What's New in General

New Pipeline Cache tools let you load, save, and play back Maya scenes as Alembic cache files. The Alembic file format is an open-source format developed for exchanging complex 3D geometry data. Alembic files are highly portable and application-independent so they can be shared, processed, and played back by many content creation applications.

Alembic caches provide several performance improvements, including accelerated scene loading of large scenes, faster playback of complex character animation, and real-time play back of geometry data with topology changes. Alembic files also let you share large scenes between various areas of a production pipeline without the large memory overhead of fully editable scene files.

Options in a new Pipeline Caching menu let you configure settings for loading and saving Alembic files.

• Pipeline caching overview
• Pipeline caching workflows
• Pipeline Cache

Watch: Alembic Cache import and export

Watch: GPU Cache import and export

Transfer data between Maya and 3ds Max using the new Send to 3ds Max command in the File menu. You can send various forms of data, including geometry, animation, materials, and textures, to 3ds Max. You must have matching versions of Maya 2013, 3ds Max 2013 and FBX 2013 to use this command.

• Send objects to 3ds Max
• Updating, adding, or deleting objects sent to 3ds Max

Maya is now available with a Simplified Chinese interface. For instructions on how to run Maya with a Simplified Chinese interface on different operating systems, see Run Maya with a Japanese or Simplified Chinese interface.

• Running Maya in Japanese and Simplified Chinese

Check for updates including Service Packs and Hotfixes using the new Autodesk Maya Update Manager (Help > Check for Updates).

This window lists updates that are available for your version of Maya, and lets you check for updates using download codes.