Maya 6 features enhanced integration with mental ray, including IPR, the ability to render fur and volumetric fluid effects, image-based lighting, blurry reflections and refractions, contour rendering and easy access to native shaders. Version 6 offers four integrated rendering options: Hardware rendering, Vector rendering, mental ray and the native Maya Software renderer.

Alias’ global customer services team is launching new Maya 6 self-paced Learning Tools and new services for maintenance customers. Two new Learning Tools available to purchase now at www.alias.com, are Learning Maya 6|Foundation and Learning Maya 6|Unlimited Features. These are just two of dozens of Maya 6 Learning Tools that will be released over the next few months.

Upcoming DVDs, books and CDs include Maya Beginner’s Guides, DISCOVER MAYA|GRAPHICS IN MOTION and LEARNING MAYA 6|MODELING FOR ANIMATION, to name a few.

Maya 6 is available via download on April 26, 2004 for Maya customers with current full annual maintenance agreements. Maya Complete for the Windows, IRIX, Linux and Mac OS X operating systems, is priced at $1,999 and includes modeling, rendering, animation, dynamics, Maya Artisan, Maya Paint Effects, mental ray for Maya and Maya Embedded Language (MEL), an open interface for programming and scripting.

Maya Unlimited for the Windows, IRIX and Linux operating systems, is priced at $6,999 and includes all features in Maya Complete along with Maya Hair, Maya Fluid Effects, Maya Fur, Maya Cloth and Maya Live. Maya will be available to purchase in May 2004 through the Alias network of authorized resellers or online at: www.alias.com.

Version upgrades for Maya Complete are priced at $899 and for Maya Unlimited at $1,249.

Alias 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 a wholly-owned independent software company of SGI with headquarters in Toronto and a Custom Development Center in Santa Barbara, California.