Maxwell Render | Official public forum

I can't get the "shadow" material option to work the way I want.
I applied a material that has this option checked on my ground plane object, and checked "Shadow" in the Render channels, but in the image representing the shadow channel, I get the shadows cast on my characters by the membranes, but I get nothing on the ground.
I had checked "hidden from camera", so I guess that's why I don't see the shadows.
But if the object is not hidden from camera, then it becomes visible, which I don't want.
I would like to understand what combination of options to check to have an object both invisible in the render channel, but have the shadows that are cast on it show in the shadow channel.

Thanks,

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Olivier

My guess is that it's not possible to do that, at least using the method you tried. Probably, since I'm not too well-versed in the compositing side of things, you'd get better input by asking this question in the main Maxwell forum.

Hi Jeremy,

Actually, I'm not a all a compositing guy neither.
I just hate all those raster software.
That's why I'm really happy that there is an "embeded Alpha" option now.
I was just wondering how to get the shadows also in the render , but without the ground, so that I don't need to fiddle around with layers and edge softening and all that crap.

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Olivier

Just an idea : why wouldn't Maxwell create a "Shadow + Alpha" channel instead of a "Shadow + White" channel.
This would simplify compositing, wouldn't it ?

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Olivier

I really don't know, Olivier - my guess would be that however it works, that it was done that way as a result of asking various people what they need, and how they need to work. So, maybe you're right, or maybe that would fall under the 'yet-to-be-implemented' category, or maybe it's done using white for reasons that you and I don't fully understand. As I said, you'll probably get alot better info about something like this in the main forum - get some input from people who do this stuff; maybe they'll show you why it's easiest this way, and how to integrate it in Photoshop, or else, maybe they'll say your idea is something new that they would like to get implemented in the engine. Ask Tom or Mihai - they know about a million times more about this than I do.

Ok.

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Olivier