# PickFromRenderBuffer - Missing Normal Data?

**URL:** <https://forum.aousd.org/t/pickfromrenderbuffer-missing-normal-data/1354>\
**Category:** Hydra\
**Tags:** rendering, cpp\
**Created:** [March 19, 2024, 5:03pm UTC](https://forum.aousd.org/t/pickfromrenderbuffer-missing-normal-data/1354 "2024-03-19T17:03:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![scsmith](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.aousd.org/scsmith/32/403_2.png) [@scsmith](https://forum.aousd.org/u/scsmith)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2024, 5:03pm UTC](https://forum.aousd.org/t/pickfromrenderbuffer-missing-normal-data/1354/1 "2024-03-19T17:03:07Z")

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The _ **PickFromRenderBuffer** _ task never seems to populate the _ **normalBufferPath** _ in the _ **HdxPickFromRenderBufferTaskParams** _, so when the _ **HdxPickFromRenderBufferTask** _ is executed to evaluate a hit location and normal, the normal is never returned.

Is this by design, or just an oversight? I notice the hdStorm uses a completely different Pick task to all other delegates, and that always returns the normal. HdStorm uses _ **HdxPickTask** _, and that includes setting up an _ **Neye** _ AOV to get the normal pass information, and thus you always get normal information back.

- Simon.

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**Author:** ![raja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de0a6/32.png) [@raja](https://forum.aousd.org/u/raja)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2024, 6:44pm UTC](https://forum.aousd.org/t/pickfromrenderbuffer-missing-normal-data/1354/2 "2024-03-20T18:44:04Z")

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Seems like an oversight. When using a renderer other than Storm, the HdxTaskController does not currently add normal to the AOVs for the render task, and thus, it’s missing from the PickFromRenderBufferTask parameters as well.