Install Python libraries to train the ML Deformer

When training the ML Deformer, you may be prompted to download and install external Python modules. By default, the install path of the extra modules is <MAYA_APP_DIR>/mlDeformer/0.1/Lib/site-packages.

The following instructions are how to download these modules manually and/or install them to a custom location:

  1. To customize the installation path, use the MAYA_ML_DEFORMER_MODULES_PATH optionVar or the MAYA_ML_DEFORMER_MODULES_PATH Environment Variable to set a location for the modules.
    Note: It is important to keep this variable set for subsequent launches of Maya, so that when training the ML Deformer, Maya can access the required modules.
  2. To manually install the requirements, from a Command prompt or Terminal, enter: 
    <MAYA_LOCATION>/bin/mayapy -c "import maya.standalone; maya.standalone.initialize(); import maya.plugin.mldeformer.mlDeformerInstallRequirements as mlDeformerInstallRequirements; 
mlDeformerInstallRequirements.install(torch_platform='<cpu/cu118/rocm5.4.2>')"

    For more information on the Maya location variables see File Path variables.

    3. torch_platform

    Choose one of the following platforms, based on your system:
    'cpu'
    CPU only version of pytorch. The smallest download and most universally compatible, but does not allow using the GPU for faster training.
    Note: This is currently the only option for macOS.
    'cu118'
    CUDA version for training with an NVIDIA GPU. Supported on Windows and Linux.
    'rocm5.4.2'
    Support for training with an AMD GPU. Supported on Linux only.
    For example, to install the CUDA version for an NVIDIA GPU on Windows for a standard Maya install, the above command would be: 
    "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Maya2025\bin\mayapy" -c "import maya.standalone; maya.standalone.initialize(); import maya.plugin.mldeformer.mlDeformerInstallRequirements as mlDeformerInstallRequirements; mlDeformerInstallRequirements.install(torch_platform='cu118')"
    The full list of modules that will be installed are listed in mldeformer_requirements.txt.
    • On Windows and Linux: Find this file in <MAYA_LOCATION>/bin/plug-ins/mldeformer_requirements.txt
    • On macOS: Find this file in <MAYA_LOCATION>/macOS/plug-ins/mldeformer_requirements.txt

See Create an ML Deformer or Create an ML Deformer using separate target geometry for steps on how to create an ML Deformer.

Parent topic: ML Deformer