That is the fifth time I'd start to write this mail. I don't want to looks like a troll or something. I just want you people understand what I felt using only Blender since almost 10 years ago and needs now to animate on Maya. I learned the essential about Maya to work with animation on it. I don't know to model and a lot of things, so I can make mistakes on my humble features review. I will try to summarize this time:<br>
<br>- First impressions: Maya's interface is too complicated and messy! But I think if you come from 10yrs Maya to Blender, you will think the same about Blender;<br clear="all">- I couldn't personalize Maya's interface like what I wanted. There is limits on its main window. BUT I learn how to do it using other windows. You need 2 monitor to have a good workspace;<br>
- Relative and Absolute paths: on Maya you need to set the project folder before open your file. That is a boring thing to do, because on Blender I just need to open the file and that is it. The relative Path is already set up, no meter if I move or rename my main project folder;<br>
- Preparing to animate: That is really boring: EVERY TIME after a file opened, I need to disable all selections and enable only Curve selection, to not select other objects, only the character controllers (normally curves). And I like to hide the bars, so before that I need to restore with Ctrl+Tab twice (I made easily and script on Shelf to disable select any type and enable only curves) and then close the bars again to get more space;<br>
- After that I need to set my Dope Sheet with all character controllers (like the Action Editor). There is 2 Options: Select all controllers > List menu > disable auto list ... or you can Bookmark it (pretty smart) > List > Bookmark > create ... and open by the bookmark after;<br>
- Focus on Dope Sheet and Graph Editor: If I closed the file working on frames 5000 to 5100 and open the day after, it will open on frames 0-100 for example. So I need to focus the window to the frames I was working again, selecting a controller on dope sheet and pressing F. Same to Graph Editor, but selecting a controller on View Port and F again. After all of it, I will be ready to start my job! In Blender I just need open and start to work from the last time I was from each file.<br>
<br>- Animating:<br> - Graph Editor and Dope Sheet: man, you don't know how I miss the possibility to change the time on they and not only in the time slider (too much counter-produce)... or use the arrows to go to another frame (Alt+< or > on Maya... previous and next frames). < and > is the Ctrl+PgUp and PgDn on Blender;<br>
- Graph Editor: I like it. Like the new Blender 2.50. I only miss the T (Time Slide) function from Blender (probably Maya has it and I don't know) ;<br> - Dope Sheet: Blender 10 X Maya 0! It is a mess in Maya! Unbelievable! When I select a bone controller in Blender, the Action Editor (or Dope Sheet) will highlight it! And I can organize it by groups, colors, and adjust each controller position. Not in Maya. <br>
In Blender I can easily select and DUPLICATE (grabbing) the keys. That makes the job really fast! In Maya I need to select the keys > Edit > Copy > change the time on the TIME SLIDER > Dope Sheet Edit menu > Paste on Dope sheet again! And they keys or controllers on dope sheet needs to be selected, or else won't works! Blender, Shift+D!!<br>
- Clips: I don't know if I am saying stupid things here, because this is THE MAYA! The number one on CG industry! I just want to remember you it is my humble impressions about the pipeline on it, based on my little knowledge about it. Clips are a mess to work. If you want to import from another file, you need to export the clip before to a .ma file, and then import it. Same to any object! In Blender you can Append it easily from any .blend file. And you can keep Actions easily in one file. A good example is you are animating and need to test a move but not miss your Action. Just click on Add new Action and it will duplicate the action. Simple like that! And safe!<br>
<br> - Animating controllers: Maya has 2 main hotkeys: W (translate) and E (Rotate) to enable the respective manipulators. And I use a LOT when animating. How is the pipeline:<br> - Select > Open the manipulator (W for example) > click on an axis to translate or click on anywhere on view port with MMB to translate faster;<br>
- With W already selected: Select the controller > MMB to translate; ( I like it, really fast)<br> Blender:<br> - RMB to select > G to grab > X,Y or Z Axis if needed (twice to local axis) > LMB to confirm;<br>
- Faster way like Maya: RMB > G > LMB;<br>I really don't know what is faster, because I like both ways. Maya here looks faster because the way it uses the manipulators and one click less;<br> -About Manipulators: When animating on Blender I don't like to use the manipulators, but with Maya it is really good somethings, like:<br>
- Trackball: there is no trackball on Blender manipulators, only by the hotkey RR. In Maya, you can Ctrl+LMB to (un)select an axis and when MMB will not move on that axis. Same has Blender with Shift+LMB, but Maya fix it until you change it;<br>
- Blender has smooth rotation, holding Shift. Maya not (at least, I don't know how). Other thing is pretty good is the Combo manipulator. To much for me, but my Maya friends told me that is an amazing idea. Not possible with Maya because the MMB one each time;<br>
- When you are using the Rotation manipulator you can't select a controller that is in the same area of the manipulator. So you need to click outside and then select OR Q to select and E to enable the manipulator again; With Blender it could be easiest, because RMB you select and LMB could be the Trackball like Maya;<br>
- I think the Blender hotkeys are pretty good, but could have a trackball function in the manipulator and a Global, Local, Normal Orientation settings by each controller Grab, Rotation and Scale (We already have a lock for those);<br>
<br> - AutoKey: Maya set keys only in what you change, like rotating on local Z axis. I thing it is pretty good and smart. I miss that on Blender. And clearing transformations set keys automatically too. Blender could have an option to set up like it too (auto-keying or not the clearing), 'cause mostly we want to clear and have it set up automatically and sometimes we want to clear to get easily to another position;<br>
<br>Conclusion:<br>In my humble opinion, Blender is better than Maya in a lot aspects (features and pipelines). Things like the Clip is so hard to work in Maya and Blender actions on the NLA editor looks really simple. It make me wonder things like the possibility to bake NLA in a new action, for example. <br>
Some changes in the manipulator and option to have manipulator for each object or at least controllers personalized (Global, Normal, Local or Combo too). Possibility to have any object (Facial controllers, for example) parent by perspective (really useful)!<br>
<br>There is other things I'd like to see in Blender, like Anisculpt working like a modifier with armature, or an armature modifier option. A light sculpt mode, like Zbrush. But you, know, it is just a simple feature requests.<br>
<br>Sorry if I said something wrong about Maya or Blender, but like all reviews, none is perfect! It is all about the author knowledge and vision. :) <br>I hope this words could be usefull to someone.<br><br><br>Cheers.<br>
<br>-- <br><br>Moraes Junior - aka mangojambo<br>3D Artist Animator<br>