Import and export >
Send files to Maya

You can export your work from Mudbox and quickly import it into Maya using File > Send to Maya. Send to Maya exports from Mudbox using the Autodesk® FBX® file format. For more information, see Export using FBX.

NoteMaya has a similar feature for exporting files to Mudbox (File > Export Selected to Mudbox). For more information, refer to the Maya Help. The Export Selected to Mudbox feature is not compatible with versions of Mudbox earlier than Mudbox 2011. FBX files exported from Maya 2011 are not compatible with Mudbox versions earlier than Mudbox 2011 unless an earlier FBX version is specified in the FBX export options.

To export to Maya

1. Select File > Send To Maya.
2. In the Send To Maya window that appears, set the options you want:
   Send

     Select one of the following:

     All Meshes: Exports all items in the scene to Maya.

     Selected Meshes Only: Exports only selected items. Select those items before selecting File > Send To Maya.

   If there are paint layers

     Select one of the following:

     Don’t send paint layers: Exports no paint layers. The model will appear in Maya with the default shading material.

     Flatten the paint layers in each channel: Exports one paint layer for each existing channel type (Diffuse, Bump, Gloss, and so on). If a paint channel contains multiple layers, the layers are collapsed to a single layer for exporting.

     Send paint layers separately: Exports all paint layers on a model combined into a layered shading material. The appearance of paint layers in Maya can differ from the original appearance in Mudbox based on how layer blend modes are handled by each application. Normal and displacement maps cannot be combined into a layered material, so they are collapsed into one layer within their associated channel before export. For more information on where paint layers are saved, see Export using FBX and FBX.

   If there are sculpt layers

     Select one of the following:

     Flatten sculpt layers before sending: Only the current subdivision level is exported. Display the subdivision level you want before sending to the other application. Any sculpt layers not locked to the current subdivision level are baked into the resulting mesh during export. The current subdivision level becomes the base level for the exported mesh.

     Export sculpt layers on current mesh level as blendshapes: Preserves the separate sculpt layers for export. Only sculpt layers associated with the current subdivision level are exported as blend shape/morph targets in the FBX file.

   Note(Linux) A known limitation exists for Send To Maya on Linux systems. If you have ever run Maya as a root user, the Send To Maya option starts Maya, but will not load the exported mesh. This occurs because the temporary directory used by the process is set with root user privileges. To work around this limitation, execute the command rm /tmp/commandportDefault to remove the existing temporary directory, then send the file to Maya again.
3. Click Send.

   Mudbox launches Maya (if Maya is installed) and imports the file. If Maya is already running, a prompt asks whether to save your scene before importing the Mudbox file. If Maya does not launch, see Troubleshoot file import and export.

   Note(Linux) A known limitation exists for Send To Maya on Linux systems. If you have ever run Maya as a root user, the Send To Maya option starts Maya, but will not load the exported mesh. This occurs because the temporary directory used by the process is set with root user privileges. To work around this limitation, execute the command rm /tmp/commandportDefault to remove the existing temporary directory, then send the file to Maya again.

Related topics

File menu

Export using FBX

Troubleshoot file import and export

FBX preferences