Snapshot: avatars only, transparent background

sky_line commented

2026-10-30 06:24:41 +00:00

Owner

Request

A snapshot option that captures only avatars (one or several) with no background: a transparent PNG cut-out, ready for profile pictures, edits, posters and compositing.

Behaviour

Snapshot floater option "Avatars only (transparent background)" with a choice of whom:
- me;
- selected avatar(s);
- all avatars in view.
- Attachments, worn rigged meshes, HUD-free (HUDs never included).
Output: PNG with alpha, saved to disk. Works with normal and high-resolution (tiled) snapshots. Not offered for 360 snapshots. An EXR variant with alpha follows the HDR/EXR snapshot options in #1326.
Lighting: two modes.
- Scene lighting (default): the avatar is lit exactly as in the scene (local lights, projectors, sun, GI and reflections from the hidden surroundings); the world is rendered for lighting but not written to the image ("holdout").
- Studio lighting: a neutral key/fill/rim setup independent of the scene, for clean catalogue-style shots.
Optional ground shadow ("shadow catcher"): the avatar's shadow on the floor kept as a semi-transparent layer, toggle, off by default.
Alpha quality: hair, fur, lace and other alpha-blended layers must produce correct soft edges, not a hard cut or a dark fringe. Write straight (unpremultiplied) alpha in the PNG, matted correctly. Glow/bloom around emissive attachments is either excluded or carried in alpha (state which).
Post effects: depth of field, motion blur and lens effects off for this mode. Tonemap and exposure as on screen.

Notes

Upload to Second Life (inventory/profile) can still use the cut-out, flattened onto a chosen background colour, since SL textures used as profile images don't need alpha; or keep alpha for texture uploads.
Implementation should work with both the current renderer and the new renderer: an "avatar-only" visibility mask for the final composite plus a separate alpha target, with no change to normal frames.

## Request A snapshot option that captures **only avatars** (one or several) with **no background**: a transparent PNG cut-out, ready for profile pictures, edits, posters and compositing. ## Behaviour - **Snapshot floater option "Avatars only (transparent background)"** with a choice of whom: - me; - selected avatar(s); - all avatars in view. - Attachments, worn rigged meshes, HUD-free (HUDs never included). - **Output:** PNG with alpha, saved to disk. Works with normal and high-resolution (tiled) snapshots. Not offered for 360 snapshots. An EXR variant with alpha follows the HDR/EXR snapshot options in #1326. - **Lighting:** two modes. - **Scene lighting (default):** the avatar is lit exactly as in the scene (local lights, projectors, sun, GI and reflections from the hidden surroundings); the world is rendered for lighting but not written to the image ("holdout"). - **Studio lighting:** a neutral key/fill/rim setup independent of the scene, for clean catalogue-style shots. - **Optional ground shadow ("shadow catcher"):** the avatar's shadow on the floor kept as a semi-transparent layer, toggle, off by default. - **Alpha quality:** hair, fur, lace and other alpha-blended layers must produce correct soft edges, not a hard cut or a dark fringe. Write straight (unpremultiplied) alpha in the PNG, matted correctly. Glow/bloom around emissive attachments is either excluded or carried in alpha (state which). - **Post effects:** depth of field, motion blur and lens effects off for this mode. Tonemap and exposure as on screen. ## Notes - Upload to Second Life (inventory/profile) can still use the cut-out, flattened onto a chosen background colour, since SL textures used as profile images don't need alpha; or keep alpha for texture uploads. - Implementation should work with both the current renderer and the new renderer: an "avatar-only" visibility mask for the final composite plus a separate alpha target, with no change to normal frames.

Rows
Columns

Snapshot: avatars only, transparent background #1328

Request

Behaviour

Notes