Global

Translates all major 3D CAD, DCC & VisSim file formats from within Maya's user interface,
including bidirectional 3ds max, XSI, Lightwave & DirectX animation/skinning conversions

Click here to read 8 page whitepaper about PolyTrans-for-Maya (and 3ds max)

Overview

PolyTrans-for-Maya is a premiere plug-in system for Maya (Windows) that allows Maya to freely exchange complete 3D scene data with virtually any other 3D software package, such as 3DS MAX (via PolyTrans-for-MAX and Okino .bdf format), Lightwave, OpenFlight, Softimage-3D, Softimage-XSI, IGES 5.3, ACIS SAT, Autodesk Inventor, DirectX, DXF/DWG (with ACIS solids in DWG files), Parasolids, Pro/Engineer, QuickDraw-3D, Renderman RIB, Solid Edge, Solid Works, STEP, trueSpace and many others.

Polytrans-for-Maya breaks down all previous data translation barriers and truly makes Maya a universally open software package. In the tradition of all Okino 3D data translators, resulting translated files are 'Render Ready' meaning that they can be loaded and rendered in the destination program (Maya, Softimage-3D/XSI, 3ds max, Lightwave, etc.) with little or no changes necessary. The translation process accommodates polygonal meshes, trimmed NURBS (export-only due to API limitations), hierarchy, skeletons & smooth bind mesh skinning, vertex normals/colors/texture-coordinates, material and texture mapping parameters, lights, cameras, object/camera/light animation conversion (file format specific) and automatic 2D bitmap conversion (when necessary).

Features and Benefits

	Seamless and dependable import/export of the most popular 3D file formats: 3ds max (via native plug-ins), Softimage|3D .hrc models and .dsc (database), Softimage|XSI (dotXSI), Lightwave (5.6 and 6.5+), Adobe Illustrator, Apple 3DMF, Biovision and Acclaim motion capture, DirectX, DXF, DWG (with embedded solids), Electric Image FACT, FilmBox FBX, GameExchange2, HOOPS HSF, Inventor2/VRML (SGI), Lightscape, OpenFlight, OpenGL C/C++ code (highly optimized; vertex lists; display lists; tri-stripped), OpenNURBS (Rhino), Protein Database (PDB), POV, Pro/E SLP, Shockwave-3D, STL, Renderman RIB, Renderware/ActiveWorlds, trueSpace, USGS DEM, Viewpoint VET (Metastream), VRML 1+2, Wavefront & XGL. The full list is provided here.
	The ability to move scene data bidirectionally between Maya and 3DS MAX via Okino's native "BDF" file format. The transfer is done using the native version of PolyTrans-for-3DS MAX and the native version of PolyTrans-for-Maya. The BDF file format acts as a transparent conduit between the two programs.
	Proper conversion of skeletons and bones between Maya and 3DS MAX, Lightwave, FilmBox FBX, Softimage|XSI and DirectX. Going from Maya to 3DS MAX is particularly fraught with problems but the automatic bone re-orientation algorithm resolves such problems automatically.
	Direct import and export of Softimage|3D database scenes, .hrc files and Softimage|XSI files from within the Maya user interface.
	Bullet-proof and robust import of DXF and DWG files. The NuGraf/PolyTrans DXF/DWG reader reads in and converts literally any DXF or DWG file (including embedded ACIS solids) then optimizes it into a render-ready model. Huge files can be processed quickly. Memory usage is low for large scenes.
	Strong and production-worthy support for the popular Lightwave, Softimage XSI and 3DS MAX animation packages, among others. These translators import and export complete scenes files, bitmaps and all related information.
	The most cost effective provider of solids-based CAD formats including: ACIS, Autodesk Inventor, DXF/DWG, IGES, Parasolids, Pro/Engineer, Solid Edge, Solid Works, STEP, STL, VDA-FS and VRML (the latter which is becoming more popular as a data exchange file format for CAD packages). Compatible with free "gPlug" modules such as Alias .wire, IronCAD .ics and Raindrop Geomagic .wrp importers.
	Import parts, assemblies, hierarchy and materials directly from a running copy or native file of Autodesk Inventor, Solid Edge or Solid Works. Unique!
	Strong ties to the visual simulation (VisSim) community with proven OpenFlight, Renderware, VRML 1.0 and 2.0 support.
	Conversion of Maya object and camera animation data to/from 3DS MAX, to/from Lightwave, to/from Softimage XSI, to VRML2, to Direct X and to OpenFlight (the latter as flipbook animation). Limited animation support for Softimage-3D also available.
	Automatic conversion of foreign 2d bitmap image file formats to/from those recognized by Maya. Native Alias PIX and IFF (not Amiga IFF) 2d bitmap read/write support was also developed and added to the core PolyTrans software.
	Access to robust polygon processing tools which can take impossible-to-render datasets and turn them into renderable models. Functions include auto-welding, auto-unification of normals, reorientation of normals, removal of double sided polygons and more. A complex polygon reduction system is also available in the stand-alone PolyTrans.
	Supports almost every major 2D bitmap format, video format and Flash .swf import.
	For our major DCC-based customers (movie production houses, gaming studios, content creators) we offer the leading solution for bidirectional animation conversion amongst all major 3D packages, and the conversion of complete 3D scene file contents such as geometry, lights, cameras, hierarchy, vertex attributes (normals, uv, vertex colors), mesh & skinning conversion, texture mapping, automatic bitmap conversion and much more. Over 16 years of development has led to the most stable and dependable converter solution on the market today.

Click image to view larger 760x924 pixel version

Exchanging Native Data Between 3ds max and Maya via PolyTrans

A pivotal aspect of the Okino software for many of our users are the PolyTrans-for-MAX and PolyTrans-for-Maya native plug-in systems. These modules allow 3ds max (as well as gmax and Viz) and Maya to directly import/export all of the Okino supported file formats from within their respective user interfaces. Other common uses of the plug-in systems is for bidirectional 3ds-max/Maya conversions (via the Okino .bdf file format), import & optimization of large CAD datasets from all major 3D CAD packages & file formats, import/export to all 3D gaming file formats (including skinned mesh and skeleton conversions), OpenFlight VisSim conversions, and of course bidirectional conversions to most other 3D file formats and software packages (from Lightwave, to Softimage-3D, to Softimage-XSI, VRML2, DirectX and dozens more).

Click image to view larger 800x950 pixel version

Bidirectional Skeleton & Skinning Conversions Between 3ds max, Maya, XSI, Lightwave, DirectX & FBX

Since the early part of this decade Okino has pursued active R&D in the area of skeleton and skinning conversion between the most popular 3D character animation software packages or destination file formats, those being Alias Maya, Discreet 3ds max, Softimage XSI, Lightwave, DirectX and Kaydara FBX. This WEB page provides a good overview of the concepts behind skeletons and skinning, and why in general conversion of skinning data between these aforementioned software packages is ripe with potential problems.

FBX 'Samurai' model (courtesy of Kaydara)

Ordering

PolyTrans-for-Maya consists of the PolyTrans base package (PT-WIN) and the DCC/Pack add-on license. This can be ordered online from the Okino WEB site.

Contacting Okino

Okino Computer Graphics. Toronto Canada.

Sales Email: sales@okino.com
Support Email: support@okino.com

Phone: (905) 672-9328, (888) 3D-OKINO (Toll Free)