This is how you subclass PyMEL’s Transform Node to create custom shapes and node types that inherit all the methods of Maya’s Transformational Objects. Subclassing PyNodes is one of the (so-called ‘experimental’) hidden gems of PyMEL. This feature allows you to take advantage of all of the factory generated methods on each Maya node type. [...]
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Done Before There are dozens of useful sites and blog posts for how to incorporate PyQT into Maya (Tech-Artists.org alone has over 130 threads!) Nathan has some of the best overviews, here: nathanhorne.com I’ve found it necessary to add my own to the mix because there are a couple of tricks I’ve found to make [...]
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So I’ve finally updated, modernized, and re-released the ancient, seminal introduction to python scripting for MotionBuilder. I spent quite a bit of time re-formatting it in iBooks Author and released it on the iBooks store here: and UK store: and Canada store: New features include: Member function updates for MotionBuilder 2012 ‘Interactive Images’ of scripts [...]
READ MORE »It occurs to me that many of you don’t yet have what is probably the best reference to date on everything python in Maya. So the blatant, condoned shameless plug comes right now: Go to http://amzn.to/mayaPythonBook and pick up a copy. A Kindle version might be interesting: http://amzn.to/mayaPythonKindle Read the quote on the back.
READ MORE »I suspect the time has come for us to finally recognize Minecraft as a digital creation platform and not just a game. Case in point, virtual computers. Kids around the world are just now making: 16-bit computer (Arithmetic Logic Unit) 256-bit computer Dual Core CPU 16 bytes RAM Display monitor and 3D printer These technologies [...]
READ MORE »It seems like there are more and more posts, queries, and threads about Maya’s different scripting languages. I figure it’ll be nice to have a nice listing of the languages, their benefits and uses. Here is a quick breakdown: MEL: Entire application is basically written in MEL Super simple, easy to learn Very limited in [...]
READ MORE »Jason Orendorff wrote an awesome module some years ago to make it quick and easy to manipulate file paths and file names. I was fortunate enough to be exposed to this module and class via PyMEL’s package which included it. Here is our test path and we’ll slice it and dice it in all kinds [...]
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Teaming up with @voMethod on this one. Mr. Seth Gibson offered some help and extra content for my GDC Power Python talk. Unfortunately, I was limited to 50 minutes so I did not get time to illustrate some great examples he offered. Now we have the time, so here is a nice piece on [...]
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You may have heard about unittests in the past, and most likely, like myself, didn’t really know what they were or why you would want to use them. Even if you talked with someone who did use them and loved ‘em, they still had a difficult time explaining what they really were. Well I’ll do [...]
READ MORE »One of the first things to check when a (python) script is not loading or importing properly is your *pythonpath* environment variable. This is because Python modules are VERY dependent on path location. So if you ever get an error that says something like this: or then you better check your pythonpaths by using simple [...]
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