Render Compositor File Output Nodes
Send Blender compositor File Output node passes such as depth or normals to the folder you choose in RenderGod, without editing the .blend file.
RenderGod renders Blender compositor File Output nodes and lets you change where each node writes its files. This is useful for saving extra passes, such as depth, normals or cryptomatte, to a separate folder next to the main render.
Before you start
- The
.blendfile needs at least one File Output node in the compositor. - The Compositor switch on the job must be on, and the compositor that contains the nodes must be selected. See Use a specific compositor.
The File Output Nodes section only appears on the Output card when both are true. Nodes that live in a different compositor are hidden.
Change the folder a File Output node writes to
- Select the job and turn on Compositor if it is off.
- On the Output card, find the node under File Output Nodes. The name is the node's label, or its name if it has no label. The badge on the right shows how many inputs (slots) the node has. Hover the name to see which compositor it belongs to.
- Type a path into the folder field, or click the folder search icon (Select a folder) to pick one.
- Click the arrow icon (Open location) to open that folder.
The new folder is saved as you type.
What RenderGod changes in the render
| Blender version | What is replaced | What stays |
|---|---|---|
| Blender 4.x | The node's base path | Slot names from the node |
| Blender 5.x | The node's folder | The node's own file name field |
The change applies only to the render. Your .blend file keeps its original node paths.
You can use the same placeholders as output templates in the folder, such as {scene_name} or {datetime}. RenderGod fills them in when the render starts. See Build a custom output template.
Previews of File Output passes
After a job renders, each File Output node gets its own preview card above the settings, labelled with the node name (and the slot name when a node has several). See Watch frames live while rendering.
Troubleshooting
The File Output Nodes section is missing
Turn on Compositor and make sure the compositor that holds your nodes is selected in its dropdown.
The folder field is read-only
The job is rendering or already finished. You can still open the folder with Open location. See Why settings are locked.