San Rafael, Calif. - Autodesk Inc. has announced Autodesk Maya 2011 software, the latest version of its 3D animation software. A new user interface (UI), 3D editorial capability and enhanced skinning workflow help provide computer graphics (CG) artists with an end-to-end creative workflow at an exceptional value. Autodesk Maya software has been used on countless games as well as every Oscar-winning movie for Best Visual Effects since 2001.
Key New Features in Autodesk Maya 2011 Software
Redesigned User Interface - Maya 2011 has a fresh new look and feel.
Based on Nokia Qt, the new UI is simpler to customize, featuring dockable UI elements and improved editors.
High Performance Core - Maya 2011 features a completely redesigned graphics pipeline that helps deliver new levels of performance for complex scenes while improving the quality of the viewport feedback.
Mac OS X 64-Bit Availability - Mac OS X users can access considerably more memory to handle larger and more complex scenes with the new 64-bit executable.
Accelerated 3D Editorial - The software's new Camera Sequencer adds powerful multicamera editorial capabilities to help facilitate pre-visualization and virtual moviemaking production using a Maya timeline. Developed on-site in production to meet the needs of large-scale CG animations, the Camera Sequencer supports import of both AAF and Final Cut Pro EDLs.
Enhanced Skinning Workflow - Creating believable CG characters is also made easier with a new, dual quaternion option for smooth skinning, interactive volume binding, enhancements to the Paint Skin Weights tool, deformer weight mirroring and surface falloff mode for the Wrap deformer.
Improved Maya Composite - A new Vector Paint feature in Maya Composite dramatically improves its paint and rotoscoping capabilities. Now, animatable and trackable paint strokes can be used to paint colors and reveal or clone data across a sequence or on a per-frame basis.
From March 11-13, 2010, visit the Virtual GDC event on the AREA community site to watch Maya 2011 product demonstrations and customer presentations live from the Autodesk Game Developers Conference booth. More information is also available on AREA blogs: Cory Mogk's Mayalicious, Steven Roselle's My Oh Maya!, and Duncan Brinsmead's Duncan's Corner. Videos of the new features are available on the Autodesk You Tube channel.
Autodesk anticipates that Maya 2011 will be available in English and Japanese in April 2010. The Autodesk suggested retail price (SRP) for an Autodesk Maya 2011 stand-alone license is $3495. The SRP to upgrade from Maya 2010 stand-alone to Maya 2011 stand-alone is $1745. Autodesk Subscription is available for purchase simultaneously with the product or upgrade purchase for $595 per year.
Autodesk Maya 2011 will also be available as part of the Autodesk Maya Entertainment Creation Suite 2011. The Suite offers customers Maya 2011 together with Autodesk Mudbox 2011 and Autodesk MotionBuilder 2011 software. Artists and production facilities have access to a range of powerful creative tools at more than 35 percent cost savings, compared to purchasing each product separately.