CG modelling, materials & rendering · Working
Render pass
Also called: AOV, arbitrary output variable
ELI5
A separately rendered image component used to control lighting or effects in compositing.
Used in conversation
“The treatment should explain where the render pass enters the shot and what it needs from production.”
Pitch context
You may encounter “Render pass” in vfx, virtual production & animation conversations or materials.
Why it matters: Explains image creation that extends beyond straightforward live-action photography.
Connected terms
- RenderA render is the generated image; a render pass isolates one component of that image for compositing or control.
Sources & evidence · 6
Supporting source families. This entry is an editorial synthesis rather than a quotation from one canonical glossary.
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences / ACES — ACES Glossary and User GuidesSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- Pixar Animation Studios — Universal Scene Description DocumentationSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- Pixar Animation Studios — RenderMan DocumentationSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- Epic Games — In-Camera VFX OverviewSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- Epic Games — In-Camera VFX Best PracticesSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- ScreenSkills — Online Learning Glossary and Job ProfilesSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-14