[SOLVED] How to create a camera overlay that doesn't render?

rames44

Is there a way to create an "overlay" for the camera which shows up in the viewport, but won't show up in the final render?

Basically, what I've done is to attach a plane to the front of the camera with an image on it to allow me to help me align the view of the scene with how it's going to be used later.  Obviously, I can toggle that plane off before I render the scene, but I have this habit of forgetting to do that, and then having to go back and re-render.  (I do a lot of batch rendering.)

Is there any way to set up that plane/image so that the final render doesn't "see" it, even if it's not hidden, but that it still shows up in the viewport?

MelanieL

If you select the plane and look in the parameters tab, you should find something like "Visible in Render" and set it "off" - sorry, I'm not on my Daz Studio PC at the moment so can't check the exact wording or whether it works.

rames44

MelanieL said:

If you select the plane and look in the parameters tab, you should find something like "Visible in Render" and set it "off" - sorry, I'm not on my Daz Studio PC at the moment so can't check the exact wording or whether it works.

Yes, that will definitely work - thank you!  (And your memory is good - that's the exact name of the button.)  Turns out there's also a "visible in viewport" which does the opposite - allows it to render, but not show up in the viewport.

MelanieL

Glad I got it right!

I use "visible in viewport" a lot where there are many instances (e.g. with UltraScenery) and it's useful to switch it on (to see positions of items) and off again (to make it quicker and easier to move around the viewport). I've rarely used "visible in render" so that was just an educated guess 

avmorgan

One of my main issues with UltraScenery is the lack of any easy way to see where instanced plants actually are when setting up my cameras, figures and additional props. I really only need to see the instances (or their aliases) in wireframe or smooth view. Is this something "Visible in Viewport" would allow? It seems like that's what you meant, but please clarify if you would. I don't have a ready scene to test this out on at the moment.

MelanieL

Yes, that is what I meant.

The "easy way" is to buy Code-66's USC Toolbox Vol 2, but note it also requires you to buy the C66 Graphics Plug-in - which together will cost a bit, so you probably want to wait for a decent sale (actually USC Toolbox Vol 1 is also worth getting at some point if you plan to use USC a lot and want to tweak the environments it makes).

The "cheap way" takes a little bit of digging through the scene. I find it helpful to have an Auxilliary viewport setup in smooth shaded (or similar cheap-to-run) view with a "Top"camera framing the entire USC terrain. Then expand the items in the USC terrain in the Scene tab, where you will find long lists of instance groups. Select each group in turn - you can see from the bounding box in that top view which ones are near and in front of your camera and/or where you want to place your figures/props. When you spot a group like that, then in the Parameters tab use "Visible in Viewport" temporarily set "On" and you wil be able to see in your main viewport (through your actual camera) where those instances are. Don't forget to reset "Visible in Viewport" to "off" if you want to be able to move around the scene without delays.

USC Toobox Vol 2 has the advantage that when you find the offending instance group you can unpack it, delete the individual instances that are in a bad place, then repack it.

avmorgan

MelanieL said:

Yes, that is what I meant.

The "easy way" is to buy Code-66's USC Toolbox Vol 2, but note it also requires you to buy the C66 Graphics Plug-in - which together will cost a bit, so you probably want to wait for a decent sale (actually USC Toolbox Vol 1 is also worth getting at some point if you plan to use USC a lot and want to tweak the environments it makes).

The "cheap way" takes a little bit of digging through the scene. I find it helpful to have an Auxilliary viewport setup in smooth shaded (or similar cheap-to-run) view with a "Top"camera framing the entire USC terrain. Then expand the items in the USC terrain in the Scene tab, where you will find long lists of instance groups. Select each group in turn - you can see from the bounding box in that top view which ones are near and in front of your camera and/or where you want to place your figures/props. When you spot a group like that, then in the Parameters tab use "Visible in Viewport" temporarily set "On" and you wil be able to see in your main viewport (through your actual camera) where those instances are. Don't forget to reset "Visible in Viewport" to "off" if you want to be able to move around the scene without delays.

USC Toobox Vol 2 has the advantage that when you find the offending instance group you can unpack it, delete the individual instances that are in a bad place, then repack it.

Thanks for the clarification and technique. I have the plug-in and Toolbox 1, but went overbudget getting them together with all of my other USC/UXT assets. It'll be a while until I can afford to buy anything else. It was worth the cost though!

avmorgan

Here's a clip-and-save summary for anyone who wants it:

There is a way to create an "overlay" for the camera which shows up in the viewport, but not in the final render. Basically, attach a plane to the front of the camera with an image on it to allow you to align the view of the scene with how it's going to be used later.  Obviously, you can toggle that plane off before you render the scene, but it's easy forget to do that, forcing you to go back and re-render. To set up that plane/image so that the final render doesn't "see" it, even if it's not hidden, but have it still show up in the viewport, select the plane and look in the parameters tab. You should find an option for "Visible in Render" allowing you to toggle it off. 

There's also a "visible in viewport" option which does the opposite - allows it to render, but not show up in the viewport. I use "visible in viewport" a lot where there are many instances (e.g. with UltraScenery) and it's useful to switch it on (to see positions of items) and off again (to make it quicker and easier to move around the viewport). One of my main issues with UltraScenery is the lack of any easy way to see where instanced plants actually are when setting up my cameras, figures and additional props. I really only need to see the instances (or their aliases) in wireframe or smooth view. 

The "easy way" to preview instanced plants is to buy Code-66's USC Toolbox Vol 2, but note it also requires you to buy the C66 Graphics Plug-in - which together will cost a bit, so you probably want to wait for a decent sale (actually USC Toolbox Vol 1 is also worth getting at some point if you plan to use USC a lot and want to tweak the environments it makes).

The "cheap way" takes a little bit of digging through the scene. I find it helpful to have an Auxilliary viewport setup in smooth shaded (or similar cheap-to-run) view with a "Top"camera framing the entire USC terrain. Then expand the items in the USC terrain in the Scene tab, where you will find long lists of instance groups. Select each group in turn - you can see from the bounding box in that top view which ones are near and in front of your camera and/or where you want to place your figures/props. When you spot a group like that, then in the Parameters tab use "Visible in Viewport" temporarily set "On" and you wil be able to see in your main viewport (through your actual camera) where those instances are. Don't forget to reset "Visible in Viewport" to "off" if you want to be able to move around the scene without delays.

USC Toobox Vol 2 has the advantage that when you find the offending instance group you can unpack it, delete the individual instances that are in a bad place, then repack it.