Alias announced the worldwide availability of Maya 6.5, which has been equipped to handle larger datasets by a dual approach; speed improvements in critical parts of the workflow and new tools for efficiently managing very large datasets. Absolute speed improvements have been dramatic in many cases, as Maya performs more efficiently in relation to larger scene sizes. For example, UV manipulations have been benchmarked as being more than 100 times faster in Maya 6.5 compared to Maya 6. Depending on specific file characteristics and customer workflow, Maya now delivers improved interactivity, faster calculations of deformations and simulations, speedier I/O and faster redrawing.
In addition, large datasets are more manageable in Maya 6.5 software due to a variety of improvements in scene segmentation including reference file editing, nesting and locking. A new STEP translator makes the importing of CAD data files several orders of magnitude faster.
Also, the new mental ray for Maya Satellite rendering allows network rendering across multiple CPUs for interactive and batch rendering, including use of mental ray for pre-lighting.
New and upgrading customers can purchase Maya 6.5 from an authorized reseller or online at www.alias.com.
The decision to focus an entire release on solving a single set of problems- the challenge of handling massive datasets - was a bold and calculated decision by our product development team, commented Bob Bennett, general manager of product management, Alias. Alias strives to be ahead of the technology curve for the benefit of our customers and whats coming for their pipelines in the next 18 months.
The pricing of Maya remains unchanged from Maya 6 - Maya Complete 6.5 is $1,999 and Maya Unlimited is $6,999. Upgrade pricing is $899 for Maya Complete and $1,249 for Maya Unlimited. Both Maya Complete and Maya Unlimited are available on the Windows, IRIX, Linux and Mac OS X platforms.
Maya 6.5 will be the last upgrade release for IRIX. Due to a significant decrease in the number of Maya customers relying on the IRIX operating system for running Maya interactively. Going forward, Alias will concentrate its development of Maya on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux platforms but will continue to offer support for IRIX as a license-serving platform.
As a leading innovator of 3D graphics technology, Alias (www.alias.com) develops award-winning software, custom development and training solutions for the film and video, games, Web, interactive media, automotive, industrial design, education and visualization markets. Alias is headquartered in Toronto with a Custom Development Center in Santa Barbara and offices worldwide.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
