One render layer with background image and one with transparent background

Question

I made an animation with an environment texture in the background and I would like to have one render layer with only the background image and another render layer with all the objects on a transparent background.

I tried to uncheck the "Use Environment" on the objects render layer, but this rendered the objects on a black background (not transparent). On the other side if I set the film to transparent in the render settings, then the objects are on a transparent background (as I want), but the background layer is empty.

I use Cycles for rendering.

This is usually achieved by enabling "Transparency" in Film panel (to get the foreground) as you did and "Environment" in Passes panel (to store the background). See related questions: Sky-only pass with the foreground knocked out? and How can I combine two render layers? — Carlo, Dec 03 '15 at 01:40
@Carlo Thank you, it works! (I didn't notice that there is another environment option in the passes) — WannaKnow, Dec 03 '15 at 01:47
Good! "Use Environment" is an option that merely control the influence of the background on the scene (reflections, lighting...). — Carlo, Dec 03 '15 at 01:52

score 21 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 03 '15 at 01:51

21

Enable Transparent on the Film section and enable environment on your render passes. The background environment will be avalible by connecting the environment socket.

answered Dec 03 '15 at 01:51

Thank you! (Carlo was faster, but he only commented, so I will accept this...) – WannaKnow Dec 03 '15 at 01:53

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 05 '18 at 18:16

One thing to keep in mind: if you render the Environment pass on the same layer as your foreground object, the shadow catcher plane will cut a hole in the Environment pass. This is bad if you want to then composite your foreground over the Environment as a background, as the area covered by the shadow catcher will be missing!

In this scenario, instead render the Env pass on a 2nd render layer and composite as shown above by Cegaton:

One render layer with background image and one with transparent background

2 Answers2

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