Define rules for assigning color spaces to input files

When you add an image input such as a File texture or image plane to a scene, the Input Color Space Rules in the Color Management preferences determine the color space that is assigned initially. You can still change the color space manually in each node's attributes (see Specify the color space for textures and other image inputs).

A rule lets you automatically assign an input color space based on the file extension, the file and folder naming conventions that you use for different types of images, or both. For example, if all your diffuse color textures include "color" in their file names then you can create a rule that matches *color* and any extension to sRGB (or whatever color space the files actually use), and if all your normal maps include "normal" in their file or folder names then you can create a second rule that matches *normal* and any extension to Raw. For another example, if all your OpenEXR files are scene-linear with the sRGB primaries, you can create a rule that matches any file name (*) and the extension EXR to scene-linear Rec 709/sRGB.

A. Rules list

Select a rule. You can edit the selected rule using the options on the right (H, I, J).

If you are using the default preferences, there are some preset rules in addition to the Default rule. The tx, hdr, and exr rules assign the input space of any file with those extensions to Raw. Unlike the Default rule, these are ordinary rules that have been added for convenience, and they can be edited, deleted, and moved up or down like any other rule.

B. Up, Down

Rules are applied in order from top to bottom. The input space specified by the first rule that matches is initially set as an image's Color Space attribute. Use the Up and Down buttons to move the selected rule.

C. Default rule

The input space specified by the Default rule is used when no other rule matches. You can only specify the input color space — you cannot specify a condition to match. The Default rule is always the last in the list and cannot be moved.

In the configuration files installed with Maya, the Default rule assigns textures to the default role — this is an alias that resolves to sRGB in those configurations.

D. Add

Add a new rule to the top of the list.

E. Add Color Space Name Rule

Adds a special rule called ColorSpaceNamePathSearch. This rule is similar to the rule for assigning input spaces in OCIO v1. It assigns each texture file to the longest color-space name found anywhere in the file path. Note that matches are not case-sensitive.

This option is not available when using the legacy color management system known as SynColor. In SynColor mode, you can enable Use OCIO Input Color Space Rules instead but note that this also disables all other rules except the Default rule.

F. Reapply Rules to Scene

Reapplies the rules to change the Color Space attributes of existing image nodes in the scene. Image nodes with Ignore Color Space Input Rules checked on are not affected.

G. Delete

Delete the selected rule. The Default rule cannot be deleted.

H. Image Extension

Specify the file extension to match in the selected rule, or use * for any extension. File extensions are not case-sensitive.

I. Image File Path Pattern

Specify the pattern for the selected rule to match in the full path of an image file. Strings are case-sensitive, and use the so-called "glob" syntax for pattern matching.

String	Pattern	Example
`?`	Any one character.	`?pecular` matches `specular` and `Specular`, as well as `Xpecular` and many others.
`*`	Zero or more characters.	`diffuse` matches `diffuse` at the end of the path. `diffuse` matches `diffuse` at the beginning of the path. `diffuse` matches `diffuse` anywhere in the path. Tip: Put an asterisk at the beginning of every pattern so that image files get matched in any directory.
`[chars]`	Any one of the specified characters.	`[nN]ormal` matches `normal` or `Normal` anywhere in the path.
`[char1-char2]`	Any character in the range.	`*[0-9]` matches any path ending with a numeral.
`[!chars_or_range]`	Any character except those specified.	`*[!0-9]` matches any path that does not end with a numeral.
`/`	Escapes the next character, that is, treats the next character as a literal, instead of part of the pattern matching syntax.	`/[/]*` matches a pair of square brackets anywhere in the path.

J. Input Color Space

Select the color space to assign to files that match the selected rule. For a description of the spaces that are available in the configurations installed with Maya, see List of input color spaces.

OCIO v1 Standard Rule (SynColor Only)

When you are using the legacy color management system as described in Using Maya's Legacy Color Management (SynColor) and its Use OCIO Configuration option is on, the Use OCIO Input Color Space Rules option becomes available.

Turn this option on if you want to use the standard OpenColorIO v1 rules to assign initial input color spaces to File textures and other image inputs when they are added to a scene. The OpenColorIO v1 rules consider whether the color space name appears in the full path and file name.

When Use OCIO Input Color Space Rules is on, only OCIO Standard Rule and Default appear in Input Color Space Rules below. You cannot add any other rules, and you cannot reorder them. You can only specify a color space for the Default rule, which is used only when the OCIO Standard Rule does not specify any color space for a particular file.
When this option is off, you can define your own rules to assign color spaces to input images in Input Color Space Rules. However, the available color spaces are restricted to those defined in the OCIO configuration file.