Rendering Jobs with AOVs on the Render Network
Guide to using AOVs in your workflow on the Render Network
Overview This article explains how to render scenes with AOVs (Arbitrary Output Variables) using the Render Network, ensuring your outputs are set up correctly for maximum flexibility in compositing and look development workflows.
What are AOVs? AOVs allow you to output additional render passes beyond the standard beauty pass, such as diffuse, specular, reflection, cryptomatte masks, and more. These passes give you granular control when compositing or adjusting renders in post-production.
Before You Start
✔️ Ensure your AOVs are enabled in your scene file ✔️ Upload the correct scene version with your desired AOVs active
Submitting a Job with AOVs
Upload your scene to the Render Network.
Start a new job.
At the job creation screen:
Verify scene versioning matches to ensure your AOVs are available.
Scroll to Advanced Options at the bottom of the render settings configuration page.
Check your AOVs list
All AOVs enabled in your scene should appear here.
If no AOVs are listed, return to your 3D scene to enable them and re-upload
Select or disable AOVs as needed
The beauty pass cannot be disabled.
Other AOVs can be disabled if not needed for the render.
Configure your Outputs
Under the Outputs tab, select your desired output formats and bit depths.
You can add multiple outputs (e.g. PNG8, PNG16, EXR32) if different passes are needed in different formats.
Final Job Submission
✔️ Confirm AOVs are enabled and outputs are set before submitting. ✔️ Submit the job.
Post-Submission Checks
Open the render config settings on the submitted job.
Confirm Render Passes are listed.
If not, return to the job submission page and enable them before re-submitting.
Approve frames after rendering completes.
Downloading Renders with AOVs
Go to the download page.
You will see:
Your output formats listed
All available AOVs for each output
Select only the passes you need for immediate download.
Remaining passes can be downloaded later if needed, as they are already rendered and stored.
Download Options ✅ Download via Web App: Quick and browser-based ✅ Download via Render Network Download Manager: Preferred for larger or multiple file downloads with more control
Best Practices
Always confirm scene AOV settings are up-to-date before uploading.
Use the Render Network Download Manager for bulk downloads and stable transfers.
Remember, AOVs provide flexibility - even if not needed now, rendering them can save time later in post-production.
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