File > New Scene

Default Working Units

Lets you specify default working units for new scenes: linear units, angular units, and time settings.

The units in your preferences (Window > Settings/Preferences > Preferences) relate only to the current scene; you can change your current scene units without changing the default new scene units.

If you select Enable Default Scene in the File > New Scene options, the Default Working Units option is not available since the value of the working units is set by the default scene.

The units you specify are not overwritten when you open a scene file with different units. The first time you run Maya, the Default Working Units are set from the Working Unit values in your preferences.

Linear

Sets the unit of measure for operations that use linear values, for example, moving and scaling. The default is centimeters.

Angular

Sets the unit of measure for operations that use an angular value, for example, rotation. The default unit is degrees.

Time

Sets the working time unit for animation. The Time Slider displays time values in the unit chosen. The Time Slider values update when you change the time units. You can specify the time unit as frames or as clock values.

Frame selections include: 15 fps, Film (24 fps), PAL (24 fps), NTSC (30 fps), Show (48 fps), PAL Field (50 fps), NTSC Field (60 fps), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 40, 75, 80, 100, 120, 125, 150, 200, 240, 250, 300, 375, 400, 500, 600, 750, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000, 3000, and 6000 frames per second.

Clock values include: milliseconds, seconds, minutes, hours

The terms frame and time refer to working time units as displayed in the Time Slider. Technically the term frame applies only when Time is specified in frames per second (fps). In general, time can refer to frames or to clock values.

Default ViewCube Settings

Show the Compass below the ViewCube

When on, displays a compass below the ViewCube for determining the view orientation in a geographic context.

Angle of North (degrees)

Lets you specify the compass orientation. For example, to rotate the compass a quarter-turn clockwise, set Angle of North to 90.0.

Default Time Slider Settings

Playback start/end

Specifies playback range start and end times. The playback start and end times specify the Time Slider playback range. The playback range is always within the animation range. You can also specify the time units. See Edit animation preferences.

Animation start/end

Specifies animation range start and end times. The animation start and end times specify the Range Slider range. The playback range always stays within the animation range, so changing the animation start and end times can also change the playback start and end times. Default animation start time is 1.00. Default animation end time is 48.00. You can also specify the time units. See Edit animation preferences.