Shadow Matte VEX node

Implements a shadowmatte shader that occludes geometry behind the surface being rendered.

See also: Lighting Model, Matte, Parameter, Shadow 2 more , Two Tone, Two Sided

This operator implements a shadowmatte shader that occludes geometry behind the surface being rendered. The output image, however, will have the alpha value specified.

The output color is always zero.

The operator is well suited to compositing tricks. Where the surface is shadowed, the alpha of the output image will contain additional alpha. When the resulting image is composited over a background plate, the shadowed regions will occlude the background plate, simulating shadows.

When the shadowmatte shader is hit by shadow rays, the shadow amount determines how much of a shadow will be cast by the surface, meaning that both the opacity and alpha outputs will inherit the shadow amount. When the shader is not hit by shadow rays, the alpha output is computed using an illuminance loop that ignores the shadow amount, while the opacity is set to 1.

You will typically connect the color, opacity, and alpha outputs straight into the Cf, Of, and respectively Alpha inputs of the “Output Variables” operator.

It is also possible to disable fog on the surface. To do so, either use the VEX Shadow Matte SHOP in the Shaders module, or create a