For blender. Automates custom scene configurations for the selected renderlayer. Works as is but WIP!

renderLayerConfig.py

import bpy

# SETTING DATA VALUES: LIST[VISIBLE LAYERS], STRING(WORLD NAME)

animRange=[0,250]
singleFrame=[0,0]

#ob_bg = bpy.data.objects['Environment_proxy']

#material_shad = bpy.data.materials['LightingPass_Shadow']
#material_boun = bpy.data.materials['LightingPass_Bounce']

noMaterialOverides = []
#overides_bg_useShad = [[ob_bg,material_shad]]
#overides_bg_useBoun = [[ob_bg,material_boun]]

data={}
#data["HEADS"] = [[1,5,6,7], 'World', animRange, noMaterialOverides] # verified
#data["BG_BL"] = [[0,2,4], 'World_Bounce', singleFrame, overides_bg_useBoun] # verified
#data["BG"] = [[0,1,2], 'World', singleFrame, noMaterialOverides] # verified
#data["JARS"] = [[1,2,3,4], 'World', singleFrame, noMaterialOverides] # verified
#data["BG_AO"] = [[2,3], 'World_AO', singleFrame, overides_bg_useShad] # verified
#data["WATER"] = [[4], 'World', singleFrame, noMaterialOverides] # verified
#data["WATER_RIPPLES"] = [[1,2,14], 'World', animRange, noMaterialOverides] # verified

context = bpy.data.scenes["animation"]
renderLayer = context.render.layers.active
key = renderLayer.name
visibleLayers = data[key][0]
worldSetting = data[key][1]
frameRange = data[key][2]
matOverides = data[key][3]

# MATERIAL OVERIDES - this can break easily.
#if len(each[0].material_slots) is 0:
#    bpy.ops.object.material_slot_add()

for each in matOverides:
    each[0].material_slots[each[0].active_material_index].material=each[1]

# SET OUTPUT
context.render.filepath = '//render\\'+key+'\\'

# SET FRAME RANGE
context.frame_start=frameRange[0]
context.frame_end=frameRange[1]

# SET WORLD SETTING
context.world = bpy.data.worlds[worldSetting]

# TURN OTHER LAYERS OFF - could use render.use_single_layer instead?
for rlayer in context.render.layers:
    rlayer.use=False
renderLayer.use=True

# SET layer visibility
# set ON first, as active_layer is readonly, and interferes.
for layerIndex in visibleLayers:
    context.layers[layerIndex] = True

for index in range(0,19):
    if index not in visibleLayers:
        context.layers[index] = False