Node Nuggets 001 – Cryptomatte (Gaffer) (Patreon)

Welcome to the inaugural Node Nuggets: a new series dedicated to highlighting a useful, interesting, cool or fun node in any node-based CG app. Houdini, Maya, Gaffer, Blender, Fusion… you name it!

Today we’ll look at the Cryptomatte node in Gaffer.

Gaffer’s image processing and compositing tools are great. The Cryptomatte node makes it easy to import cryptomatte layers from your renders.

Load an image with cryptomatte using an ImageReader, then attach a Cryptomatte node.

Select your layer (crypto_object, crypto_material or crypto_asset) and direct the output to a channel of your choice. Usually that will be A (alpha) to create transparency in your image.

The cryptomatte manifest list shows up in Gaffer’s Hierarchy View. Simply drag and drop the objects you want to add to your matte.

Press A to view your final alpha and you’re all set!