If you're unfamiliar with the OpenEXR file format, visit this page for more specific background information.


Some of the OpenEXR render passes included in our assets are:

  • Motion Vector - Used to create natural motion blur when compositing.
  • ID Utility Pass - Separates an element into sections for masking or other corrections (ex. Top Surface, Inside Walls, Ground Surface).
  • Normal - Used to display the direction that any surface is pointing and can be used to change the lighting of an element.
  • Camera Depth - Grayscale image used to represent the distance from the camera for any portion of an element. Typically used for masking.
  • Diffuse - The original color of the element without any lighting applied.
  • Global Illumination - Lighting that is created from light bouncing off one surface and onto another.
  • Reflection - Image with only the reflections.
  • Dust - Render pass with only the dust.
  • RGB Light Pass - Similar to a normal pass but it uses red, green, and blue lights and is used for some of our volume products such as Gun Smoke.
  • RGB Pass - A Red/Blue/Green image.
  • Volume Light Pass - This would be the light-emitting portions for a volume such as the fire in an explosion.


Additional resources:

For more technical documentation on OpenEXR files, click here.

Tutorial: How to Use OpenEXR Render Passes Inside of After Effects

Tutorial: How to Use Multi-Channel OpenEXR Passes Inside of Nuke