File formats

Maya can save rendered image files in several standard image file formats.

By default, Maya saves rendered image files in the Maya Image File Format (Maya IFF). The Maya IFF is the most efficient format, in which no data loss occurs. All other file formats are translated from the Maya IFF format.

For information about the File format syntax, see Subfolders and names of rendered images.

To set the file format, see Set the rendered image file format.

Bitmap vs. vector

Maya can render and save an image in either bitmap or vector format. A bitmap image uses pixels (colored squares) arranged in a grid to describe the image. When you zoom into a bitmap image, you can see the jagged edges of individual pixels. Common bitmap formats include TIFF, GIF and BMP.

A vector image uses vectors (lines and curves) to describe the image. When you zoom into a vector image, lines and curves remain smooth. Common vector formats include SWF (Adobe Flash), AI (Adobe Illustrator) and SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics).

Note

If Image Format is SWF or SVG, an animation renders as a single file. Otherwise, an animation renders as a series of sequential files.
EPS files (generated by any application) do not import correctly into non-Adobe products (such as the Flash authoring application). EPS files import correctly into Adobe products. (SWF and AI files import correctly into the Flash authoring application.)

Details of supported file formats

Adobe Illustrator (.ai)	This file format is only available on Windows 32-bit and Apple^® Mac OS^®X, and only when using the Maya Vector renderer. Adobe Illustrator (version 8) file format. When rendering to Adobe Illustrator format, the background color is always white.
Autodesk PIX	This file format is available on Linux^® and Windows only. Autodesk pix file format. Maya saves the image, mask, and depth channels as separate files.
AVI (.avi)	This file format is available on Windows only. On Linux, IMF does not support movie files. On Windows, you can select the compression method for AVI files. See Compression.... Microsoft Audio Video Interleaved movie file format. Maya can store a sequence of images in an AVI file.
Cineon (.cin)	This file format is available on Linux and Windows. Cineon image file format. Maya does not create a mask file or channel. This is a format typically used for digital film, however, Maya does not use the 10 bit log encoding standard.
Encapsulated PostScript (.eps)	Encapsulated PostScript file format. An EPS file can contain both bitmap and vector image information. When using the Maya Vector renderer (Windows 32-bit and Mac OS X only), the rendered EPS file consists of a vector image. When using bitmap renderers, the rendered EPS file consists of a bitmap image. Maya saves the image and depth channels as separate files. (Maya does not create a mask file or channel.) When rendering to EPS format with the Maya Vector renderer, the background color is always white.
GIF (.gif)	This file format is available on Linux and Windows. Graphics Interchange Format typically used for web. Maya saves the image and depth channels as separate files. (Maya does not create a mask file or channel.) GIF images may be up to 8 bits (256 colors) in depth and are always compressed. Animated GIFs are not supported.
JPEG (.jpg)	Joint Photographic Experts Group file format. Maya saves the image and depth channels as separate files. (Maya does not create a mask file or channel.) The JPEG format is standard for compressed still images. JPEG uses DCT and offers data compression of between 5 and 100%. Three levels of processing are defined: baseline, extended, and lossless. Maya supports only JPEG formats containing RGB information; Maya does not support JPEG formats containing CMYK information. Compression is controlled by the environment variable AW_JPEG_Q_FACTOR. Setting it to 1 gives the lowest quality (most compression) and setting it to 100 gives the highest quality (least compression). The default value is 75.
Adobe Flash (.swf)	This file format is only available on Windows 32-bit and Mac OS X, and only when using the Maya Vector renderer. Adobe Flash Player (version 3, 4 or 5) file format (non-interactive).
Maya IFF (.iff)	Maya Image File Format with 8 bits per color and mask channel. Additional channels (for example, depth, motion vector data) are stored as floating point data. Maya saves the image, mask, and other channels in one file.
Maya16 IFF (.iff)	Maya Image File Format with 16 bits per color and mask channel. Additional channels (for example, depth, motion vector data) are stored as floating point data. Maya saves the image, mask, and other channels in one file. Not available when using the Maya Vector renderer.
MacPaint (.pntg)	Mac OS X only.
Adobe^® Photoshop^® (.ps)	Mac OS X only. Adobe Photoshop file.
PNG (.png)	Mac OS X only.
Quantel (.yuv)	This file format is available on Linux and Windows. Quantel image file format. Maya saves the image and mask channels in one file. The Quantel format outputs to YUV. Maya can only output Quantel format images at NTSC, PAL, or HDTV resolutions; if you select a different resolution, Maya saves rendered images in Maya IFF.
QuickDraw (.pict)	Native Apple^® Macintosh^® file format.
Apple^® QuickTime^® Image (.mov)	This file format is available only on Mac OS X. On Mac OS X, all Apple QuickTime image formats are supported, including any user-written or user-added Apple QuickTime plug-in formats. For the Maya software renderer and the Maya Hardware renderer, Apple QuickTime output supports over 20 different compression codecs for batch rendering and Playblast. Apple QuickTime movie file format. Maya can store a sequence of images in an Apple QuickTime file.
RLA (.rla)	This file format is available on Linux and Windows. Wavefront image file format. Maya saves the image, mask, and depth channels in one file.
Scalable Vector Graphics (.svg)	This file format is only available on Windows 32-bit and Mac OS X, and only when using the Maya Vector renderer. Scalable Vector Graphics file format. When rendering to SVG format, the background color is always white.
SGI (.sgi)	Silicon Graphics Image file format with 8 bits per color channel. Maya saves the image and mask channels in one file, and the depth channel as a separate file.
SGI16 (.sgi)	This file format is available on Linux and Windows. Not available when using the Maya Vector renderer. Silicon Graphics Image file format with 16 bits per color channel. Maya saves the image and mask channels in one file, and the depth channel as a separate file.
SGI Movie	This file format is only available on and Linux. SGI movie file format. Maya can store a sequence of images in an SGI Movie file. Maya only renders out uncompressed SGI Movie files as these are the most general for reading into other applications.
Avid^® Softimage^® (.pic)	This file format is available on Linux and Windows. Avid Softimage image file format. Maya saves the image and mask channels in one file, and the depth channel as a separate file.
Targa (.tga)	Targa image file format. Maya saves the image and mask channels in one file, and the depth channel as a separate file. Not all Targa formats are supported.
Tiff (.tif)	Tagged-Image File Format with 8 bits per color channel. Maya saves the image and mask channels in one file, and the depth channel as a separate file. Maya generates TIFF files that use TIFF 6.0 compression. To generate uncompressed TIFF files, set the environment variable IMF_TIFF_COMPRESSION = none before starting Maya. (For more information on environment variables, see Setting environment variables using Maya.env.) Use uncompressed TIFF files when you intend to read the images into an application that requires uncompressed images or that supports the TIFF 4.0 standard.
Tiff16 (.tif)	Not available when using the Maya Vector renderer. Tagged-Image File Format with 16 bits per color channel. Maya saves the image and mask channels in one file, and the depth channel as a separate file. Maya generates TIFF files that use TIFF 6.0 compression. To generate uncompressed TIFF files, set the environment variable IMF_TIFF_COMPRESSION = none before starting Maya. Use uncompressed TIFF files when you intend to read the images into an application that requires uncompressed images or that supports the TIFF 4.0 standard.
Windows Bitmap (.bmp)	Windows bitmap image file format. RGB only. Doesn’t support paletted images. Maya saves the image and depth channels as separate files. (Maya does not create a mask file or channel.)
HDR (.hdr)	High dynamic range images. Render HDR images when using the mental ray for Maya renderer.