> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://captivatehelp.newbluelive.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://captivatehelp.newbluelive.com/set-up-your-production/chapter-index-6/output-graphics-to-a-watch-folder.md).

# Output graphics to a watch folder

> *Availability — included in Broadcast and Enterprise.*

If your Captivate license includes the Watch Folder output, you can have Captivate continuously update a single image file on disk with the graphic that is currently on air. A switcher or compositor configured to "watch" that file will see the image change as you play, change, and clear graphics.

The output is a single still image (one frame), not an animation. Animated graphics are sampled at the moment the file is updated.

## File format

The format is determined by your project settings:

* **Alpha on** — file is written as **PNG** with transparency.
* **Alpha off** — file is written as **JPG**. JPG does not support transparency.

For more on the alpha and premultiplied alpha settings, see [Set the project format](/set-up-your-production/set-up-your-project.md).

## Set up the output

1. Create a watch folder on your computer where Captivate should write the file.
2. In the Captivate playout window, click the **Program Out** menu and choose **Watch Folder Setup**.
3. In the **Watchfolder Save File** dialog, navigate to your folder and type a filename. Captivate appends `.png` (alpha on) or `.jpg` (alpha off) to whatever you type. Click **Save**.
4. From the **Program Out** menu, choose **Watch Folder** to enable the output.
5. In your switcher, add a source that watches the file you just chose.

## Run the output

In the Project List, click a graphic’s **Play** button. Captivate writes the rendered graphic to the file you chose. As you change graphics, the file is updated to match the current on-air state.

## When no graphic is on air

When the on-air graphic clears, Captivate rewrites the file as a transparent PNG (or a black JPG, if your project has alpha turned off). Switchers keying on the watch-folder source will see an empty key and stop showing the previous graphic automatically.

## Multiple channels

If your project has multiple channels, Captivate writes one file per channel, with each channel’s name appended to the basename you typed during setup. For example, if you typed `lower-thirds` and your project has channels "Lower Thirds" and "Full Screen", Captivate produces:

```
lower-thirdsLower Thirds.png (the first channel)
lower-thirdsFull Screen.png  (the second channel)
```

A single-channel project writes just `lower-thirds.png` (no name appended).

Configure your switcher to watch the file matching the channel you want.

## See also

* [Set the project format](/set-up-your-production/set-up-your-project.md)
* [Output graphics as an image sequence](/set-up-your-production/chapter-index-6/output-graphics-as-an-image-sequence.md) — write a numbered sequence of frames instead of a single, continuously updated image.


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