Create a USD stage with new layer
Creating a stage with a new layer lets you start with an empty USD stage and an anonynous layer. Using this empty layer and stage, you can structure your layer hierarchy using the USD Layer Editor. When new layers are created in Maya, they are empty and anonymous. You can add prims and references to any layer using the Outliner. This workflow enables the creation of USD assets within Maya.
To create a new empty USD stage with sublayers
Do one of the following:
Create > Universal Scene Description > Stage with New Layer
In the USD Layer Editor, Create > Stage with New Layer
Note: To open the USD Layer Editor, Select Windows > General Editors > USD Layer Editor.
The following occurs:
![](../../../../images/gif_usd_StageNewLayer.gif)
In the USD Layer Editor, an anonymous root layer and a session layer are created. The new anonymous root layer is set as the target layer.
Note: The session layer is set by default to auto-hide in the USD Layer Editor. Please see
Auto-Hide Session Layer to toggle the visibility of the session layer.
In the Outliner, a proxyShape
transform node named stage1 and a stageShape
stage node named stageShape1 are created.
Note: If the Outliner only displays a shape node upon this action, Display > Shapes needs to be selected to view proxy shapes in the Outliner. You can also right-click within the Outliner to access this Shapes toggle.
Tip: In the Outliner, right-click stage1
or stageShape1
and select USD Layer Editor to open it.
![](../../../../images/gif_usd_OutlinerStage_DisplayShapes.gif)
- In the USD Layer Editor, click
to add a sublayer. If a layer is selected, a sublayer is added to the selected layer. If no layer is selected, a sublayer is added to the root layer. For more information see USD Layer Editing.
- To rename the layer, right-click the layer and select Save As. In the file browser that appears, enter a new name for the layer. For more information, see Save edits in the USD Layer Editor.
- Repeat the previous steps to continue to add and rename layers to build your layer hierarchy.
- Drag and drop layers to reorder their placement. See Organize layers in the USD Layer Editor.
- To add a prim or a reference to a layer, ensure that the desired layer is set as the target layer. For more information on specific steps, see Work with USD data in the Outliner.