switch off render surface planet for animation?

[Dune]

The question is in the title; I need to switch on/off the surface rendering of a second planet halfway an animation, but that's not possible. It is needed because I get a shadow inside it which I don't want. A workaround would be to split the animation in two parts. Any other ideas?

[Tangled-Universe]

Rendering it without surfaces would make it invisible, except for its atmosphere. Is it in frame when you do that?

Otherwise I would just put a keyframe on its position at the final frame you want it to have its surface being rendered.
The next frame move it a million miles away and keyframe that. Also do that for the next and final frame and set interpolation to linear.

[Dune]

The problem is I want to move from within the second planet with only atmosphere to outside it, then turn and see the surface and atmosphere of that planet. So I can't move it.

But moving it might be the answer if I use a third planet, same as second, but without surface being rendered for the first part of the animation. Just switch places. Thanks, Martin.

[Tangled-Universe]

Ghehe nice to see that it somehow seeded an idea into your brain
Good luck!

[TheBadger]

Sounds really complex Ulco. Hope you'll show the results. Whatever it is.

[cyphyr]

Could you use a sphere instead of a planet ...
Richard
Wouldn't work lol

[Dune]

No, I need the clouds whirling around my 'time capsule' while inside. Thanks, Richard.

[Oshyan]

Is the shadow you're seeing supposed to be there, but just not wanted, or does it appear to be an error?

- Oshyan

[Dune]

No, it isn't an error. You just can't switch off the shadow of the planet's surface, or you'd have to switch off all shadows. So inside the small planet all is dark. Setting opacity to 0 through a default shader won't do the trick either. But switching 2 extra planets will do it, no problem.