Save images

You can save the images you paint on the canvas in Maya image format (.iff) only.

To save the image

  1. Select Canvas > Save.

    If you have specified a name for the image, Maya saves the image to that file.

    If you have not specified a name for the image, the Save Image (Linux) or Save (Windows and Mac OS X) window opens.

  2. Type the name of the new file, including the file extension (for example, forest.iff).
    Tip:

    If you plan to transfer files between Linux and Windows, do not put spaces in the filenames.

  3. Click Save. Maya saves the contents of the image under the specified name.

    If you have specified a name for the image, Maya saves the image to that file.

To rename an image

  1. Select Canvas > Save As. The Save Image (Linux) or Save (Windows and Mac OS X) window opens.
  2. Type the name of the new file, including the file extension (for example, forest.iff), then click Save. Maya saves the image under the specified name.

Set save options

You can set whether or not changes to the alpha channel are saved when you use Save and Save As.

To set Save and Save As options

  1. Select Canvas > Save > or Canvas > Save As > . The Save Image Options window opens.
  2. Turn off Save Alpha if you do not want to save the alpha channel when you save the image.
  3. Click Save Image to save the image.

Save after every stroke

When you modify textures that are attached to surfaces in your scene, you may want to see the changes on the surface immediately. Whenever you save a texture in the canvas, the texture updates on all the surfaces it is attached to. You can see this update if you have hardware texturing turned on. To update the texture after every stroke, set Paint Effects to save the image after each stroke.

To save after every stroke

  1. Do one of the following:
    • Select Canvas > Auto Save to turn on auto save.
    • Click the Auto Save icon on the Paint Effects toolbar.