Arnold 5 Image Plane render Problems

[Mickey-G]

I noticed that in Arnold 5 camera image planes ignore depth when rendered and free image planes don't render at all. This did not happen in the previous version of Arnold and is extremely frustrating. In my workflow I use image planes to view outlines of reference images over my model. Since I have to use some Arnold 5 shaders for work I really wish I could toggle between versions of arnold because they broke their image planes and doing this with geometry is pretty annoying, having to create materials for every image, parenting to camera etc.

This seems to be an issue with the latest version of Arnold , is this something Autodesk can work with them to fix? I haven't seen any posts about the camera image plane, I've seen the free image plane problem posted here but there wasn't any productive response. I just want Autodesk and Arnold to know about this so they can fix it. 

Here's a screenshot showing the problem

[Stephen.Blair]

Hi

As of MtoA 2.0.1, image planes are exported as a background shader. This was done to support image planes with the shadow matte shader. 

MtoA 2.0.1 release notes

https://support.solidangle.com/x/FRRSAw

#2990 Export image planes as an option background
#2978 Shadow Matte not working with image planes

I'll talk to the MtoA team about this. Maybe we could have an attribute (check box) that controls whether an image plane is background or not.

[Mickey-G]

Yeah that makes sense, image planes with shadow matte shader is a more common use, but I was bummed that functionality was taken away to achieve that. A 'Do not send to background' check box would be amazing! 

But why do the free image planes not render? Do they lack a link to the camera that makes Camera image planes visible? I feel like they should be able to do the same thing render-wise as the camera image plane.

Thanks Stephen.Blair

[Anonymous]

Yes, the free image planes do not render at all. It is is very difficult. How is this resolved?

[ekuehn]

Also concerned about this and want to give this thread a little bump. 

[Anonymous]

Is there any movement or work arounds for this? 

I use Arnold and I want/need to have an image plane where I can put objects in front of OR behind and have the render reflect that. Right now as the OP said, all object appear only in front of the image plane even if they are technically behind it in the scene/viewport.

Maya's software/hardware renderer works as expected, but Arnold as mentioned is "broken".

I need some kind of work around with Arnold so I can use image planes with static photos/alphas and add 3d geometry in front and behind the image. I still don't have a work-flow and as the OP mentioned, setting up a poly plane, texturing, parenting camera etc is a pain.

Best,

[sbest58]

This is not a solution - just the problem

[Anonymous]

Wondering was this ever addressed ? 

Free image planes are very useful, without having to set up multiple ai materials etc.

Thanks!