Autodesk Maya & 3Ds Max 2025 Update

Studios specializing in animation, VFX, and game development are dealing with a growing array of tools and personnel. This highlights the importance of seamless data integration and minimizing technical obstacles that can hinder creativity. To foster better collaboration and creativity, Autodesk has prioritized streamlined workflows and efficient creative tools in the latest update of its Design & Make software.

The latest updates to Autodesk Maya, 3Ds Max, and Arnold provide enhanced support for open standards and improvements in modeling, animation, simulation, look development, and rendering.

Enhancing Collaboration with Open Standards

With increased co-development, connecting assets and data across various tools, departments, and studios is crucial. The latest release includes:

OpenColorIO Support in 3ds Max: Now the standard color management mode, with complete integration for the VertexPaint tool and the ability to set color space for output files.
LookdevX Enhancements in Maya: Improved material portability with a native MaterialX data model, enabling the import, export, and editing of MaterialX files directly in Maya.
OpenUSD Improvements: Enhanced support for animations, lights, cameras, and BlendShapes, enabling better asset creation and interoperability in both 3ds Max and Maya.

Boosting Productivity with New Tools

Modelers and animators can achieve higher productivity with the latest tools in Maya and 3ds Max:

Smart Extrude in Maya: A new tool for easily extruding mesh faces, simplifying the process and reducing unwanted geometry.
Retopology Enhancements in 3ds Max: Faster optimization of asset geometry, making modeling more efficient.
Redesigned Dope Sheet in Maya: A revamped interface for a more user-friendly animation experience, with the ability to switch between commonly used animation controls.
Motion Trail Editor in Maya: All motion trail-related functions are now accessible in a single interface, reducing effort.
Global Search in 3ds Max: Quickly find tools, functions, commands, and settings by pressing “x” in the viewport.
GPU Renderer Overhaul in Arnold: Faster rendering with an improved GPU Renderer.
Progressive Dithered Sampling in Arnold: Better noise distribution at low AA sample counts, resulting in smoother renders.

Automating Content Creation with Procedural Tools

New procedural tools in Bifrost for Maya automate repetitive tasks, allowing artists to focus on creating impressive visuals:

Bifrost Ocean Simulation System (BOSS): Now integrated into the Bifrost graph for easy procedural ocean simulation, including 2D foam and wave geometry displacement.
Liquid Meshing: Streamline content creation with in-graph tools for liquid meshing, designed to work with imported Bifrost liquid caches in Maya.

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