Maya is a high-end 3D computer graphics and 3D modeling software package originally developed by Alias Systems Corporation, but now owned by Autodesk as part of the Media and Entertainment division. Autodesk acquired the software in October 2005 upon purchasing Alias. Maya is used in the film and TV industry, as well as for computer and video games. Image File history File links Autodesk_Maya_8. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1680x1026, 134 KB) Autodesk Maya 8. ... Software development is the translation of a user need or marketing goal into a software product. ... Autodesk, Inc. ... A software release is the distribution, whether public or private, of an initial or new and upgraded version of a computer software product. ... // An operating system (OS) is the software that manages the sharing of the resources of a computer. ... Windows redirects here. ... Mac OS X (IPA: ) is a line of graphical operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. ... This article is about operating systems that use the Linux kernel. ... Computer software can be organized into categories based on common function, type, or field of use. ... 3D computer graphics are different from 2D computer graphics in that a three-dimensional representation of geometric data is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images. ... A software license is a legal agreement which may take the form of a proprietary or gratuitous license as well as a memorandum of contract between a producer and a user of computer software. ... It has been suggested that closed source be merged into this article or section. ... A website (alternatively, Web site or web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos and other digital assets that is hosted on one or several Web server(s), usually accessible via the Internet, cell phone or a LAN. A Web page is a document, typically written in HTML... 3D computer graphics are different from 2D computer graphics in that a three-dimensional representation of geometric data is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into 3D computer graphics software. ... Alias Systems Corporation (formerly Alias|Wavefront), headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is a software company that produces high-end 3D graphics software. ... Autodesk, Inc. ... Autodesk Media and Entertainment, formerly Discreet, is based in Montreal, Quebec as the entertainment division of Autodesk. ... “Moving picture” redirects here. ... “TV” redirects here. ... “Computer and video games” redirects here. ...

In 2003, Maya (then owned by Alias) won an Academy Award "for scientific and technical achievement", citing use "on nearly every feature using 3-D computer-generated images."[1]

Overview

Maya is a popular, proprietary integrated node-based 3D software suite, evolved from Alias PowerAnimator. The software is released in two versions: Maya Complete (the less powerful package) and Maya Unlimited. Maya Personal Learning Edition (PLE) is available at no cost for non-commercial use, although rendered images are watermarked. It has been suggested that closed source be merged into this article or section. ... PowerAnimator and Animator, the precursor to what is now Maya and StudioTools, was an expensive, complex, highly-integrated industrial 3D modeling, animation, and visual effects suite. ...

Maya was originally released for the IRIX operating system, and subsequently ported to the Microsoft Windows, Linux and Mac OS X operating systems. IRIX support was discontinued after the release of version 6.5. When Autodesk acquired Alias in October 2005, they continued Maya development. The latest version, 8.5 Service Pack 1, was released in June 2007. IRIX is a computer operating system developed by Silicon Graphics, Inc. ... Windows redirects here. ... This article is about operating systems that use the Linux kernel. ... Mac OS X (IPA: ) is a line of graphical operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. ... Autodesk, Inc. ...

An important feature of Maya is its openness to third-party software, which can strip the software completely of its standard appearance and, using only the kernel, can transform it into a highly customized version of the software. Apart from its intrinsic power and flexibility, this feature in itself made Maya appealing to large studios which tend to write custom code for their productions using the provided software development kit. A geometric modeling kernel is a 3D solid modeling software component used in computer-aided design packages. ...

A Tcl-like cross-platform scripting language called Maya Embedded Language (MEL) is provided not only as a scripting language, but as means to customize Maya's core functionality (much of the environment and tools are written in the language). Additionally, user interactions are implemented and recorded as MEL scripting code which users can store on a toolbar, allowing animators to add functionality without experience in C or C++ programming and compilers, though that option is provided with the software development kit. Support for Python scripting was added in version 8.5. Tcl (originally from Tool Command Language, but nonetheless conventionally rendered as Tcl rather than TCL; and pronounced tickle) is a scripting language created by John Ousterhout. ... The Maya Embedded Language is a scripting language used to simplify tasks in Alias 3D Graphics Software Maya. ... C++ (pronounced see plus plus, IPA: ) is a general-purpose programming language with high-level and low-level capabilities. ... Python is a high-level programming language first released by Guido van Rossum in 1991. ...

The core of Maya itself is written in C++^[1].

Project files, including all geometry and animation data, are stored as sequences of MEL operations which can be optionally saved as a 'human readable' file (.ma, for Maya ASCII), editable in any text editor outside of the Maya environment which allows for a tremendous level of flexibility when working with external tools.

A pie menu called Hotbox provides instant access to a majority of features in Maya at the press of a key. A pie menu. ...

Modeling

Popular modeling features such as NURBS, polygons and subdivision surfaces are available. A NURBS curve being created in NX Shape Studio. ... Polygons are used in computer graphics to compose images that are three-dimensional in appearance. ... In computer graphics, subdivision surfaces are used to create smooth surfaces out of arbitrary meshes. ...

Animation, Character Setup, and Deformers

Keyframe Animation

This is the essential, fundamental form of computer animation. The model is placed in a starting pose or position, and a keyframe is set. Some frames later, another keyframe is set, and the model is moved as desired. This process is repeated as many times as needed. The animation software interpolates the motion needed to move the model smoothly between the keyframes. What this means is that if the animator keys a box, and moves the box across the room in the next keyframe, when the scene is scrubbed or viewed, the box will glide across the floor instead of jumping from frame to frame. This applies to anything in the scene - moving fingers, eyelids, moving lips, etc.

Nonlinear Animation

After animating a character with keyframes or motion capture, you can collect its animation data into a single, editable sequence. This animation sequence is called an animation clip.

In Maya, there are two types of clip: source clips and regular clips. Maya preserves and protects a character's original animation curves by storing them in source clips. You do not use source clips to animate your characters. Instead, you use copies or instances of source clips called regular clips to animate your characters nonlinearly.

Moving, manipulating, and blending regular clips to produce a smooth series of motions for a character is the basis of nonlinear animation. The tool with which you manage all these aspects of a character's nonlinear animation is the Trax Editor.

Path Animation

A path animation controls the position and rotation of an object along a curve. A NURBS curve cannot be designated as a motion path. An object must first be attached to the curve for it to become a path curve. You can also generate motion paths by animating objects using motion path keys.

Motion Capture Animation

Skeletons

Skeletons are hierarchical, articulated structures that let you pose and animate bound models. A skeleton provides a deformable model with a similar underlying structure as the human skeleton gives the human body.

Just like in the human body, the location of joints and the number of joints you add to a skeleton determine how the skeleton's bound model or `body' moves. When you bind a model to a skeleton, it is called skinning. The process of making a skeleton or bones, refining the joints, using IK or FK, putting handles on the joints so animators can manipulate them, and over all making the model ready for animation is called "Rigging"

Forward Kinematics

The reverse of Inverse Kinematics (IK), Forward Kinematics (FK) is an animation method that involves moving each joint without the restriction of an expected final position. Thus, the 'goal' is to move a joint (or series of joints) as desired, and the final pose is a consequence of those movements. Forward Kinematics is often used for finely-tuned joint movement (such as hands & fingers), as it allows for more complete control over posing. For more information, see Forward kinematic animation.

Inverse Kinematics

The reverse of Forward Kinematics, Inverse Kinematics is a method that involves defining a final pose, and generating joint movement as needed to reach that pose. Thus, the 'goal' is for all joints to be in a final pose, and the individual joint movements are a consequence of getting to that final pose. Joints must have carefully defined limits to their possible motion for Inverse Kinematics to work well, or the joints can end up 'flopping' before reaching the goal pose. Inverse Kinematics is often used for large limb movement (such as walking, reaching, etc.). For more information, see Inverse kinematic animation and Inverse kinematics.

Full Body IK Solver

When Alias bought Kaydara, Maya got an upgrade, from Kaydara Motion Builder, with a full body IK solver (FBIK Solver) which simulates real body kinematics. The package comes with a biped and a quadruped FBIK sample.

Skinning

’’Skinning’’ is the process of setting up a character's model so that it can be deformed by a skeleton. For more information on skeletons, see What are skeletons?. You skin a model by binding a skeleton to the model. You can bind a model to a skeleton by a variety of skinning methods, including smooth skinning and rigid skinning. Smooth skinning and rigid skinning are direct skinning methods. You can also use indirect skinning methods, which combine the use of lattice or wrap deformers with either smooth or rigid skinning.

Constraints

’’Constraints’’ enable you to constrain the position, orientation, or scale of an object to other objects. Further, with constraints you can impose specific limits on objects and automate animation processes.

Character Sets

In Maya, a character set is a node that brings together into a set all the attributes of any collection of objects that you want to animate together. The character set could be anything: a well-armed robot, an automobile, or even some seemingly unrelated collection of objects. Maya enables you to bring together all the attributes together in a character node, so you only have to select one node, the character node, when you want to animate all the various attributes.

Deformers

’’deformers‘’ are high-level tools that you can use to manipulate (when modeling) or drive (when animating) the low-level components of a target geometry. In other software packages, the terms modifiers and space warps are used to refer to what Maya calls deformers. The following are the many types of deformers: Blend Shape deformer, Lattice deformer, Cluster deformer, Nonlinear deformers, Sculpt deformer, Soft Modification deformer, Jiggle deformer, Wire deformer, Wrinkle deformer, Wrap deformer, Point On Curve deformer.

Forward kinematic animation is a method in 3D computer graphics for animating models. ... Inverse kinematic animation (IKA) refers to a process utilized in 3D computer graphic animation, to calculate the required articulation of a series of limbs or joints, such that the end of the limb ends up in a particular location. ... Inverse kinematics is the process of determining the movement of interconnected segments of a body or model. ...

Dynamics and Simulation

Maya features a particle system for handling masses like steam and water drops. Dynamic fields allow adding gravity, wind and vortexes, allowing for effects such as blowing leaves or even tornados. Special tools give artists the ability to brush and style particles like hair and fur. For more background on this topic, see game physics. ...

An artist may create rigid body geometric objects which collide automatically without explicit animation, as well as soft body objects which can ripple and bend, like flags and cloth. In physics, a rigid body is an idealization of a solid body of finite size in which deformation is neglected. ...

Maya effects are built-in programs that make it easy for users to create complex animation effects such as smoke, fire and realistic water effects, with many options and attributes for tuning the results.

Rendering and Render Setup

Shading

Like most 3D programs, Maya includes a number of parameterized shading models to define an object's visual properties, including Lambert, Blinn, Phong, and anisotropic shaders. Depending on which shading model is used, the parameters affect attributes such as the surface's color, reflective properties, and transparency, with the goal of simulating the appearance of real-life materials such as metal, stone, wood, and skin. Shaders can also incorporate bump maps, which create the illusion of surface textures.

Toon Shading

Toon shading creates the look of 2D cel or cartoon animation using 3D modeling and animation software. Elements of the "toon" look include profile lines (outlines), border lines, crease lines, intersection lines, and solid color shading. Combined, these elements recreate the look of traditional animation's "ink and paint" technique, where ink refers to lines and paint refers to shading.

Lighting

In the real world, when light shines on a surface, the parts of the surface facing toward the light source appear illuminated, and the parts of the surface facing away from the light source appear dark. If one object is located between a second object and the light source, the first object casts a shadow onto the second object.

PaintEffects

A component of Maya used to paint brush strokes and particle effects on a 2D canvas or on or between 3D geometry. Paint Effects can be used as a traditional paint program to paint images on a canvas, to paint repeatable textures applied to 3D geometry in scenes, or to paint in 3D space

’’Paint Effects’’integrates 2D painting tools into a 3D rendering environment. Libraries include numerous trees, grasses, and plants which can be painted to 'grow' off the surface of an object.

Mental ray

Native mental ray renderer.

RenderMan for Maya

In 2005, Pixar released its highly anticipated RenderMan for Maya renderer which incorporates the full RenderMan Pro Server features into a native Maya plugin. The workflow involves the use of Maya materials converted into RenderMan .

The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. ... Shaders are a set of different technologies. ... Lambert may refer to Lambert of Maastricht, bishop, saint, and martyr Lambert Mieszkowic, son of Mieszko I of Poland Lambert McKenna, Irish scholar, Editor and Lexicographer. ... The Blinn–Phong shading model (also called Blinn–Phong reflection model or modified Phong reflection model) is a modification to the Phong reflection model, trading visual precision for computing efficiency. ... Phong may refer to: Computer Graphics Phong shading Phong reflection model Blinn–Phong shading model Bui Tuong Phong - creator of the Phong shading interpolation method and reflection model. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... In computer graphics, bump mapping is a technique where at each pixel, a perturbation to the surface normal of the object being rendered is looked up in a texture map and applied before the illumination calculation is done (see, for instance, Phong shading. ... Object with a basic cel-shader (also known as a toon shader) and border detection. ... Object with a basic cel-shader (also known as a toon shader) and border detection. ... mental ray is a production quality rendering application developed by mental images (Berlin, Germany). ... mental ray is a production quality rendering application developed by mental images (Berlin, Germany). ... Pixars studio lot in Emeryville Pixar Animation Studios is an American computer animation studio based in Emeryville, California (USA) notable for its seven Academy Awards. ... RenderMan is the name of a rendering software package developed by Pixar Animation Studios; it implements Pixars photorealistic 3D description standard, the RenderMan Interface Specification. ...

Unlimited

Maya unlimited version comes with a set of tools not available in the Maya complete version.

Maya Fluid

A realistic fluid simulator (effective for smoke, fire, clouds and explosions, added in Maya 4.5)

Maya Classic Cloth

Cloth simulation to automatically simulate clothing and fabrics moving realistically over an animated character. The Maya Cloth toolset has been upgraded in every version of Maya released after Spiderman 2. Alias worked with Sony Pictures Imageworks to get Maya Cloth up to scratch for that production, and all those changes have been implemented, although the big studios opted to use third party plugins such as Syflex instead of the (relatively) cumbersome Maya Cloth.

Maya Fur

Animal fur simulation similar to Maya Hair. It can be used to simulate other fur-like objects, such as grass.

Maya Hair

A simulator for realistic-looking human hair implemented using curves and PaintEffects. These are also known as dynamic curves.

Maya Live

A set of motion tracking tools for CG matching to clean plate footage.

Maya nCloth

Added in version 8.5, nCloth is the first implementation of Maya Nucleus, Autodesk's simulation framework. nCloth gives the artist further control of cloth and material simulations.

Syflex is one of the fastest and most powerful cloth simulator. ...

Scripting & Plugins

A feature that makes Maya ever more powerful is that you can connect anything to anything. E.g. you can use a color intensity of a shader to control the movement of a door opening and closing. To control the node based system of maya, fully reconfigurable user interface can be scripted with MEL script code which can be dropped onto a shelf to create a new icon that executes that code) The Maya Embedded Language is a scripting language used to simplify tasks in Alias 3D Graphics Software Maya. ...

With the release of Maya 8.5 support for the Python scripting language has been included. "This popular open-source programming language helps accelerate facility-specific custom script development and plug-in prototyping, better extending and automating Maya production pipelines." -Autodesk Python is a high-level programming language first released by Guido van Rossum in 1991. ...

• List of Maya plugins

Maya Plugins are extensions for the 3d modeler Maya. ...

The History of Maya

Maya is the culmination of three 3D software lines: Wavefront's The Advanced Visualizer (in California), Thomson Digital Image (TDI) Explore (in France) and Alias' Power Animator (in Canada). In 1993 Wavefront purchased TDI, and in 1995 Silicon Graphics Incorporated (SGI) purchased both Alias and Wavefront (due to pressure from Microsoft's purchase of Softimage earlier that year) and combined them into one working company, producing a single package from their collective source code. In the mid-1990s, the most popular pipeline in Hollywood films was a combination of tools: Alias Studio for modeling, Softimage for animation, and PhotoRealistic RenderMan for rendering.^{[citation needed]} This combination was used for numerous films, such as Jurassic Park, The Abyss and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The combined company was referred to as Alias|Wavefront. It took Alias|Wavefront two more years after the merger to release the highly anticipated Maya. Silicon Graphics, Inc. ... Microsoft Corporation, (NASDAQ: MSFT, HKSE: 4338) is a multinational computer technology corporation with global annual revenue of US$44. ... A Canadian 46¢ stamp honoring Softimage. ... A Canadian 46¢ stamp honoring Softimage. ... RenderMan is the name of a rendering software package developed by Pixar Animation Studios; it implements Pixars photorealistic 3D description standard, the RenderMan Interface Specification. ... Jurassic Park is a 1993 science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton. ... The Abyss is a 1989 science fiction film which was written and directed by James Cameron, starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Michael Biehn. ... Terminator 2: Judgment Day (commonly abbreviated T2) is a 1991 movie directed by James Cameron and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, and Robert Patrick. ...

Both Alias and Wavefront were working on their next-generation of software at the time of the merger. Alias had taken a Macintosh product, "Alias Sketch!", moved it to the SGI platform and added many features to it. The code name for this project was "Maya", the Sanskrit term for "illusion." The first scene ever animated with Maya was the cave-mouth from Disney's "Aladdin".^{[citation needed]} Maya (illusion) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ...

After much discussion it was decided to adopt Alias' "Maya" architecture, and merge Wavefront's code with it.

In the early days of development, Maya used Tcl as the scripting language. After the merger, there was debate amongst those who supported Tcl, Perl and Sophia. Sophia was much faster than the others and won out. However, once error checking was added, it ended up being equally slow. Tcl (originally from Tool Command Language, but nonetheless conventionally rendered as Tcl rather than TCL; and pronounced tickle) is a scripting language created by John Ousterhout. ... Wikibooks has a book on the topic of Perl Programming Perl is a dynamic programming language created by Larry Wall and first released in 1987. ... In computer science and information theory, error correction consists of using methods to detect and/or correct errors in the transmission or storage of data by the use of some amount of redundant data and (in the case of transmission) the selective retransmission of incorrect segments of the data. ...

Upon its release in 1998, Alias|Wavefront discontinued all previous animation-based software lines including Alias Power Animator, encouraging consumers to upgrade to Maya. It succeeded in expanding its product line to take over a great deal of market share, with leading visual effects companies such as Industrial Light and Magic and Tippett Studio switching from Softimage to Maya for the animation software. Industrial Light & Magic original logo, designed by Drew Struzan Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) is a motion picture special visual effects company, founded in May 1975 by George Lucas and owned by Lucasfilm Ltd. ... Tippett Studio is an Academy Award winning visual effects company specializing in computer-generated imagery (CGI) for movies and television commercials. ... A Canadian 46¢ stamp honoring Softimage. ...

Later Alias|Wavefront was renamed Alias. In 2005 Alias was sold by the cash-strapped SGI to the Teachers' pension fund of Ontario and the private equity investment firm Accel-KKR. In October 2005, Alias was sold again, this time to Autodesk, and on January 10, 2006, Autodesk completed the acquisition and Alias Maya is now known as Autodesk Maya. Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Autodesk, Inc. ...

Maya has been used to animate popular television shows. It is used in combination with CorelDRAW to animate the cartoon South Park,^[2] and has been used to make 3D segments on Futurama and games such as Xenosaga and Resident Evil. Every episode of VeggieTales after Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed was animated using Maya. It is now used to do the 3D modeling in Channel 4's Grand Designs. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the TV series. ... This article is about the television series. ... It has been suggested that List of Xenosaga cast members be merged into this article or section. ... Resident Evil , Biohazard) is a survival horror video game by Capcom and is the inaugural title in the Resident Evil series. ... VeggieTales is a series of childrens computer animated films featuring humorous, anthropomorphic vegetables and conveying moral themes compatible with and often based on Christianity and Judaism. ... Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed is the 12th episode in the VeggieTales animated series, and the second installment of the Larry-Boy adventures. ... Grand Designs is a Channel 4 TV series covering unusual architectural house-building projects, presented by Kevin McCloud and produced by Talkback. ...

Maya has also been Crystal Dynamics (US game designers) main software, creating such titles as Tomb Raider: Legend, Tomb Raider: Anniversary and Prince of Persia. The software was also used to create the best selling game The Sims. For the movie staring Angelina Jolie, see Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. ... A bestseller is a book that is identified as extremely popular by its inclusion on a list of top-sellers. ... For games with Sim in the title, see List of Sim games. ...

Official Maya Learning Tools

Along with the history of Maya the company has produced Maya learning tools which date back to the earlier Alias days. Beginning with an internally produced newsletter on Maya software techniques and workflows, the tradition continued with the internally produced Art of Maya book and training videos and tutorials. In response to strong user demand the company's education department further developed instructional books and video-based learning content referred to as learning tools. Autodesk continues to develop learning tools with content developed both by internal product specialists as well as industry professionals. The company's video-based learning tools have recently moved away from physical production and are now strictly available as digital downloads from the Autodesk site.

Version release dates history

• 8.5 SP1: June 2007 [2]
• 8.5: January 2007 [3]
• 8.0: August 2006 [4]
• 7.0.1: December 2005
• 7.0: August 2005 [5]
• 6.5.1: December 2005
• 6.5: January 2005 [6] (last shipping IRIX Version)
• 6.0: May 2004 [7]
• 5.0: May 2003 [8]
• 4.5: July 2002 [9]
• 4.0: June 2001 [10] (no Mac OS X Version)
• 3.5.1: September 2002 (Mac OS X only)
• 3.5: October 2001 (first shipping Mac OS X Version only)
• 3.0: February 2000 [11] (first shipping Linux Version)
• 2.5.2: March 2000
• 2.5: November 1999 [12]
• 2.0: June 1999 [13]
• 1.5: October 1998 (IRIX only)
• 1.0.1: October 1998 (Windows Version)
• 1.0.1: June 1998 (IRIX Version)
• 1.0: June 1998 (first shipping Windows Version)
• 1.0: February 1998

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the year. ... This article is about the year. ...

References

1. ^ List of C++ applications, maintained by C++ creator Bjarne Stroustrup
2. ^ The Method Behind the Madness of South Park By Matt Cheplic - Millimeter Magazine, May 1, 1998

Bjarne Stroustrup Bjarne Stroustrup (IPA: ) (born December 30, 1950 in Aarhus, Denmark) is a computer scientist and the College of Engineering Chair Professor of Computer Science at Texas A&M University. ...

See Also

• 3D computer graphics
• 3D modeler
• 3ds Max
• Alias Systems Corporation
• Autodesk
• Autodesk Media and Entertainment
• Companies who use Maya
• gmax

3D computer graphics are different from 2D computer graphics in that a three-dimensional representation of geometric data is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into 3D computer graphics software. ... 3ds Max is a full-featured 3D graphics application developed by Autodesk Media and Entertainment. ... Alias Systems Corporation (formerly Alias|Wavefront), headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is a software company that produces high-end 3D graphics software. ... Autodesk, Inc. ... Autodesk Media and Entertainment, formerly Discreet, is based in Montreal, Quebec as the entertainment division of Autodesk. ... Gmax is a 3D modeling tool based on Discreets award winning 3D Studio Max used by professional computer graphics artists; Gmax is, in essence, a simplified version of this tool. ...

External links

• Mel Scripts, Tutorials, Plugins, Shaders
• Personal Learning Edition
• Largest maya learning resource:Hundreds of tutorials and a forum for all Maya users.
• Autodesk Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Alias.
• Autodesk Completes Acquisition of Alias
• Alias/Wavefront receives an Oscar
• The Maya Wiki