The release includes user-requested workflow improvements to the animation tools, including the Proximity Wrap deformer, Graph Editor and Time Editor, and updates to Maya’s Arnold, Substance and USD plugins.
Workflow improvements to animation tools and the UV Toolkit As with Maya 2023.2 in September, Maya 2023.3 is largely a workflow update, particularly for animators.
The Proximity Wrap deformer can now take account of deforms applied to the driver object, resulting in more realistic-looking deformation of the target object, as shown in the image at the top of the story.
In addition, the option to choose whether left-dragging moves or only selects keys has been restored to the Graph Editor, and there is a workaround for audio problems when working with Playblasts in the Time Editor.
Other changes include a new section of the Preferences window for Hypershade settings, and the option to collapse or expand sections in the UV Toolkit.
Updates to the Arnold, Substance and USD plugins Outside the core software, the bundled Arnold, Substance and USD plugins have all been updated.
The biggest update is probably USD for Maya 0.20, which changes the way Display Layers are handled.
MtoA 5.2.1.1, the new version of the Arnold integration plugin, is a bugfix release: it doesn’t add the new features introduced in Arnold 7.1.4 last month.
The release notes for Substance in Maya 2.3.1 aren’t online yet, but it’s also described as a bugfix release.
Pricing and availability Maya 2023.3 is available for Windows 10+, RHEL/CentOS 7.6-7.9 or 8.5 and Rocky Linux 8.5, and macOS 10.14+. The software is rental-only. Subscriptions cost $225/month or $1,785/year.
In many countries, artists earning under $100,000/year and working on projects valued at under $100,000/year, qualify for Maya Indie subscriptions, now priced at $290/year.