
Autodesk Maya 2011
Debuting in Maya 2011 is the Camera Sequencer which manages multiple camera shots in an animation sequence.
Pros
- 64-bit support Mac for Mac OS X, improved performance and productivity, enhanced character animation, new Camera Sequencer, updated dynamics
Cons
- Comparatively expensive, steep learning curve, needs better 3D painting system.
Bottom Line
Maya 2011 delivers important performance and workflow improvements including 64-bit support for Mac OS X. With 64-bit support Mac users can access valuable computing resources and take advantage of the performance improvements available in this release. Performance and computing boosts aside, much of what’s new in Maya 2011 focuses on its traditional strengths: character animation and dynamics.
-
Price
$ 3,495.00 (AUD)
Maya is the de facto application for 3D character animation, but even in Maya rigging a character for animation is often a tedious chore. Fortunately, in Maya 2011 rigging is a bit easier with new interactive skin binding which sets up initial skin weights via a weighting manipulator (like a scale or move manipulator). Once done the initial weights can be refined with the paint weighting tools which have also been improved with tools to copy, paste, and move weights, better selection, and improved colour feedback.
Debuting in Maya 2011 is the Camera Sequencer which manages multiple camera shots in an animation sequence. The Camera Sequencer allows animators to experiment with camera choreography from scratch within Maya or to import an EDL from Final Cut for instance and compose and frame scenes and set up object and camera animations using the EDL data. The Camera Sequences can also import associated video, audio, and timing information. Once camera shots are orchestrated the Camera Sequences produces pre-viz movies of the animation. The new Camera Sequencer is like having a bit of After Effects or Final Cut inside Maya.
However, even with careful weighting deformations in some joints can cause the mesh to twist and lose volume producing what is known as a “candy wrapper” effect. To alleviate this problem Maya 2011 introduces a dual quaternion skinning option (in addition to linear skinning) that attenuates unwanted skinning artefacts.
Another character rigging time saver is integration of the HumanIK solver in Maya 2011. The Human IK solver makes it possible to quickly retarget (transfer) animation data like motion capture information from one character to another, regardless of differences in size, proportions and bone hierarchy between the characters. Once animation data is applied to the target character its animation may be edited via animation layers.
In a never ending effort to produce better fluids simulations in this release Maya Fluid Effects ships with important new options. The new Self Attraction and Repulsion attributes create forces between particles that more faithfully reproduce the natural behaviours of swirling or expanding gases. Geared towards improved computing performance the new Auto Resize option resizes the simulation’s container as needed instead of keeping it at a fixed size.
To improve the realism of clouds, plumes of smoke, and other gas simulations Maya 2011 ships with new additions to the Attributes Editor that control lighting inside the simulation. For example, Shadow Diffusion controls shadow softness and light scattering, Light Type produces internal illumination, and Ambient Lighting manages the intensity, colour and diffusion of ambient light in the simulation. All new lighting controls may be previewed in the scene prior to rendering.
Maya’s revolutionary Nucleus technology nParticles and nCloth have also been updated with new options. For instance, nParticles can now emit fluids (classic particles may also emit fluids). Additional attributes like per-particle rotations, collision ramps, and very cool surface tension and viscosity properties take nParticle simulations to a new level of hyper-realism. Not to be outdone nCloth features a new collide strength attribute that specifies the force of collisions between nCloth and other Nucleus objects. A new Bend solver resolves problems with intersections and flipped polygons and the new Rest Length Scale tool determines the texture and surface properties of nCloth objects.
Important productivity improvements in Maya 2011 include better assets management to more efficiently organize large scenes, create assets from templates, enable asset repurposing, and exchange asset data without file referencing. Also a new display option improves the display of very heavy scenes (many models and textures), and the user interface itself has been updated to the Qt framework shared by other Autodesk applications.
Brand Post

Most Popular Reviews
- 1 Dell U3223QE review: A winning debut for an IPS Black monitor
- 2 Netgear Nighthawk M5 mobile router review: Probably too expensive, but nice
- 3 MSI Katana GF76 review: Decent gaming performance for a reasonable price
- 4 Asus ROG Flow Z13 review: A full-fledged gaming PC disguised as a tablet
- 5 iPhone SE (2022) review: An uneven and disappointing ‘upgrade’
Latest News Articles
- Microsoft’s universal ‘One Outlook’ client just leaked out
- Microsoft reveals a new Windows Game Bar built for controllers
- Microsoft tests a limited VPN for Microsoft Edge
- Audacity developer puts the ‘proper’ version on the Microsoft Store
- How to pin an extension to Chrome’s toolbar
Resources
Macworld
What's new, plus best mac-related tips
and tricks

Business Centre
The latest business news, reviews, features and whitepapers

Videos
Watch our video news and reviews from around the world

Guides
Comprehensive buying guides, features, and step-by-step articles

PCW Evaluation Team
Pedro Peixoto
Aruba Instant On AP11D

Set up is effortless.
Cate Bacon
Aruba Instant On AP11D

The strength of the Aruba Instant On AP11D is that the design and feature set support the modern, flexible, and mobile way of working.
Dr Prabigya Shiwakoti
Aruba Instant On AP11D

Aruba backs the AP11D up with a two-year warranty and 24/7 phone support.
Tom Pope
Dynabook Portégé X30L-G

Ultimately this laptop has achieved everything I would hope for in a laptop for work, while fitting that into a form factor and weight that is remarkable.
Tom Sellers
MSI P65

This smart laptop was enjoyable to use and great to work on – creating content was super simple.
Lolita Wang
MSI GT76

It really doesn’t get more “gaming laptop” than this.
Featured Content
- What laptop should I get? Top 12 things to consider
- Best Optus iPhone SE (3rd gen) plans
- eSIMs: The advantages and disadvantages for smartphone users
- Everything you need to know about Smart TVs
- What's the difference between an Intel Core i3, i5 and i7?
- Laser vs. inkjet printers: which is better?