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LayerWise recognizes files and layers by their render element names (see How it works). On the Render elements screen you check and change that list for each engine. Open it from the menu, the shortcut on Home, Tools → Manage render elements, or Settings.
The Render elements screen with engine tabs, element flags and the add row

The render element list of each engine

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The flags

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Add an element

Type the name in New element name, set its flags and press + Add. The name must be unique and is case-sensitive. It’s matched as part of file and layer names, so Wood_Mask recognizes cam01.Wood_Mask.png. Add an element when:
  • your renders use a pass LayerWise doesn’t know (a custom V-Ray ExtraTex, a renamed element),
  • a file shows up under These files matched no element,
  • a template says an element is Not recognized.
Delete elements you added with their ×. Built-in elements can’t be deleted, but you can change their flags.

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Save or restore

Changes apply when you press Save. Cancel discards them. Restore defaults brings back the original list (it takes effect on Save too).

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Default element lists

Import all: LightSelect, MultiMatteElement, MtlID, ZDepth RGB masks: MultiMatteElement Crypto: Cryptomatte Luma mask: Alpha, ZDepth, ReflectionFilter, RefractionFilter, RawReflectionFilter, RawRefractionFilterAlpha, AO, Background, Atmosphere, BumpNormals, DRBucket, Caustics, RGB_color, effectsResult, origRGB, Denoiser, ExtraTex, Glare, Illuminance, LightSelect, MatteShadow, MultiMatteElement, Cryptomatte, MtlID, MtlReflectGlossiness, MtlReflectHilightGlossiness, MtlReflectIOR, MtlRefractGlossiness, Metalness, Roughness, MtlSelect, NoiseLevel, Normals, ObjectID, ObjectSelect, OptionRE, DiffuseFilter, GlobalIllumination, Lighting, LightingAnalysis, Reflection, Refraction, Shadows, TotalLighting, RawDiffuseFilter, RawGlobalIllumination, RawLighting, RawReflection, RawRefraction, RawShadow, RawTotalLighting, RawReflectionFilter, RawRefractionFilter, ReflectionFilter, RefractionFilter, CoatFilter, RawCoatFilter, CoatReflection, RawCoatReflection, CoatGlossiness, CoatSpecular, SheenFilter, RawSheenFilter, SheenReflection, RawSheenReflection, SheenGlossiness, SheenSpecular, SelfIllumination, Specular, WireColor, ZDepth, RenderID, SampleRate, SamplerInfo, SSS2, Toon, Velocity, UnclampedColor, RenderTime, GaussianSplats
Your own elements and the flags you changed are kept when LayerWise is updated, and new default elements show up on their own. You don’t need Restore defaults after an update.