KS7 Poor Quality Shadow Pass

[JoshMcCann]

In the render options I have my shadow pass set to 10, but my shadow pass quality is still very poor. Is there something I need to do to improve the quality?

[TGS808]

I'd consider not using the custom control option. Too many variables to worry about.

Use the region render tool to isolate a small area of your scene where you are having the shadow problems. Hit the "H" key to bring up the heads up display in the real time window (it'll appear in the top left corner). Let the area that is isolated by the region render tool process until the shadows look good to you and note how many samples it took to get them that way (using the heads up display). When you render, use the Maximum Samples option (instead to the custom control) and set the samples to the same number that made your shadows look good in the region render area.

[JoshMcCann]

I'd consider not using the custom control option. Too many variables to worry about.

Use the region render tool to isolate a small area of your scene where you are having the shadow problems. Hit the "H" key to bring up the heads up display in the real time window (it'll appear in the top left corner). Let the area that is isolated by the region render tool process until the shadows look good to you and note how many samples it took to get them that way (using the heads up display). When you render, use the Maximum Samples option (instead to the custom control) and set the samples to the same number that made your shadows look good in the region render area.

This is not in the actual render, rather it happens in the shadow pass (the output section of the render settings under passes). This happens whether I use max samples or custom control. I use max samples more often anyways because it is much faster than custom control. Anyways, I haven't had my samples up past 128, but even then I get these type of results. I have yet to have a usable shadow pass.

[TGS808]

You said you had your shadow pass set to 10 in the render options which led me to believe you were using custom control as, that's the only place I could find where you could set the shadow quality to that number. I don't generally render in passes so I can't really answer why it's only happening to that pass. Maybe someone else here has experience with it. Either way, I'd try going past 128 samples and see if it makes a difference.

[mattjgerard]

I have had to go up to 800 samples before to get a decent image when using cloudy plastics, but i did it in chunks, as most of the image didn't require that many samples. I haven't rendered out a shadow pass (only clowns for me!) so I'm not sure if higher samples would create a better shadow pass.

[XD1]

should the model look grey or white?
mine look grey?
I would rather just the shadows be in the shadow pass...