well this custom output to PSD layers built into PP2010 is terrible!  I dont know if you know how it works, but you plug a node into a custom output, and the result of that node is saved onto the PSD layer called custom_output_1 (or 2 or 3).

So, if you plug a diffuse node, you get a black layer with just the diffuse for that material on it.  It sounds good, and in very restricted situations the feature is fantastic. BUT, whoever thought is up must have been tripping off their head at the time.

I want to split the car from the background, so I can layer the car onto the original photo.  First I attempted to remove the env. sphere by placing it on its own layer, but as there is no AMBIENT node, you cannot have ambient levels on a seperate layer (why!?!), you also cannot remove something from the overall render onto a layer, it will still render the material onto the background layer, just ALSO onto a PSD layer.

This meant I would have to seperate the car so that it is rendered on one or more custom layers. having only 3 custom outputs is not enough for 90% of the car materials (you have diffuse1,diffuse2, specular1, specular2 at most) in order to replicate the same control over these aspects of the material, I used MATH nodes to replace the root node controls. Just a simple color_math/add node with the diffuse/specular node attached to it (two onto one of them to make 4)

the render came out with 3 completely blank layers in the PSD!  My only conclusion is that you MUST have a diffuse/specular node plugged into custom_output's on the root node for anything to show up.

I really REALLY hope someone comes along and shows me the errors of my ways, because this feature should be fantastic, but as I see it now, its almost useless. Its also so complicated to convert a scene into multi layers it would be easier two do to renders, one of them being a mask to cut the car out, and use photoshop to seperate the car from the image!

TemplarGFX
3D Hobbyist since 1996
I use poser native units

167 Car Materials for Poser