This topic describes why and how to export models to work on them in Autodesk Maya.
Why export APF files to Maya?
The Autodesk® Showcase™ installation provides APF add-ins you can load into Maya® (versions 8.5 and later). With this add-in,
you can import tessellated APF model files into Maya and enhance them there (for example, by unwrapping UVs). You can use
the same add-in to export the files to be read back into Autodesk Showcase.
This workflow may improve the appearance of materials using image-based textures (for example, bump maps and lighting maps)
when the images are mapped onto the model surfaces. In addition, you can bake software-rendered textures in Maya to make sure
they appear correctly aligned and positioned in Autodesk Showcase.
Tips and warnings
- You can change the overall shape of the polygon mesh (for example, add creases, deform, bend, or stretch), but you cannot
remodel the polygonal mesh (for example, delete faces, change the number of vertices, extract, detach, regroup, rename, or
cut).
- You must perform the same UV remapping for each LOD (LODs appear as separate transforms in the Maya Outliner). Some useful
unwrapping tools in Maya include .
- You must use parametric mapping of textures in Autodesk Showcase (as opposed to projection mapping) to see the results of
your changes.
- If you change the APF file in Maya, these changes will not be preserved if you reload or re-tessellate the model from its
original CAD format back into Autodesk Showcase.
To load the Autodesk Showcase Maya add-in
- From the Showcase 2009 installation launcher, select , and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Note
You must already have Maya 2009 installed in the default location on your system for the installer to find the add-ins folder.
- If you are running an earlier version of Maya (8.5 or 2008), or Maya 2009 for Windows 64-bit then you must browse the installation
DVD or download directory and run the appropriate standalone installer instead.
- Once installed, launch Maya and select .
- From the list of add-ins in C:/Program Files/Autodesk/Maya2009/bin/add-ins, check Loaded for the AutodeskPacketFile.mll file.
- You will have to load the mll file each time you start Maya, unless you check Auto load as well.
