Multiple File Outputs in Blender 5.0
Tags: posts, tutorial, blender, art,
This is an update to the "Rendering multiple outputs from multiple cameras" section in Miscellaneous Tools for 3D Backgrounds to take advantage of new features in Blender 5.0. It doesn't render from multiple cameras, but does render multiple outputs.
The method below saves images in the form "[Camera][Socket]" eg houseMist.png is the Mist image for the camera named "house". I haven't managed to get it to save to seperate folders yet but it should be possible. To render multiple camera outputs you'd probably still need a script, but I haven't written one yet.
Check out the Blender docs on File Output Node and File Paths for more information.
Rendering multiple files in the Compositor
First, create whatever render layers you want. Here's mine:- In "Render Settings" turn on Freestyle and Film -> Transparency.
- In "View Layer" turn on Mist and Ambient Occlusion. Scroll down to Freestyle Settings. Click "Render as render Layer".
- Tweak the Freestyle Settings to your personal taste.
Now, set up the compositor:
- Go into the Compositor and create a new node tree.
- Add a "File Output" node. Set "Directory" to wherever you want the files to be saved.
- Drag whatever outputs you want (Image, Freestyle etc) from the Render Layers node to the unused input socket of the File Output node one by one.
- Add any post-processing nodes like Glare:Bloom.
- Select the File Output node and open the Nodes:Properties section of the sidebar.
- Set File Name to "{camera_name}" or whatever combination of text and File Paths you prefer.
- Set Media Type to Image to save as individual pngs.
Now just choose "Render Image" from the render menu and everything should be saved correctly. If you change the active camera, the saved image names should update automatically.