Type and SVG enhancements
- Type and SVG now uses a new extrude node, which provides multi-threaded, spike-free extrusion. For more information, see Extrude for Type and SVG.
- You can use the new Generator to create procedural text using either the included options or via a Python script. For more information, see Type Tool.
New MASH nodes
World
MASH now has a new World node, which allows you to arrange objects in natural clusters around objects. This is useful for creating things like flowers around trees or rock arrangements. For more information, see MASH's World node.
Placer
You can use the new MASH Placer Tool to place points in your scene as easily as dragging over a surface. This is especially useful for set dressing. For more information, see Placer.
MASH node enhancements
- Distribute node: A new Centre distribution is available when distributing linearly. You can also now voxelize a mesh surface rather than filling its interior. For more information, see Distribute node.
- Time node: A new Whole Frame Numbers attribute will round the time to the nearest whole number. For more information, see Time node.
- Influence node: The Influence node can now be disabled.
- Merge node: A Rotation Interpolation dropdown has been added. For more information, see Merge node.
- Flight node: New attributes have been added allowing you to set the initial state of the simulation and apply forces. For more information, see Flight node.
- Orient node: Orient node performance has now been improved with multi-threading. For more information, see Orient node.
- Transform node: Scale Points is now on by default. For more information, see Transform node.
- ID node: Repro networks will now set the ID Count automatically (to set them manually, you must first right-click the attribute and break the connection). For more information, see ID node.
- Spring node: New Max Velocity attribute. For more information, see Spring node.
- Audio node: Now works with all playback speeds. For more information, see Audio node.
- Python node: Strength controls have been added. For more information, see Python node.
- Offset node: IDs can now be offset. For more information, see Offset node.
- Explode node: Performance has been boosted by about 3 times. For more information, see Explode node.
- Replicator node: Local Transformation mode added. For more information, see Replicator node.
- Breakout node: A new Breakout Connection Manager has been added to make it easier to drive animatable objects with MASH networks. For more information, see Connect MASH networks to objects.
Live Link to Adobe After Effects
In addition to exporting JSON scripts, you can now link a Maya scene to Adobe® After Effects® in realtime, allowing you to view the same scene in both softwares simultaneously. You can then make changes in Maya and have them appear in After Effects instantaneously. See Live link to Adobe After Effects.
Curve Warp enhancements
- Loop Closed Curves: You can now loop closed curves so that an object will keep deforming around it. For more information, see Curve Warp options.
- The Offset value is now independent from the deformer's scale length. This means that an offset from 0 to 1 always represents one complete revolution of the curve.