Detailed Features
This comprehensive suite of 3D tools for modeling, animation andrendering within a single, production-proven workflow is the choice ofaward-winning digital artists and animators.
Autodesk Maya Complete
Intuitive User Interface
Data and Scene Management Tools
Polygon Modeling
NURBS Modeling
Subdivision Surface Modeling and Polygon Proxy Modeling
General Animation
Character Animation
Deformers
Rigid and Soft Body Dynamics
Particles and Fields
Maya Paint Effects
Toon Shader
Maya Artisan
3D Paint
Multiple Rendering Options
Rendering Controls and Effects
Integrated Scripting
OpenMaya API/SDK
Japanese Localization
Connectivity and Integration
CAD Data Transfer
Autodesk Maya Unlimited
Contains everything in Autodesk Maya Complete, plus:
Maya Fluid Effects
Maya Nucleus Unified Simulation Framework
Maya nCloth
Maya Hair
Maya Fur
Maya Live
Maya User Interface
Maximize your productivity.
Get unmatched productivity through a combination of performance andworkflow features, including marking menus, 3D manipulators, selectivedisplay, selection management tools, and unlimited levels of undo.
Data and Scene Management Tools
Dependency graph architecture and scene segmentation tools boost productivity and workflow flexibility.
* Fully editable and animatable construction history allows forextensive modification of modeled data—no need to rebuild models.
* File referencing, scene segmentation and shader organization featuresenable efficient management of complex scenes with interchangeablelevels of detail.
* Scene workflow tools include the ability to position objects along acurve, replace objects within a scene, and convert instances to objects.
Polygon Modeling
Maya® software provides a full complement of sophisticated polygon modeling tools and UV editing tools.
General Polygon Architecture
* Nonmanifold architecture, focused on the details of creating,editing, and texturing polygonal models, includes multiple sets ofanimatable color-per-vertex (CPV), prelighting, user-defined normals,and normal map generation suitable for games/interactive users.
* A complete set of editing tools, including bridge, poke, cut, wedge,bevel, extrude, chamfer vertex, extrude along a curve, mirror cut, edgeloop, edge ring, slide edge, and pick-walk tools.
Polygon Texture Assignment/Editing
* Streamlined workflow for creative texturing—including UVcreation and editing, auto-projection and relaxation, interactivelattice and smudge tools, along with quick access to commonly usedtools via the UV Texture Editor toolbar.
* Multiple UV sets allow separate texture coordinates for separate texture channels.
* Per-instance UV sets allow a single mesh to be used to represent multiple objects, reducing scene overhead.
Transfer Polygon Attributes
* Enables modelers to transfer UV, color-per-vertex, and vertexposition information between polygon meshes of differing topologies,even if they are separated in space or of different proportion/scale.
* Artists can use the paint tool to blend between source and target deformations.
Optimization Tools
Polygon reduction, data cleanup, blind data tagging, andlevel-of-detail tools enable artists to optimize scenes for interactivedisplay.
Back to top
NURBS Modeling
Maya® software delivers unparalleled, precision surface-modeling tools.
Precise Spline-Based Curve and Surface Construction Tools
Includes lofting, birail, beveling, extrusion, trim, boundary, offset, Booleans, rounding, square, and many other tools.
The OpenMaya API/SDK
This key unlocks the power of the Maya® software architecture for programmers and technical directors.
Direct Access to Maya Software Functionality
* Maya plug-ins and standalone applications that run from the Maya command line can be written using C++.
* Maya scene hierarchy can be traversed with iterators.
* Maya plug-ins can be registered to receive a comprehensive range of Maya messages.
* Maya manipulators and locators can be created.
* New types of Maya objects can be developed, including file translators, hardware shaders, surface shapes and MEL commands.
* Existing Maya objects, such as geometry, lights, shaders, transforms,scene hierarchy, and dependency graph nodes can be queried and modified.
* MEL scripts can be executed from C++.
* The OpenMaya API is available from Python® scripting as well as C++.
Development Resources
* OpenMaya API guide.
* Maya Motion Capture API guide.
* MEL Command reference guide.
* OpenMaya API Class reference documentation: names each OpenMaya API / SDK class and is fully searchable and indexed.
* Source code, project Makefiles and a Wizard on Windows for building examples and generating plug-in templates.
* Available for Maya® on Windows® and Mac OS® X.
Back to top
Connectivity and Integration
Maya® software delivers tools for integrating Maya content into the production pipeline.
Adobe Photoshop Integration
* Artists can create shading networks with connections to layerssets in a PSD file and include procedural or 3D painted textures asstarting points and UV layouts for reference.
* Render layers can now be rendered to layered PSD files.
* Any PSD file can be used as a texture map and rendered directly inthe Maya software and hardware renderers and in mental ray® for Maya®.
* PSD files containing layer sets can be converted into a layered texture within Maya.
* A multi-layered PSD file can be automatically connected to multiple material attributes.
Compositing Integration via Render Layers Functionality
* Allows multiple passes from any of the four Maya renderers, aswell as post processes, such as Maya Fur and Maya Paint Effects, to bemanaged in a single scene.
* A system of per-layer and per-object overrides means that objects canhave different shading and rendering attributes on different layers.
* Workflow streamlines rendering by preparing renders for optimaloutput to the compositor of choice—or Photoshop (PSD) or Flash (SWFT)output—with objects and elements isolated in individual layers.
* Presets allow for easy setup of commonly used user-defined passes, such as specularity, shadows, and normal maps.
* Depth and motion vector data can be stored separately and used in post processes.
* Artists can generate an Autodesk® Toxik™ software composition fromwithin Maya based on the render layers in the scene, streamlining theworkflow and allowing for multiple iterations.
Adobe Illustrator Object Nodes
* Supports both beveling and curves.
* Maintain Construction History enables Illustrator files to be substituted or edited while maintaining the bevel history.
Web Integration
Support for communication between Maya and both Mozilla-based andInternet Explorer® web browsers lets artists create and viewinteractive web pages, which is an easy way to extend the Maya userinterface or manage assets and scene data.
Supported Geometry/Scene Formats*
mayaAscii, mayaBinary, MEL, Autodesk® FBX®, aliasWire (Autodesk®AliasStudio™), IGES, DXF, OBJ, VRML2, MOV (ascii motion), GE2, RTG,OpenFlight, VRML2, mental ray, RIB, Open Inventor2.
Supported Image Formats*
Maya IFF, Maya IFF 16, AVI, Apple® QuickTime®, GIF, Softimage® PIC,Wavefront RLA, BMP, TIFF, TIFF16, SGI®, SGI16, Alias PIX, JPEG, EPS,Cineon™, Quantel®, Targa®, DDS, PSD, PNG, QuickDraw™, MacPaint®, HDR,OpenEXR, MAP, Sony® PlayStation® TIM, Dassault® Picture, PPM, mentalray® formats (CT, ST, NT, MT, ZT, TT, BIT, CTH)
Supported Vector Formats*
PostScript, EPS, Macromedia® SWF, Swfit3D, Adobe® Illustrator®, SVG.
Download
