# shadow catcher frustration **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [June 6, 2017, 2:45am UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/shadow-catcher-frustration/83189 "2017-06-06T02:45:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![arail](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/user_avatar/forums.chaos.com/arail/32/235120_2.png) [@arail](https://forums.chaos.com/u/arail)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 2:45am UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/shadow-catcher-frustration/83189/1 "2017-06-06T02:45:16Z")
I can’t seem to get the shadow catcher to work and I need input as to what I’m doing wrong. 1. I put a plane under my objects 2. I create a generic material 3. I create a Matte\_Shadow\_Receiver material and set the base material to Generic 4. I apply the Matte\_etc. material to the plane 5. nothing I had no problem w/ V2 using the wrapper material from express tools. If someone could take a look at my screenshot and see if there’s something wrong, I’d appreciate it. ![no shadow catcher3.jpg](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/original/3X/d/e/de2a60c07c8d999c7a12bf7ba731f517006345d5.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![fpedrogo](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/user_avatar/forums.chaos.com/fpedrogo/32/30662_2.png) [@fpedrogo](https://forums.chaos.com/u/fpedrogo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 6:49pm UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/shadow-catcher-frustration/83189/2 "2017-06-06T18:49:40Z")
Are you using dome light for the illumination. If yes, You will have to use the same HDRI in the environment background. ---
**Author:** ![arail](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/user_avatar/forums.chaos.com/arail/32/235120_2.png) [@arail](https://forums.chaos.com/u/arail)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 5:17pm UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/shadow-catcher-frustration/83189/3 "2017-06-17T17:17:52Z")
Still no luck. I guess I’m going to revert to V2. The disc I have under my geometry has the matte\_shadow\_recieiver as you can see in the upper right corner but it’s not transparent at all. I think the Environment, Background panel in V3 is confusing. Just to get a simple single color background with shadows is difficult. ![ShadowCatcher2.jpg](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/original/3X/2/b/2b0b7b74149810e8fd380c8913ff76ae4df946c4.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![arail](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/user_avatar/forums.chaos.com/arail/32/235120_2.png) [@arail](https://forums.chaos.com/u/arail)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 5:19pm UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/shadow-catcher-frustration/83189/4 "2017-06-17T17:19:36Z")
This is from Thea - 3 clicks, no multipliers, manipulators, no complicated settings, no adjustment to the lights, nothing. Just 3 clicks. ![Givenchy_Saks_Wall_June16_1.jpg](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/original/3X/0/b/0b4709e34df701179bc0c55824bcc1af53193aba.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![arail](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/user_avatar/forums.chaos.com/arail/32/235120_2.png) [@arail](https://forums.chaos.com/u/arail)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2017, 3:13am UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/shadow-catcher-frustration/83189/5 "2017-06-18T03:13:57Z")
I learned something after posting this - V-Ray seems to be sensitive to the history of a scene. What I mean is, I finished the scene and rendered it out in Thea (see above). Then I copied the geometry, dragged it to a new location, turned off the ground plane and swapped out the Thea materials for V-Ray materials. No shadow catcher. Then I selected the geometry (that had V-Ray materials applied) and copied it into a fresh scene and the shadow catcher worked. Not sure why that would be but there it is. ---
**Author:** ![kmlkarablt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@kmlkarablt](https://forums.chaos.com/u/kmlkarablt)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/shadow-catcher-frustration/83189/6 "2017-10-21T15:20:39Z")
> [@fpedrogo](#): > > Are you using dome light for the illumination. If yes, You will have to use the same HDRI in the environment background. Hi Fernando, Where am l doing wrong with the settings? I can’t disappear plane complately. By the way i use hdri and i also added it to background. ![wrapper.JPG](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/original/3X/e/0/e0e684602a90fe6b6313222a82cef93f4456c243.jpeg) ![wrapper2.JPG](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/original/3X/3/9/39d309570b403e6a127b1127a0120b8c329f6699.jpeg) ![wrapper3.JPG](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/original/3X/4/f/4f51e03a0ba6e3c265a203e283d1e5a6c1175751.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![kmlkarablt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@kmlkarablt](https://forums.chaos.com/u/kmlkarablt)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2017, 4:01pm UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/shadow-catcher-frustration/83189/7 "2017-10-21T16:01:58Z")
in addition to this, i’ve added infinite plane to solve it but there are still shadow and color issues as you see. I hope you can help Fernando. ![wrapper4.JPG](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/original/3X/5/c/5c0213116208a978c961254d55d8bfcdd7de7284.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![kmlkarablt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@kmlkarablt](https://forums.chaos.com/u/kmlkarablt)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2017, 5:35pm UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/shadow-catcher-frustration/83189/8 "2017-10-21T17:35:03Z")
Ok i’ve figured it out without any issues on scene 🙂 Sorry to bother. ![render_wrapper_outdoor.jpg](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/original/3X/4/7/477ecf19104b7f981db4c4a426f67bfd9780b31b.jpeg) ![render_wrapper_indoor.jpg](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/original/3X/d/8/d8a4687ca206e3baf4a85dcad9062f3885ee67d3.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![kmlkarablt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@kmlkarablt](https://forums.chaos.com/u/kmlkarablt)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2017, 6:18pm UTC](https://forums.chaos.com/t/shadow-catcher-frustration/83189/9 "2017-10-21T18:18:34Z")
> [@arail](#): > > Still no luck. I guess I’m going to revert to V2. > > The disc I have under my geometry has the matte\_shadow\_recieiver as you can see in the upper right corner but it’s not transparent at all. > I think the Environment, Background panel in V3 is confusing. Just to get a simple single color background with shadows is difficult. > > ![ShadowCatcher2.jpg](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/original/3X/2/b/2b0b7b74149810e8fd380c8913ff76ae4df946c4.jpeg) Hi, Let me explain how i figured it out. Maybe it helps. Material Settings 1-Create a generic material 2-Create a wrapper material a-Check ‘‘matte, shadows and affect alpha’’ b-Change ''Matte for secondary rays from default to → All secondary rays (reflections and refractions) 3-Add generic material as base material of wrapper Environment Settings ()if you add a dome light, delete it because you won’t need it) 1-Add your HDRI as background image (Under Enviroment section) - ‘‘Leave color space area under bitmap as Rendering Space (Linear)’’ 2-Change GI skylight as ‘‘Sky’’ under it’s ‘‘M’’ section 3-Add your HDRI to Reflection too - Leave color space area under bitmap as ‘‘Rendering Space (Linear)’’ 4-Open sun and set up your shadow’s direction according to your HDRI’s shadow position. \*\*\*if it’s dark: change background and reflection sections’ values from 1 to 2 or a higher value. It worked over my scene. I hope it helps. i’ve attached my final result also. ![final.jpg](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/chaosprd/original/2X/0/0dbba35941c2c15956934e1f72944159d85e650c.jpeg)