Noise is different in render layer than RGB layer

[figure1a]

Is this a know thing or "feature" I can turn off? See attached images. One is from the RGB layer. One is from the render layer. There is a ton of noise in the render layer.

[djnoone]

Only the composit (RGB) gets denoising by default.
Any other pass is kind of a raw straight out render result.
This is also true for all other Image style settings - passes does not get any of the post-production result (glow, aberration, Vigenette etc.)

The idea is - if you are using passes - you will denoise them, blend them, filter them in your composition software.

[figure1a]

Only the composit (RGB) gets denoising by default.
Any other pass is kind of a raw straight out render result.
This is also true for all other Image style settings - passes does not get any of the post-production result (glow, aberration, Vigenette etc.)

The idea is - if you are using passes - you will denoise them, blend them, filter them in your composition software.

Got it. Kind of figuring out that render layers are pretty much useless. The noise issue. And also the matte always puts an extra pixel or two around it leaving a colored fringe. Seems like it's just easier to remask stuff using the clown layer.

[djnoone]

The Layers are useful but in other ways.
Usually in scenario with basic lighting/shading (straight objects on bright lights, not complex scenes)
The fringing of the edges is removable in Photoshop -> Layer -> Matting -> Defringe.

Again - on straight objects.

In photo-realistic scenes the matting of the objects should be dependable on all the elements present, not "cut out" as layers.

[andy.engelkemier]

Ha, this is exactly WHY I'll use render layers now.
Often times denoise kills your smaller details in textures. Now I'll just select Everything and put it on a render layer. Boom, two renders without having to resubmit. One denoised, and one regular noise.

Also, defringe doesn't really work if you use DOF. So that part sucks. I mean, it gets rid of the darker line around it, but the render layer under heavy blur doesn't look right, so I have to just paint a mask for that over the original render.

[Esben Oxholm]

Now I'll just select Everything and put it on a render layer. Boom, two renders without having to resubmit. One denoised, and one regular noise.

Haven't tested it, but sounds like a super useful workaround! Thanks for sharing.