

Shadows lightened by adding the Raw Shadow Render Element

Underlying Compositing Equation

Shadow Raw x Diffuse = Shadow

Notes

• Shadows can be both added and subtracted at a composite level without rerendering using the Shadow Render Elements.
• Shadows can be color corrected using the Shadow Render Elements.