MediaPlane 2.0 puts a nonlinear editor inside Maya
Gizmify Studios – aka developer Sergey Berengard – has released MediaPlane 2.0, the latest version of its video reference add-on for Maya.
The software enables animators and layout artists to bring filmed video references directly into Maya, without the need to export an image sequence, then crop, flip or retime them.
To that, version 2.0 introduces the Media Plane Editor: a complete nonlinear editing toolset, making it possible to assemble complete reference sequences directly inside Maya.
Intended to address a common pain point in the animation workflow
Originally released last year, Media Plane is intended to support a common studio workflow: the need for animators compare a Maya animation in progress to video reference.
The add-on makes it possible for animators to import videos they have filmed of themselves acting out a shot directly into Maya, without needing to export them as image sequences.
The imported video plays on a plane inside the Maya scene, and can be scrubbed through.
Other existing features include the option to crop, flip, color correct or retime imported videos, and to match them to the frame rate of the Maya scene.
Media Plane supports standard video formats, including MP4, MOV, WebM and AVI – anything supported by FFmpeg – and, according to Berengard, can play back individual videos at 120fps.
Berengard himself has direct experience of VFX and animation production workflows, having previously been an animator and rigging artist at Cinesite, Animal Logic and Digital Domain.
New Media Plane Editor lets users assemble complete reference sequences inside Maya
To that, Media Plane 2.0 – it was actually released earlier this year – adds the Media Plane Editor: a complete nonlinear editor.
Rather than just playing back individual videos, the new toolset makes it possible to assemble multiple clips in Maya, to create complete sequence references or layout animatics.
It supports both manual and scripted editing, so TDs can use Maya Plane’s Maya commands to control an edit sequence, or to create custom tools of their own.
The Media Plane Editor is still in beta, but Berengard tells us that it should be officially production-ready “very soon”.
Price and system requirements
Media Plane 2.0 is compatible with Maya 2018+ on Windows, Linux and macOS. The Media Plane Editor is supported in Maya 2022+. The software is free for non-commercial use.
For commercial work, Individual licenses cost $14, but limit video editing to 48 frames. Professional and Studio licenses cost $99 and $499 respectively.
Read more about Maya video add-on Media Plane on Gimzify Studios’ website
Read a full list of new features in Media Plane in the online release notes
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