# render_target var (atom)

Source: https://ref.dm-lang.org/atom/var/render_target

### Default value
> null

### Possible values
> Any non-empty text string

If any icon uses `render_target`, and another icon in the scene has a matching `render_source`, this icon will be drawn to a temporary image called a "slate", which can be reused mutiple times for faster drawing and for special effects.

If the `render_target` value starts with an asterisk (`"*"`), it will not be drawn on the map, but will still be drawn to a slate for reuse.

Other vars that would normally affect the appearance of this icon, such as `color`, `transform`, `filters`, `appearance_flags`, etc. are all applied when drawing to the slate. Additionally, if this object has overlays, underlays, or visual contents and uses the [`KEEP_TOGETHER`](https://ref.dm-lang.org/atom/var/appearance_flags.md) flag to group all of the icons together, those will also be included in the slate.

If the render target is a [`PLANE_MASTER`](https://ref.dm-lang.org/atom/var/appearance_flags.md), vars like `pixel_x/y/w/z` will not apply when it is re-drawn as a `render_source`.

To use a `render_target`, the object it belongs to must be within the visible part of the map, or in the HUD, etc., so that it would be visible to the user under normal circumstances. If not, it will not be included in the render process and therefore it can't be reused as a `render_source`.

Additionally, if you use multiple map controls, a given render target can only be used as a source on the same map control where it appears. This is because each map is rendered separately.

### See also
- [render_source var (atom)](https://ref.dm-lang.org/atom/var/render_source.md)
- [appearance_flags var (atom)](https://ref.dm-lang.org/atom/var/appearance_flags.md)
- [color var (atom)](https://ref.dm-lang.org/atom/var/color.md)
- [filters var (atom)](https://ref.dm-lang.org/atom/var/filters.md)
- [transform var (atom)](https://ref.dm-lang.org/atom/var/transform.md)