Maya: King of the custom toolbox

The nature of Maya is one that has meant many studios, not just the big players, have adapted it through simple customisation – from scripting through to full-on butchering – to make it do what they want, fitting it into their own pipelines. Sometimes this has meant that Maya has become something other than what was originally delivered. This is no bad thing as it means that many of these customisations are available to the wider Maya community. However, it’s important to note that you will need to check compatibility with your version when using a script or plugin. Don’t be put off by one created for an older version as often these will still work. The flip side of this is that not everybody has joined the rush to have the latest version of Maya, so even if you are still using Maya 2007 there will be plenty of little tools to help you on your creative journey.