Custom AOV are presented in the AOV Selector's Custom section, and can be selected for output to an image layer just like the built-in AOVs. A custom AOVs is represented by shading nodes of a specific type. The node's name defines the AOV name. The AOV type is defined by the the node, either by an attribute or by the node type itself.
Color and Float Custom AOVs
Color and float custom AOVs values can be defined on a per-surface shader basis. These custom AOV assignments are contained in a AOV Group, which can be used with one or many surface shaders.
Creating a custom color AOV that produces a checker for all objects using this principled shader.
AOV Group
The AOV Group offers a simple interface to create new AOVs and define value assignments on selected AOVs.
Creating and Assigning AOV Groups
To create and assign a new AOV group to a surface shader, click the checker button for AOV Group in the surface shader's attributes.
Existing AOV Groups can be assigned in the option menu; clicking the arrow button will select the AOV group.
It is also possible to create an AOV Group from the Hypershade's Create panel; it is listed under the 3Delight → AOV section. Finally, AOV Groups can be created in the Node Editor by pressing the tab key and typing dlAOVGroup.
Assigning values to custom AOVs
An AOV Group with some custom AOVs; the ones selected in the lists can be assigned a value.
Existing custom AOVs will be listed in their respective list. Selecting an AOV in the list will present a new gadget below the lists. This gadget is used to define the AOV value. It is possible to connect the output of a shading node to this gadget, as long as it is not the output of a surface shader.
Creating a new custom AOV
Click the + button to create a new AOV. A name field will appear so the new AOV can be named. Once the name is set, the new AOV will be added to the proper AOV list and will be selected so that its value can be defined.
Color and Float Custom AOVs are defined by nodes of respective types. The AOV value will be set on a surface shader basis, through the AOV Grou
Float and Color Custom AOVs
AOV Group
The node types related to custom AOVs are grouped in the AOV category of 3Delight shading nodes in the Hypershade.
The various 3Delight shading node types related to custom AOVs.