Ez Render Pass

Ez Render Pass is a Blender add-on that automates per-layer batch rendering via the compositor. It streamlines project setup, outputs each layer into neatly organized folders, and keeps your workflow seamless. Works on Blender 4.x and 5.0!

Key Features

• Quick Project Setup

• Creates four top-level collections with distinct color tags: FX, Cha01, Cha02, Background

• Renames or verifies the default view layer as Workstation and excludes it by default

• Adds FX, Cha01, Cha02, and BG view layers configured to show only their matching collection

• Neatly Organized Output
  Automatically writes each layer’s renders into:
  ///

All files output into:
__####.(PNG,EXR,etc.)

• Preview Compositor Setup
  Shows which layers will be rendered (✔️) or skipped (❌) before you commit.
  
  

• Batch Rendering
  
  

• Render Frame: produces one frame per active layer

• Render Anim: renders the full frame range per active layer

Installation

1. Download ez_render_pass_x.x.xx.zip to disk.

2. In Blender, open Edit → Preferences → Add-ons → Install…

3. Select the .zip file and click Install Add-on.

4. Enable Ez Render Pass in the Add-ons list.

Using Ez Render Pass

All controls are in the Ez Render Pass panel of the 3D View sidebar.

1. Quick Setup Project
   Click to auto-create collections and view layers wired to your project structure.
   
   

2. Setup Comp
   Sets up the compositor nodes for all layers, organizes nodes in a clean layout and preserves any existing node group customizations.
   
   

3. Reset Comp
   Resets all compositor nodes to their default state when the setup comp is first pressed. Use this if you need to start fresh with the node setup.
   
   

4. Render Root Path
   Set your base folder for outputs.
   Supports blend-relative (//renders/) and absolute paths (C:/renders/).
   
   

5. Ignore Layers
   Enter comma-separated names to skip in batch renders.
   
   

6. ‘Use for Rendering’ Sync
   Automatically synchronizes the "Ignore Layers" list with Blender's built-in "Use for Rendering" checkboxes found in Scene Properties → View Layers.
   
   

7. Preview Layer Setup
   Click this to see a ✔️/❌ log of what will render.
   
   

8. Batch Render
   
   

• Render Frame

• Render Anim (Render Animation)

Tips & Best Practices

• Make sure you have a camera before rendering as that will give you an error.

• Run Preview Layer Setup after changing view layers, collections or the ignore list. Use this to avoid accidental skips due to typos in the ignore list.

• If there is no collection enabled in a layer, it will automatically skip it. Keep things organized inside of collections!

• Use blend-relative paths (//…) to keep projects portable across machines.

• Configure your image format (PNG, EXR, etc.) and render settings under Render → Output before running the add-on.

• When characters need to collide with your background, enable the BG collection in their view layers and turn on Holdout for that collection. The add-on doesn’t prevent you from activating any collection on any layer, so feel free to mix and match for custom compositing effects.

Ez Render Pass hands you organized, per-layer renders with zero fuss!