Maya (.ma)

Background & Context

    • Autodesk Maya scene description format.
    • 3D geometry format.
    • Native format of the Maya modeling, animation, and rendering software.
    • Used for storage and interchange of 3D graphical objects.
    • ASCII format.
    • Can store multiple 3D objects as polygon primitives.

Export

  • Export["file.ma",expr] exports a Graphics3D expression to a binary Maya file.
  • Export["file.ma",expr,elem] creates a binary Maya file by treating expr as specifying element elem.
  • Export["file.ma",{expr1,expr2,…},{{elem1,elem2,…}}] treats each expri as specifying the corresponding elemi.
  • Export["file.ma",expr,opt1->val1,…] exports expr with the specified option elements taken to have the specified values.
  • Export["file.ma",{elem1->expr1,elem2->expr2,…},"Rules"] uses rules to specify the elements to be exported.
  • See the following reference pages for full general information:
  • Exportexport to a file
    CloudExportexport to a cloud object
    ExportStringexport to a string
    ExportByteArrayexport to a byte array

Import Elements

  • General element:
  • "Rules"full list of rules for each element and option
  • Data representation elements:
  • "Graphics3D"Maya file represented as a Graphics3D object
    "GraphicsComplex"list of GraphicsComplex objects, each representing a 3D geometry stored in the file
    "PolygonData"the polygon elements in indexed form
    "PolygonObjects"list of Polygon primitives given in absolute coordinates
    "VertexData"list of vertex coordinates
  • The "VertexData" element corresponds to the first argument of GraphicsComplex.

Options

  • Advanced option:
  • "VerticalAxis"{0,0,1}orientation to assume for the coordinate system used in the file
    "Comments"Nonecomments to be embedded in the file
  • By default, the Wolfram Language assumes that in the coordinate system used by Maya, the vertical axis corresponds to the third coordinate.
  • With the setting "VerticalAxis"->{0,1,0}, the Wolfram Language will apply the transformation {x,y,z}->{x,z,-y} to all graphics coordinates when exporting to Maya.

Examples

Basic Examples  (3)

Get the image of a polyhedron:

Export it to a Maya entity file:

Use SphericalPlot3D to create a solid 3D geometry:

Export it to Maya:

Export inline 3D graphics: