Exclude object shadow underneath

[leslie_vanberkel]

Hi, How can I exclude the shape of an object inside his own shadow? Example: A ground plane with a cube on top which is lit by a spotlight. Disable the visible to camera inside the object properties, but I like to have the square shape of the object excluded from the shadow (see blue marker). Can someone help me out?

[vladimir_krastev]

Hi, thanks for posting. I don't see how this can be achieved without rendering twice. Could you tell us a bit more about your project? Why do you need this workflow?

[leslie_vanberkel]

Hi Vladimir,

A client of mine needs some shadow studies of some houses, from a camera view, but also from a ortho top view. He would like to see some visuals with only the shadows. Excluding the house. Right now I just rendered a separate element which I put on top of the shadows in PS. That works, but I was wondering if it could be done just in 3dsmax using Vray.

[vladimir_krastev]

Hi, it is not possible without some kind of compositing work and two render passes.

[leslie_vanberkel]

No problem Vladimir. Compositing will do for now. Thanks!