Award-winning Autodesk® Maya® software is a powerful, integrated 3D modeling, animation, effects and rendering solution. Because Maya is based on an open architecture, all your work can be scripted or programmed using a well-documented and comprehensive API (Application Program Interface), or one of two integrated scripting languages. This, combined with an industry-leading suite of 3D tools, means Maya enables you to realize your creative ideas.
Maya is a popular, integrated node-based 3D software suite, evolved from Wavefront Explorer and Alias PowerAnimator using technologies from both. 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.
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, 2008 (9.0), was released in September 2007. 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 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.
The core of Maya itself is written in C++.
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. This module is a direct evolution of Wavefront Dynamation. 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. 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.
In version 8.5 a powerful cloth simulator called "nCloth" was added, allowing users to simulate cloth with control over aspects such as self-collision and interpenetration. The cloth objects can be modified to behave as rigid or soft bodies.
Materials
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.
Supported render engine
Maya has an open render API, and allows for third party render integration. There is a large number of renders supported, here is a list of a few:
- Chaos Group, Vray
- Cebas, FinalRender
- DNA Research, 3Delight
- Illuminate Labs, Turtle
- NextLimit, Maxwell Render
- Nvidia, Gelato
- Mental Images, Mental ray
- Physically Based Rendering, PBRT for Maya (openSource )
- Pixar, RendermanForMaya
- Pixar, Renderman Studio ( which replaces RAT ) and works with PhotoRealistic Renderman
- Sitex Graphics, Air ( With RIB translation software like Liquid or MayaMan )
- Sunflow ( openSource )
System Requirements
Software
The Autodesk Maya 8.5 Personal Learning Edition is supported on the following 32-bit operating systems:
* Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional (SP2 or higher)
* Apple® Mac OS® X 10.4.8
Supported Web Browsers:
* Microsoft® Internet Explorer® 6 or higher
* Netscape® 7 or higher
* Apple® Safari™
* Firefox®
Hardware
At a minimum, Autodesk Maya 8.5 Personal Learning Edition requires a system with the following hardware:
* Windows: Intel® Pentium® 4 or higher or AMD Opteron™ processor
* Macintosh®: Power Mac® G5 or Intel®-based Macintosh® computers
* 1GB RAM
* 2GB free hard drive space
* Qualified hardware-accelerated OpenGL® graphics card
* Three-button mouse with mouse driver software
* DVD-ROM drive
Maya download 
