How to use material index from Object Info node? Material Index:



This socket just outputs index pass set by user, just like simple Value node.

At first I thought it can play a role with material override, to see passes of real materials. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way, as it also overrides all passes.

So, what is usecase for it?
Maybe a slightly obscure one.. I've used the Material Index for discriminating between materials hit by a forward-cast ray in OSL.

Examples here and here... it's one of the few attributes actually returned by a shader-cast ray, at the moment..