It doesn't .Sorry just went back and read the post better. Little unclear to me. The I maps sounds closest for the lighting, information, but if you want to export it as a texture map you need to use something that outputs textures. Could use baker to output the texture or use gbuffers for some things. If you use a plugin, maybe some of the SSS plugins you can generate an interaction for a texture. However, creating something that can use the imap might be your best bet. I have just started using them myself. The part that is unclear to me is when you say control a material. Are you talking some kind of special effect? That can't be used in say photoshop most likely. As a texture it can.

No need to think outside the box....
    Just make it invisible.