Plugins for Maya

Before exporting and importing models from Maya, you may need to change the World Up Vector to Z-axis in Maya settings. Otherwise, models will be not oriented correctly, because Unigine has a different orientation of the coordinate system. To change World Up Vector, do the following:

1. Select Window -> Settings/Preferences -> Preferences on a menu bar.
2. In Settings category, set Up axis to Z.

If Unigine plugins were not installed automatically, do the following:

1. Copy binary files (*.mll for Windows version and *.so for Linux version) into the Maya/bin/plug-ins directory.
2. Copy MEL scripts (*.mel) into the Maya/scripts/others directory.
3. Run Maya.
4. Choose Window -> Settings/Preferences -> Plug-in manager in the Maya main menu.
5. Set Loaded and Auto load flags for MeshExport, MeshImport, MeshSkinnedExport, and MeshSkinnedImport plugins.

To export static geometry into .mesh file:

1. Select a model you want to export into Unigine.
2. Select File -> Export Selection... in the main menu.
3. Choose Mesh Export in the Files of type drop-down list.
4. Check Flip option (unless Z axis is already used as a world up vector).

The following options are available for export into the MESH format:

• Flip — flip YZ axes and invert Y axis. This option allows to export a mesh with a proper orientation even if World Up Vector is set to Y-axis in Maya settings (instead of Z-axis).
• Scale — scaling ratio. This value scales the size of a mesh.
• Digits — required precision of exported values (the number of digits after a decimal point to keep).

To export a skinned mesh together with its animation into .smesh file:

1. Make sure that Z axis is used as a world up vector.
2. Select a skinned model you want to export into Unigine.
3. Select File -> Export Selection... in the main menu.
4. Choose Mesh Skinned Export in the Files of type drop-down list.

The following options are available for export into the SMESH format:

• Scale — scaling ratio. This value scales the size of a skinned mesh.
• Digits — required precision of exported values (the number of digits after a decimal point to keep).

To import a Unigine-native mesh or skinned mesh into Maya:

1. Select File -> Import in the main menu.
2. Choose a file in .mesh or .smesh format.