Due to the different characteristics of the available output formats, the required extra channels for exporting, and the Multilight options, you have a wide range of export options depending on the needs of your project.

Multilight Disabled

Regarding the light emitters

You will get one single file with the contribution of all emitters merged in one single image (RGB or RGBA if your output format supports embedding alpha and you enable the alpha channel exportation).

Regarding the extra channels for exporting

You may want them to be:

• Embedded into the main output file if its format supports this:
  
  • EXR, TIFF and MXI will embed all the enabled extra channels into the main render file.
  • TGA and PNG can embed only the alpha channel into the main render file (RGBA). The rest of the extra channels will be stored in independent files.
  • JPG, BMP, JPG2000 and HDR do not support embedding alpha or any extra channels. All the extra channels will be exported to independent files.

• Separate, getting independent files for all the required extra channels in all cases (available for all formats).

Multilight Enabled

Regarding the light emitters

You may want to store each emitter contribution to independent files or have them all as layers in one multi-layered file:

• Composite option: all your light emitters will be stored as different layers in one multi-layered file, in those formats that allow multiple layers (EXR, TIFF and MXI). For the rest of the formats (TGA, PNG, JPG, BMP, JPG2000 and HDR) the emitters will be stored as independent files, as those formats do not support multiple image layers inside.

• Separate option: you will get a collection of individual files corresponding to the different emitters in the scene.

Regarding to the extra channels exportation

You may want them to be

• Embedded into the main output file if its format supports this:
  • EXR, TIFF and MXI will embed all the enabled extra channels into the main render file.
  • TGA and PNG can embed only the alpha channel into the main render file (RGBA). The rest extra channels will be stored to independent files.
  • JPG, BMP, JPG2000 and HDR do not support embedding alpha or any extra channels. All the extra channels will be exported to independent files.

• Separate, getting independent files for all the required extra channels in all cases (available for all formats)

Keep in mind that in order to get the alpha channel embedded in the main render file (in those formats that support embedded alpha), you have to set the exportation of the alpha channel to the same bit depth as the main render file. Otherwise it will be exported to an independent file with the indicated bit depth and format.

The MXI files (containing all the emitters and all the extra channels) can be opened in Maxwell Render, or in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects and Nuke through the Import MXI connection plug-ins.