Key features for animation studios  

3DS MAX, MUDBOX

Reduce complex and high-resolution assets, or traditional modeling work by automatically reconstructing polygonal mesh data as clean, quad-based topology with uncompromising accuracy.

3DS MAX, MAYA
Take polygon modeling to the next level through industry-leading Smart Extrude, which enables you to interactively extrude to Add To or Take Away from the mesh to quickly create expressive content.

3DS MAX, MAYA
Create parametric and organic objects with polygon, subdivision surface, and spline-based modeling features. 

MAYA, 3DS MAX, MUDBOX
View and edit the UV texture coordinates for polygon, NURBS, and subdivision surfaces in a 2D view.

3DS MAX
Conceptualize, iterate, and explore design ideas using a range of industry-defining modifiers that are nondestructive and easy to use. 

3DS MAX, MAYA
Create sophisticated motion systems for rigged characters including deformations that deliver lifelike performances.

MAYA

Sketch poses over time, define motion arcs, mark up a shot, or add comments and annotations to your scene. 

3DS MAX, MAYA, MOTIONBUILDER

Create, view, and modify animation curves using a graphical representation of scene animation. 

MOTIONBUILDER

Switch between and combine different takes into a single animation with clip-blending and nonlinear animation.

MAYA

Review animations faster and produce fewer playblasts with parallel evaluation, GPU accelerated deformers, and background caching.  

3DS MAX, MAYA, MOTIONBUILDER, MUDBOX 

Extend capabilities with support for powerful third-party plug-ins.

MAYA

Create physically accurate and incredibly detailed simulations in a single visual procedural programming environment. 

MAYA

Deliver natural looking effects like combustion, snow, or particles with Aero, MPM, and Particles systems. 

MAYA

Create large scale complexity for world building or set dressing with expressive scattering tools.

MAYA

Create great-looking effects, such as explosions and dust storms, right out of the box with prebuilt graphs.

MAYA

Render volumes that closely match Arnold renderings directly in the viewport with NanoVTT.

MAYA

Use powerful interactive groom tools to create realistic hair and fur for your characters. 

MAYA
Graph shading networks and create materials for USD objects with an artist-friendly look development system. 

ARNOLD
Switch seamlessly between CPU and GPU rendering. 

ARNOLD

Produce a wide range of materials and looks with this energy-saving, physically based uber shader.

ARNOLD
Use Bloom, Light Mixer, Noice, and OptiX denoiser imagers to control lighting effects and automatically denoise after each render.

ARNOLD

Integrate Arnold into external applications and create custom shaders, cameras, light filters, and output drivers.

ARNOLD

Maximize the power of USD with Arnold in production scenarios.

MAYA

Load and edit massive data sets in a matter of seconds using USD.

3DS MAX, MAYA

Import USD data as native Maya or 3ds Max data and export native Maya or 3ds Max data as USD data.

MAYA

See quick previews of USD scene structure using the Hierarchy View window.

The USD plug-ins for Maya, Bifrost, and Arnold are available as open-source projects for studios to customize as needed.

3DS MAX, MAYA, MOTIONBUILDER

Create scripts and write plug-ins using Python 3.

3DS MAX, ARNOLD, MAYA, MOTIONBUILDER, MUDBOX

Customize how software looks and works to suit your pipeline. 

3DS MAX, MAYA

Create large, complex worlds more easily and manage production assets as discrete elements.

3DS MAX, MAYA

Use scene security tools to protect your work against malicious scripts that could be part of scene files.

3DS MAX

Publish assets from your 3ds Max scene to glTF for use in web applications, online stores, browser games, and other online outlets.