Hello

I have a simple scene a sphere and a grid plane, just want to test how I can render out a ground plane as a shadow catcher (matt object, with shadows on it).
I can't find the way to do it in solaris and karma Xpu.
please let me know how I can do it.

thank you in advance

https://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini19.0/nodes/lop/backgroundplate.html [www.sidefx.com]

It should work as the doc says but unfortunally the shadow layer is empty with karma XPU!
It works with karma by the way. but I need XPU version for faster render.

PS: That's the principed shader inside Backgourd plate subnet that makes it uncompatible with XPU version.

MirHadi
It should work as the doc says but unfortunally the shadow layer is empty with karma XPU!
It works with karma by the way. but I need XPU version for faster render.

PS: That's the principed shader inside Backgourd plate subnet that makes it uncompatible with XPU version.

XPU doesn't support the necessary AOVs yet, so it's not possible.

Annyone know how to apply maps to the channels ?

Hi Guys, I'm now moving to XPU from many years of using Arnold, XPU is such a great renderer, the only issue I have with my renders is the Shadow Matte, I have been using a plane with a texture on it's Opacity channel to blend the plane into the Dome Light's map so I can catch the shadows, this works o.k. for still shots, but takes quite a bit to set it up.
Is there any eta on when a shadow catcher will be added to XPU?
Again, great work on this beautiful renderer.
T.

Tser
Is there any eta on when a shadow catcher will be added to XPU?

The next version of Houdini will have much better support for shadow mattes in XPU
namely
- shadow LPEs (eg "shadow;C.*")
- Holdout LPEe (eg "holdout;C.*"or "holdout;C<..'torus'>.*"etc...)

brians

Tser
The next version of Houdini will have much better support for shadow mattes in XPU

did you refer to H20 or a previous 19.5 build? I still can't get shadow mattes to work in 19.5.605

eaniix
did you refer to H20 or a previous 19.5 build? I still can't get shadow mattes to work in 19.5.605

Not H19.5
Sorry I should have said "the next major version of Houdini"

Hi, any update on this topic by any chance? Running into same issue, need shadow matte on ground obj, but having hard time getting it. Any updates?
This is such a basic thing shouldn't be that hard

I am struggling to setup the shadow catcher with XPU, background plate doesn't work with it, any directions would be appreciated it.

Yes I am also struggling with a proper shadow catcher setup.
Maybe someone could post a .hip?

I would wish a shadow catcher shader, something easy to apply. Isn't this an essential function?

Still no luck on my side....

Has anyone been able to get a shadow catcher functionality in Houdini 20, or is it the same as 19.5?

20.0.548 Fixed a bug in Karma XPU to get Background Plate node working

Maybe give it another try?

jsmack

20.0.548 Fixed a bug in Karma XPU to get Background Plate node working

Maybe give it another try?

Could you setup a shadow catcher now? I can't.
Is there probably a .hip to show?

I can't get it.

How about this?
It's a basic scene I've used for testing.

Here are the docs for the background plate too
https://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini19.0/nodes/lop/backgroundplate.html [www.sidefx.com]

brians
How about this?
It's a basic scene I've used for testing.

Here are the docs for the background plate too
https://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini19.0/nodes/lop/backgroundplate.html [www.sidefx.com]

Thank you for the sample.
Is it also possible to have no plate image just transparency directly saved out like in the pitures below.
In this scene I had a shadowCatcher Material on the floor.

When I set the render engine to XPU the render takes quite a bit longer than CPU, and I don't think you can get the same effect as a shadow matte (Shadow Catcher) with an environment light hdri, unless this ability is hidden somewhere.

Tser
When I set the render engine to XPU the render takes quite a bit longer than CPU, and I don't think you can get the same effect as a shadow matte (Shadow Catcher) with an environment light hdri, unless this ability is hidden somewhere.

I think it would be essential for later compositing where you load the background footage.
It would be cool to have a ShadowCatcher Material.