Skip to content
BLBlender

Easy Model Compositing Addon

by Blackhart Films' Marketplace·VFX

Images © Blackhart Films' Marketplace. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

The developer has ceased development on this addon following Blender 2.79's built-in Shadow Catcher, but it still functions and remains handy for reflection and AO pass organisation.

What is Easy Model Compositing Addon?

The Easy Model Compositing Addon for Blender was created in collaboration with John Roper to output the Object, Shadow, Reflection and AO passes from a render and organise them into convenient folders. It works for single frames and whole animations, so the resulting image sequences can be dragged straight into compositing software such as After Effects and worked with as clips. Because it does everything in a single pass, the addon can reduce render times, particularly for animations.

Unlike Blender's standard Shadow Pass, which only captures shadows cast by lamps in the scene, this addon captures shadows cast by both HDR environment maps and lamps. The package also includes the 'Titan Space Hauler' model, an original PBR material node, and the background image and HDR map by Greg Zaal used in the demo video.

As of Blender 2.79, Cycles includes a built-in Shadow Catcher option, which the developer notes makes this solution functionally obsolescent and after which development has ceased. The addon still functions and remains useful for organising passes including AO and reflection, for which there is no built-in catcher.

Who is Easy Model Compositing Addon best for?

Easy Model Compositing Addon is best for blender VFX artists compositing models onto real backgrounds who need organised render passes as image sequences.

How much does Easy Model Compositing Addon cost?

Easy Model Compositing Addon is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Automatically outputs Object, Shadow, Reflection and AO passes, organised into folders
  • Works for single frames and whole animations as drag-in image sequences
  • Captures shadows cast by both HDR environment maps and lamps in the scene
  • Runs in a single pass, which can reduce render times for animations
  • Includes the 'Titan Space Hauler' model and an original PBR material node
  • Includes the background image and HDR map by Greg Zaal used in the demo video
  • Bundled documentation and a transcript of the demo video

Tags

#Blender#compositing#render passes#VFX#shadow pass#reflection pass#animation#HDR

Frequently asked questions

How does the Easy Model Compositing Addon handle HDR environment shadows?

The Easy Model Compositing Addon captures shadows cast by both HDR environment maps and the lamps in your scene. Blender's standard Shadow Pass only gives you shadows cast by lamps and does not include shadows from HDR environment maps. This addon addresses that by outputting a shadow pass that covers both sources. A later update also improved normalising of lighting for the shadow pass output, which reduces the amount of contrast adjustment needed during compositing.

Does the Easy Model Compositing Addon work for animations?

The Easy Model Compositing Addon works for single frames and for whole animations. It outputs the passes as organised image sequences, which can be dragged straight into a compositing application such as After Effects and worked with as clips. Because the addon does everything in a single pass rather than requiring multiple renders of the same scene, it can reduce render times, and the developer notes this benefit is particularly relevant for animations.

What is included with the Easy Model Compositing Addon download?

The Easy Model Compositing Addon package includes the addon itself, the developer's 'Titan Space Hauler' model, and an original PBR material node. It also bundles the background image and HDR map by Greg Zaal used in the demo video, along with documentation and a transcript of the demo video for those who prefer to follow text over video. A demo video is also available online.

Is the Easy Model Compositing Addon still worth using after Blender 2.79?

The Easy Model Compositing Addon remains functional after Blender 2.79 introduced a built-in Shadow Catcher in Cycles. The developer notes that the built-in feature makes this solution functionally obsolescent for quick shadow compositing inside Blender. However, the addon still automatically creates organised folders for all passes including AO and reflection, and there is currently no built-in Reflection Catcher, so it stays useful for reflection passes and quickly dropping sequences into compositing software.

Is the Easy Model Compositing Addon free?

The Easy Model Compositing Addon is listed as free in this catalog. For current licensing terms and to confirm what is included with the download, check the developer's page on Blackhart Films' Marketplace. Note that the developer has ceased active development on the addon following Blender 2.79's built-in Shadow Catcher, though the addon continues to function and remains useful for organising reflection and AO passes.

Alternatives to Easy Model Compositing Addon

Also in VFX for Blender.

Similar plugins