Zdepth appearing in other pass in Nuke

[frodopytlicek]

Hello,
why is z depth channel appearing in Nuke always in other pass and not as its own like other passes?

[vladimir_krastev]

In Nuke, the Z-depth pass often shows up embedded in the rgba layer instead of as a standalone pass like diffuse or specular. This happens because Z-depth data is typically stored as a single floating-point channel (e.g., Z or depth) rather than a separate layer. It’s meant to provide distance info, not a visible image, so Nuke handles it as auxiliary data within the main rgba layer.

To work with Z-depth as a separate pass, you can:

1. Use a Shuffle node to isolate the Z-depth channel into its own layer.
2. Remap values with a Grade node if needed to view it better.
3. Directly use nodes like ZDefocus or DepthToPosition, which read Z-depth data without needing a separate layer.

This setup is common in compositing since Z-depth isn't typically meant to be viewed directly.

[frodopytlicek]

Ok I thought its somethik like this. Thanks