Export
Write video, image sequences, 3D meshes (GLB/OBJ), or gaussian splats (PLY/.splat) to disk. The format parameter selects the output type.
What it does
Export writes whatever is wired into it out to disk. One node handles four destinations, chosen by the Format parameter: Video, Image Sequence, 3D Mesh (GLB/OBJ/USD/USDZ/PLY), and Splat (PLY/.splat) for gaussian splat point clouds. Wire the matching value in, an image for Video/Image Sequence, geometry for 3D Mesh, a splat collection for Splat, and toggle Enabled to write.
Video and Image Sequence have two operating modes. Live records frames in real time as they flow through the graph, capturing whatever is actually playing. Batch drives the graph through a fixed frame range at maximum speed, ignoring real-time playback.
When to use it
A composition rendered out to a video file or an image sequence
Geometry saved to a GLB, OBJ, USD/USDZ or PLY mesh file
A gaussian splat scan saved to PLY or
.splatA fast, unattended render over a fixed frame range, with Render Mode on Batch
| Parameter | Type | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
input | Color Field or Collection | — | Value to export. Raster for Video/Image Sequence; geometry for 3D Mesh; splat collection for Splat. |
output_path | String | "String::new()" | Output file path (video, mesh, single splat) or directory (image sequence, splat sequence). Use Browse to pick a location. |
render_mode | String | "Live" | Live: record frames in real-time. Batch: render frame range at max speed. One of: Live, Batch. |
start_frame | Number | 0 | First frame to render |
end_frame | Number | 864000 | Last frame to render |
format | String | "Video" | Output format. Video/Image Sequence take a raster; 3D Mesh takes geometry; Splat takes a gaussian splat collection. One of: Video, Image Sequence, 3D Mesh, Splat. |
codec | String | "H.264" | Video codec. ProRes 4444 supports alpha channel. One of: ProRes 4444, ProRes 422, H.264, H.265, VP9. |
framerate | Number | 30 | Output framerate |
quality | String | "High" | Quality preset (CRF for H.264/H.265/VP9, ignored for ProRes). One of: Draft, Preview, High, Production. |
filename_pattern | String | "frame_{:06}.png" | Filename pattern. Use {:06} for zero-padded frame number |
image_format | String | "PNG" | One of: PNG, JPEG, EXR. |
mesh_format | String | "GLB" | GLB: binary glTF. OBJ: ASCII mesh. USD/USDZ: Pixar USD (.usda / AR package). PLY: polygon mesh. One of: GLB, OBJ, USD, USDZ, PLY. |
splat_format | String | "PLY" | PLY: standard 3DGS PLY with full SH. Splat: compact 32-byte binary (degree-0 only). One of: PLY, Splat. |
enabled | Boolean | false | Enable export. Raster: rising edge starts, falling edge stops and finalizes. Mesh/Splat (Live): writes the file while enabled. Splat (Batch): rising edge starts the frame-range export. |
Gotchas
Format decides what Enabled means. For Video/Image Sequence, Enabled is edge-triggered: turning it on starts recording, turning it off stops and finalises the file. For 3D Mesh and Splat it is a one-shot write, the file being written for as long as Enabled stays true, with no start/stop transition to catch.
Quality (the CRF preset) only affects H.264, H.265 and VP9. It is ignored for a ProRes codec, which is otherwise the codec to use for carrying an alpha channel through to the next tool in a pipeline.
The Frame Count, Recording and Progress outputs only carry meaning for Video/Image Sequence. On a 3D Mesh or Splat export they are wired to fixed placeholders (0 / off), since a single-file write has no per-frame or progress state to report. Check the Error output for the real write status instead.
Worked example
Add an Export node and wire your composition's output into Input.
Set Output Path to where you want the file, and leave Format on Video.
Pick a codec: ProRes 4444 if you need alpha, H.264 for a smaller file.
Set Render Mode to Batch, set Start Frame and End Frame to cover your shot, then turn Enabled on to render the whole range at full speed.