---
title: "Cryptomatte in Maya"
canonical: "https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/RFM27/544543618/Cryptomatte%20in%20Maya"
format: markdown
---
Using a Cryptomatte 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.


### Cryptomatte in XPU

For XPU, the [Cryptomatte](https://rmanwiki-27.pixar.com/space/REN27/1160740868/Cryptomatte) has been implemented as a Display Driver instead of the PxrCryptomatte Sample Filter.

![image-20260622-142336.png](media://10741e0c-b133-413e-a1ef-af343df0bf78)


> ✅ This is the workflow we recommend going forward from 27.3
> ✅ 
> ✅ To help with the transition between RIS and XPU, under the hood we provide a mechanism that automatically and transparently transforms the PxrCryptomatte Sample Filter into the new Cryptomatte Display Driver.



---

### Cryptomatte in RIS

PxrCryptomatte is supplied as a [Sample Filter](https://renderman.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/REN26/pages/19661887) 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://2a809594-adb0-4960-b007-c0b823203bc1)

Under the **Features Tab** of the **Render Settings**, navigate to the **Images / Sample Filters** tab and right click on an empty slot to select **create a PxrCryptomatte**.

![image](media://736b62cc-e68e-40ef-a6d5-5ef090d97f91)

The options above are default. You can find out more about the options by visiting the [PxrCryptomatte](https://renderman.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/REN26/pages/19661911) 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://c04d7b68-d014-4319-a7ba-a0215e64e4cc)

  


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.