Autodesk has released the 2027.1 update of Maya, focused on polishing key tools for animation and lookdev. MotionMaker improves its generative workflow with frame range visualization and keyboard shortcuts, while LookdevX debuts eight texture projection modes that allow texturing objects without developing UV maps. Bifrost 3.1 and the USD for Maya 0.36 extension also receive significant improvements.
Bifrost 3.1: Node Search and Optimized Rigid Bodies 🚀
Bifrost 3.1 introduces a node finder that speeds up navigation in complex graphs, along with new compounds designed for rigid body simulations. Additionally, it now supports Cached Playback on character rigs, allowing animations to be previewed without recalculating each frame. On the USD front, version 0.36 improves variant handling, enabling specific edits to geometry or materials based on production workflow needs, without altering the base asset structure.
Goodbye UVs: LookdevX Lets You Project Textures Like a Paintbrush-Wielding Artist 🎨
LookdevX has decided that UV maps are a thing of the past, at least for those who hate unwrapping models. You can now project textures in eight different modes, from planar to spherical, without needing to coordinate seams. Of course, if your model is a character with tentacles, cylindrical projection might leave more questions than answers. But hey, at least you don't have to wrestle with the UV editor, which is already an improvement.