Please be aware that there is no connection whatsoever with MayaStar plug in. MayaStar is owned and sold by Cathy Foil. MyAniMATE is just COMPATIBLE with MayaStar.
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Refund Policy
Given the digital nature of this software, no refunds are offered in case the
tool doesn't meet expectations about features that are clearly stated as not available. Please read the description intently before you purchase. In case of doubts, send a notecard with your questions to OptimoMaximo Resident for clarification.
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This is an UPGRADE, not and update. This version doesn't come for free to previous MyAniMATE version's licensees. Keep reading to learn more.
Complete export code overhaul from MyAniMATE. It now takes only one loop through the animation to get your animation exported to file.
All the previous features have been maintained, plus a few extra usability improvements:
1) refresh frame range button: automatically refresh the start and end frames in the export window, including the loop in and out settings (when visible)
2) export window is now scrollable
3) joint priority mapper: added skull, toe, foot and ankle joint priorities as separate entries.
Joints can be force excluded by setting priority to -1
Joints can be force added to export by setting their priority to -2
Added button to set all joints to priority -2 for easier pose export
Reset button to set all joints back to priority 0 (which means no override over the global priority slider in the animation window)
4) Add-ons: two add ons have been added in this release: AnimaProps (attachment points generator for animation export) and Mayastar shape import/export over the already included BuildersMate.
Animaprops: run it from the add ons menu before setting up the animation skeleton and you'll get all attachment points. Running the skeleton setup will keep them available to animate (no control rig and HIK rig only)
Mayastar Shape Import/Export: This add on allows skeleton export to and import from file to proprietary file format (.shp). This is useful to store and share custom avatar shapes and completely custom joint positioned avatars.
NB: this is not compatible with HTML shapes exported from the viewer.
Store credit card available to upgrade from the previous MyAniMATE version.
Created on Maya 2020 and tested on Maya 2016,2017,2018,2019. Previous Maya versions aren't guaranteed support.
MyAniMATE is available as installer for Windows (Vista/7/8/10) OS only. Mac OSX and Linux versions get the full scriptset for manual installation.
Rocky process getting it installed, but a fantastic add-on
Installation:
I want to preface this review by saying I originally have and use MyAniMATE 1, which is an absolutely brilliant plug-in and a must-have for any Maya users who need to create animations!
OptimoMaximo has in the past been great at support, however, my recent experience with this has left me somewhat frustrated.
Simply put you get instructions to get access to the files you need to install, however, I currently cannot access those as they are locked behind a password-protected zip folder - and the password provided was not working.
I have contacted the seller and finally received a reply after a week or so and after a few back and forths explaining the situation he graciously sent me the files through an alternative method.
Installing was a little tricky to make sure the menu's pop-up in Maya correctly, however, he does offer a solution to this and after a couple of tries, I got it to work. This however I believe is more down to Maya's slightly clunky plugin system not because of MyAnimate.
MyAnimate:
The plug-in itself absolutely necessary for those of you using Maya and wanting to make animations! I also use Mayastar and the two plug-ins work together perfectly!
There are a couple of things you need to make sure you do to get an animation to export and work in SL properly, which I've never seen explained anywhere obvious (please correct me in the comments if I'm wrong!).
I've so far only tested creating a simple Animesh attachment animation: https://gyazo.com/700c880bbff92233909822dc203cf1dc
And after a few tries of trial and error I got something that worked correctly.
Overall, this is a brilliant plug-in and well worth the investment for anyone who wants to make animations or poses.