Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 5 days ago

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hader AOVs (Arbitrary Output Variables) provide custom render passes for arbitrary shader node components. As an artist this can be a good way to debug or tweak very fine details of a scene in post-processing. To use shader AOVs create the pass in the Shader AOV panel then reference that pass with the AOV Output shading node. Shader AOVs can be added or removed in the Shader AOV panel.

Tip

The AOV Output node can be used in Material and World shader nodes.

Inputs
Color
Output a color variable; as the name suggest can be used for a color but also a normal value.

Value
Output a single numerical value.

Properties
Name
The name of the render pass to assign the input value to. This property has the same Name that is specified in the Shader AOV panel.

Outputs
This node has no outputs.


Take your rendering and compositing to the next level with Shader AOVs in Blender! In this tutorial, we'll dive deep into what Shader AOVs are and how you can use them to create custom render passes for advanced compositing and precise control over your materials. Perfect for artists who want to achieve professional-grade results in their projects.

📌 What You'll Learn:

What are Shader AOVs and how they work in Blender
Setting up Shader AOVs in your materials
Creating custom passes for fine-tuned compositing
Practical examples of Shader AOVs in action
🎨 Key Features Covered:

Node-based workflows
Blender's Compositor and Render Passes
Material-specific outputs