# UE 5.8.3 hair strands no longer write to Custom Stencil

**URL:** <https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/ue-5-8-3-hair-strands-no-longer-write-to-custom-stencil/2854524>\
**Category:** Issues and Bug Reporting (Unreal Engine)\
**Tags:** unreal-engine\
**Created:** [November 12, 2026, 1:52pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/ue-5-8-3-hair-strands-no-longer-write-to-custom-stencil/2854524 "2026-11-12T13:52:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Fisherowski](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Fisherowski](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Fisherowski)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2026, 1:52pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/ue-5-8-3-hair-strands-no-longer-write-to-custom-stencil/2854524/1 "2026-11-12T13:52:19Z")

</div>

### Summary

A groom using strands, with Render CustomDepth Pass enabled and a Custom Depth Stencil Value of 255, shows up in SceneTexture:CustomStencil in UE 5.7. In UE 5.8.3 the strand pixels carry no stencil, although the skeletal meshes on the same actor do. Forcing the groom to a cards LOD (LOD 2) writes stencil correctly in 5.8.3. So only strands are affected, and only in 5.8.3.

### What Type of Bug are you experiencing?

Rendering (Graphics / Niagara)

### Steps to Reproduce

1. Place the MetaHuman in a level.
2. On each groom component, enable Render CustomDepth Pass and set Custom Depth Stencil Value to 255.
3. [Create / use] a post process material that outputs SceneTexture:CustomStencil == 255 or use Custom Stencil view mode.
4. Compare the same level in 5.7 and 5.8.3.

### Expected Result

hair strands appear in the stencil, as in 5.7.

### Observed Result

hair strands do not appear in the stencil in 5.8.3

### Affects Versions

5.8

### Platform(s)

Windows

### Upload an image

 ![stencil.png](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/6/1/d/61dc125e0962031bf26b0ca6692831d53986e658.png)