Filter features and compatibility with the mental ray for Maya renderer and Maya software renderer

There are three types of filter features available in Maya as described below.

Pre Filter

• Blurs image before it is used for rendering.
• To enable, select Pre Filter under the File Attributes section in the Attribute Editor of the file node.

Filter/Filter Offset

• These are parameters for the selected filter type. The Filter attribute scales the size of the filter and lets you specify the amount of blur in the texture map. Use it as an anti-aliasing technique to refine file textures, reduce flickering, or to achieve special effects. The Filter Offset attribute controls the texture blur in texture space (not eye space). Use Filter Offset for a blurred effect instead of anti-aliasing.
• Set these parameters under the Effects section in the Attribute Editor of the file node.

Elliptical filtering

• To enable, select Advanced Elliptical Filtering under the mental ray section in the Attribute Editor of the file node.

Note: Elliptical filtering is only supported by mental ray for Maya rendering.

The filter types and their compatibility with the Maya software renderer and the mental ray for Maya renderer are specified in the table below.

Feature	Maya software renderer	mental ray for Maya renderer
Pre Filter	Supported for all filter types	Not supported
Filter/Filter offset	Supported for all filter types	Supported for all filter types, but only when elliptical filtering is not enabled
Elliptical filtering	Not supported	Supported when elliptical filtering is enabled