---
title: "Cryptomatte in Maya"
canonical: "https://rmanwiki-25.pixar.com/space/RFM25/21889463/Cryptomatte%20in%20Maya"
format: markdown
---
Using [PxrCryptomatte](https://renderman.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/REN20/pages/21561864) workflow, you can output IDs in Maya for easy selection in a compositing application. You can then use that selection as a mask to make changes selectively in post packages.

PxrCryptomatte is supplied as a [Sample Filter](https://renderman.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/REN20/pages/21561388) plugin. As such the output for Cryptomatte is stored as a separate EXR file from your beauty or denoise outputs. Please note an OpenEXR is required to store the values correctly.

![image](media://d39be317-2a43-4c6c-8984-86367baa266b)

Under the Features Tab of the RenderSettings, create a PxrCryptomatte

![image](media://5f97e424-3079-4535-91e9-d2debe06d6ee)

The options above are default. You can find out more about the options by visiting the [PxrCryptomatte](https://renderman.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/REN20/pages/21561864) page.

Note that after you create a Sample Filter, another empty connection will be created, allowing you to output Cryptomatte files using different criteria. For example, if you wanted one for per-object and another per-material, create another PxrCryptomatte for output and specify another name for the file.

For now, a separate OpenEXR is required to be output for each plugin, separate from your denoise or beauty EXRs. You can create a sequence by using the correct token, example: cryptomatte.<f4>.exr creates a rendered sequence with a padding of 4 spaces, cryptomatte.0001.exr

Below is an example in Nuke using our Robot Room Community Scene.

![image](media://718d5171-48f2-47b9-9c96-ca64eed7c6e8)

 

You can set a user string attribute in multiple ways if you want to assign an ID to geometry. Examples are as follows:

You could use a pre-assigned LPE group if you wanted those to match

Tell Cryptomatte you want to use: identifier:lpegroup

When choosing identifier:name it will return the instance (transform)

When choosing identifier:object it will return the leaf level shape node.