CGSociety News
Maya 7.0 continues Alias' tradition of 3D innovation.
3rd August 2005

Maya 7.0 is a feature-packed release offering new and improved tools for fast, realistic character animation, streamlined modeling and texturing, ground-breaking visual effects, and increased productivity. With the powerful new product features and the enhanced benefits of Maya Platinum Membership, including extended hotline access and improved response times, 3D professionals working in film, games, broadcast, digital publishing and design visualization are set to achieve more with the latest edition of this award-winning software.

Maya 7.0 has been completely re-architectured to optimize render layer’s functionality, which means that multiple versions of objects, including materials, lights and cameras, as well as post processes such as Maya Fur and Maya Paint Effects", can now be managed in a single scene file.

Layers can be rendered with any renderer integrated in Maya, including the latest mental ray for Maya technology. This new workflow prepares renders for optimal output to the artists' compositor of choice, or to Photoshop or Flash. Maya 7.0 also has streamlined workflow between Maya and Photoshop - as well as Illustrator, MotionBuilder, and other CAD applications.

The integration of the industry-leading full-body IK solver from Alias MotionBuilder makes rigging and posing characters simpler and more precise, as do paintable Blend Shapes and Wire deformers. Maya 7.0 now also supports collaborative, parallel workflows through its ability to iteratively substitute geometry and allow modelers, animators and technical directors to work on the same character simultaneously in a non-destructive way that maximizes productivity.

Enhancements in Maya 7.0 include Edge Loop and Edge Ring tools, UV unfolding, tri-planar and multi-mesh mapping, together with the inclusion of CgFX and ASHLI plug-ins, which allow hardware shaders for next-generation consoles to be previewed within Maya. Maya 7.0 also helps artists optimize scenes without loss of visible detail through a new Surface Sampler, which utilizes normal mapping and other data transfer methods between models of differing resolutions.

Developed by Alias' principal scientist Duncan Brinsmead, an incredibly powerful new Toon Shader leverages Maya's unique Paint Effects to support a wide range of non-photorealistic rendering styles; it affords extensive control over line style, placement and width, and features interactive previews in near real-time of even the most complex scenes. Among the many enhancements in Maya Unlimited, Maya Hair can now be transplanted from one character to another, Maya Fur is now integrated with Maya's dynamic curve technology, and Maya Fluid Effects benefits from a new High Detail solve mode for dramatically increased realism.

Maya Platinum Members
The features and services of the Maya Platinum Membership program help maximize an investment in Maya. Members will experience minimal downtime with the improved delivery of hotline support. Resources have now been dedicated solely to tracking hotline cases and ensuring quick response times. Through the months of September and October 2005, Platinum members can take advantage of an interactive Web-based Maya 7.0 training call. This is in addition to receiving early access to the Maya 7.0 upgrade - a distinctive competitive advantage.

Maya 7.0 is scheduled for release in August 2005 and pricing remains unchanged from Maya 6.5 - Maya Complete 7.0 is US$1,999 and Maya Unlimited 7.0 is US$6,999. Upgrade pricing from 6.5 is US$899 for Maya Complete and US$1,249 for Maya Unlimited. Both Maya Complete and Unlimited are available on the Windows, Linux and Mac OS X platforms.

Related links:
Alias Maya 7.0