C3dC Maya 2017 Prefs
Maya: Preferences
The C3dC Preferences are the cornerstone for the tutorials on the site and are one of our most valuable giveaways. Zoo Tools Pro is also included for free inside of the preferences and is regularly updated.
The downloads here are permanent and are not affected by your subscription ending. However, future software updates are only available on active memberships.
Download the prefs here for Maya 2017, but you can also download them for 2016 and 2018 .
HOTKEYS
Hotkeys are the fastest way to improve your workflow within Maya and we’ve used the program since its beginnings way back in version one, trust in our hotkeys to dramatically speed up your workflow.
TOOLS
Our preferences come with `Zoo Tools Pro` is its backbone. The scripts here will automate a huge variety of tasks for the 3d generalist.
We’ve also included numerous community tools that are free for distribution, and we’ll point you to any helpful scripts that we don’t have the right to give out too.
SHELVES
Our shelves provide easy access to all of the extra features in three handy new locations. So enjoy the C3dC Prefs, your access to efficient, helpful workflows within Maya.
Running Time: 1:09 hrs
Software: Maya 2017
Instructor: Andrew Silke
1. Installing The Free Student Version Of Maya (2:40 mins)
1.2 – Updates For Fixing Bugs (1:05 mins)
2. Installing The C3dC Prefs (10 mins)
2.2 – Installing 3rd Party Scripts (3:14 mins)
2.3 – Plug In Loading (1:48 mins)
2.4 – Renderman Install (3:18 mins)
3. The C3dC Hotkeys (15 mins)
3.2 – Major Hotkey Changes (3:00 mins)
3.3 – Modelling Hotkey Overview (3:54 mins)
3.4 – Rigging Hotkey Overview (2:29 mins)
3.5 – Animation Hotkey Overview (3:40 mins)
4. Customise Your Hotkeys (10 mins)
4.2 – Connect Hotkeys (3:21 mins)
4.3 – Add Custom Scripts (1:17 mins)
4.4 – Keeping Custom Hotkeys (1:25 mins)
4.5 – Other Functions (1:40 mins)
5. The C3dC Shelf (14 mins)
5.2 – Poly Icons 2 (2:32 mins)
5.3 – Anim Icons (2:23 mins)
5.4 – UDIM nCloth (48 sec)
5.5 – Camera Icon (1:43 mins)
5.6 – Trigger UI (1:06 mins)
5.7 – Shad Switch And Assort (1:39 mins)
5.8 – Attr Icon, Save (1:52 mins)
6. 2017 Shelf And Hotkey Updates (15 mins)
6.2 – New Skin MM (4:24 mins)
6.3 – Easy Hotkey Switch (39 sec)
6.4 – Cam, Oct Hole (2:29 mins)
6.5 – Assorted Icons (1:54 mins)
6.6 – Rig Shelf Update (2:02 mins)
6.7 – Anim Changes (3:01 mins)
26 Comments
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(Maya 2018) Alt-Q for Object Mode doesn’t work.
Plus, it’s kinda a strange for macOS user to touch Control button at all. I’m not sure why Ctrl was preferred in making these hotkeys. After 10 years of working on macOS Ctrl used only for some obscure and rare things. Usually what’ Ctrl on Windows translates to Cmnd on macOS. I see no Cmnd use on this hotkey list AT ALL.
Hi Nordy strange that alt q isn’t working on OSX, that’s never been a problem in the past. I’ll look into it my main workstation is PC now.
All Maya hotkeys have always been on control, shift and alt. That’s Maya standard, there has never been any command keys in Maya. I’m not diverting from that standard.
I’ve personally always really liked that as it means there’s no confusion switching OS’s, which I do a lot. I’ve never found that an issue personally. Funny I’ve never even thought about it now you bring it up! I guess everyone has their own tastes.
Oh, I might be wrong. Weird, since I’m working in Maya for over a year… I remember there were Ctrl-commands like for Isolate Select, but didn’t grasp it’s mostly Ctrl-oriended app, hmm.
One more thing. In my modeling workflow switching between SubD and non-SubD mode for an object isn’t a rare thing. So, “1”-“3” classic hotkeys (I don’t really know if anyone uses “2”) pressed often. The current combination involving pressing two modifier keys at the same time for something so mundane is a tad clunky for me. Wouldn’t it be much more comfortable to make for example “3” to be a toggle between modes (again, I don’t know anyone who uses in-between mode anyway)? I know I can change it myself, but still… is something behind it? 🙂
Yes ctrl alt 3 and ctrl alt 1 are hotkeys that I was never happy with. I’ve also thought about toggles. A toggle isn’t ideal since you’re often selecting two or more objects which may be inverted.
2, would be a good hotkey as yes texture toggle isn’t used that much. 3 is a floating outliner so I’d probably keep it.
Probably what I’ll end up doing is creating a toggle with a secondary marking menu and put it on 2. So hit 2 and it toggles, or in secondary mode hold 2 and a simple marking menu appears with subD on or off.
That sort of a marking menu needs to be scripted and is a little complicated, but we’re close to rolling out a solution so that it’ll be easy to add dual functional marking menus. “u” and “a” and “d” are examples of marking menus with dual functionality but they all come from the old Zoo Tools, Dave’s upgrading the marking menus in the new Zoo so I’m holding off on that for now. Dual mode marking menus are fab.
1) It might happen, yes. But it’s fixable in a second and the time and comfort of using just one button for everything will be benefitial in the long run, I think.
2) I do use texture toggle sometimes, I’d left it easily accessible, but floating Outliner can be do with a one modifier key (like Ctrl+3, I don’t think Plugin Manager is that essential :))
Oh, MM, sure. Although I’m not that big a fan of those.
Few other things:
1) Separators on the shelf. They are very ugly and pixelated, and visually separate worse then modern vertical lines. I think they ar in Maya la least since 2016 version. Would be happy to see it change. Plus, some icons come from pre-2016 flat design era, “Hotkey Editor” for example.
As an example of really visually strict and pleasing shelf, Roman Chauliac does well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXWEcMfVw1g
2) Combine/Separate/Extract. The current hotkey for Combine operation is horrible — (shft ctl alt c). I’d rather and faster use MM menu. I believe it’s possible to put a runtime command/script on a hotkey. What do you think of this:
* User presses Alt+E hotkey
** If it’s a component mode — Extract triggers.
*** if its not, and the only one object currently selected — Separate triggeres, else — Combine.
The shelves are changing. Ha don’t worry I’m aware! Currently, the shelves use default Maya icons they are have been easy to install.
We are slowly rolling out a system where we can add our own icons. This will improve a lot over the next year. The shelves need installers for icons for us to do it properly.
No worries about your preferences on hotkeys. These suggestions are all good.
Yes good thoughts about the combine, unfortunately, it’s useful for extract to happen in object mode. Very easy and handy to extract by shells. So that one won’t work. Maybe I have guitar hands but I’ve gotten used to combine, real estate is at a premium, unfortunately. I’d need a good alternative and a key to swap with. I can have a think.
I’m also not talking about MM’s, more marking menus with dual functionality which is different as it’s a doubled up hotkey with a marking menus as secondary function. Maya doesn’t have these by default but they are scriptable. Once we get those working I could do another take on the hotkeys as keys could be compressed, so keep making suggestions I’m open to changes. Might not happen for a while.
Regarding checking symmetry with SHAPES and abSymMesh. First one seems to sometimes say that mesh is symmetrical although I may alter it enormously with differences seen clearly and yet at the same time abSymMesh says correctly that mesh is asymetrical.
ok good to know. So far I’ve had few issues with SHAPES symmetry checker but I’ll keep an eye on it now that you’ve reported this. Thanks for the heads up.
Just a note :
Sometimes, it fails to load the module in C3dC prefs.
I fixed that by editing the CCntrl Creator script by editing the icon with this python script :
from create3dcharacters.zooToolsPro.zoo.apps.curveCreator import curveCreatorUI
RECORDCOLORBOBJS = None
curveCreatorUI.createWorkspaceWin()
For some reason, it loads the Zoo Tools Pro – the tab in the upper right corner appears – and everything else works dandy. Try to fix this bug, please.
No idea why it happens, though.
Thanks for reporting this Frederico, have you reported this one before? This shouldn’t happen and I’ve little idea where to start. So long as you can see the Zoo Tools Pro menu then everything should be cool? Are you in OSX?
You shouldn’t need to import from “create3dcharacters.zooToolsPro.zoo.apps.curveCreator” as Zoo will be setting that up at startup so long as you can see Zoo Tools Pro in the menu. I haven’t heard of this happening on others machines, I’ll think about it some more.
It’s not a good idea for me to change that import as in the future zoo will be able to be moved and set in a different location. But I’ll keep an eye on it. The old UI needs to be integrated into our new system in the future with our new UI features.
Autodesk has changed the Update Maya procedure shown in video 1.2. Now, when I select Updates & Add-Ons, it takes me to a filtered list, with only 6 entries shown. When selecting “View all enhancements,” it asks for a serial number and subscriber contract number. Maya updates may no longer be available without a subscription contract. Are others finding this as well?
I haven’t heard anything about locking the updates from non-commercial versions. It’s probably a bug but I can look into it. Have you tried the Autodesk Desktop App? It can be a better way to update for Windows users.
https://emsfs.autodesk.com/utility/adskapp/landing/?source=AKN
Hmmm. I rebooted the computer and the “View all enhancements” now displays 37 items. Now it works. Complex systems…..
I didn’t know about the Autodesk Desktop App. Great stuff! Thanks!
Hi there! New here, really loving this new world of maya. Some shortcuts don’t work for me, atm I can only recall Shift+y not working (skinning menu)
Hey Julius, yes I remember a student having trouble with “shift y”. But he eventually got it working. You must hold shift y, then left click with it held down, it’s a marking menu. I think that was his issue.
Otherwise are you on OSX? And what version of Maya with what upgrade/service pack?
It should work fine in 2018, so good to report any more issues. “ctrl w” for merge is “ctrl 2” on PC. I was demoing on OSX for a time, and ctrl w is taken by windows on PC. That one gets people.
The hotkey switcher “;” is also broken on OSX, we need to fix. To switch hotkey sets on OSX, hit “0” to open the hotkey editor and you can switch with the drop-down menu.
ah yes, the merge was another one. I’m on windows 10, 2nd upgrade. Also, do you have a video on renderman shader set up anywhere? Didn’t look through everything yet (There’s so much!) but renderman is something I’d like to learn more about 🙂
Yeah the only Renderman training, is the sections on the Robo Page. Sections 10 and 11.
http://create3dcharacters.com/maya-robo-creation/#10.1
But the new shader stuff I’m working on now, supports Renderman, Arnold and Redshift so keep an eye out for that. First pages will relate to our Shading and Lighting tools, they teach all three renderers at once since it’s all the same and we just port to each renderer. Will make sense when you see how it works.
Great! can’t wait
Hello there,
I installed after that my (cntrl z) is not working. It says: The undo queue is turned off.
What should I do?
Thanks!
Hi Nelson, that shouldn’t be related to our preferences, but it can easily happen in Maya. When the undo queue gets turned off open the preferences window and turn the queue back on.
Window > Settings/Preferences > Preferences (or alt 6)
Then find the undo queue and switch it back on. It will be under
Preferences Window > Settings > Undo > Undo: (On)
I see. Thanks a lot!
I have another problem. I have my own hotkeys. I would like to use mine hotkeys as default when u press= ; . How do I do that? Also i try to set a hotkey to the bridge toll and it doesn’t work. I try to find the hot key that you use for it. When I browser It does not show up. But the hotkey that you use= ctrl alt shfit b. works fine. How do I set a hot key for bridge??
Yes good question. The “;” hotkey I’ll have to look into that, I believe it could be hardcoded by Keen who does a lot of tools for us. I’ll have to have a look. Instead, for now you can use the Maya’s hotkey editor, on our hotkeys press “0”. I’d also add “0” to your own hotkeys, that way you can get to it easily.
To assign a hotkey to bridge, they must have changed something as it **should** popup in the hotkey editor when you search by hotkey. Weird! Either way, the command is in .mel which you can create a new hotkey is…
performPolyBridgeEdge 0
You should be able to google if you’re unsure how to add a custom script to a hotkey.
Also if you’d like to use our hotkeys as a base and then add your own on top, you can now add your own hotkeys using our hotkey editor, that way you can keep your hotkeys as you upgrade. The instructions are on this page below. Just be careful as you manually need to save the .json file out, before deleting, until we have the preferences folder working.
http://create3dcharacters.com/maya-zoo-tools-pro-install/
This all should get a lot easier in Zoo v2.
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for your website, I just joined and I am looking forward to getting everything installed and learning. I just had a quick suggestion. I actually took your list of hotkeys and copied and pasted it into a long list in Microsoft OneNote (which you can set to dock to the side of your desktop (main or secondary monitors). Once it is docked at the side, then other applications automatically make room for it, so you don’t have to screw around with shifting window sizes, etc. as you work.
Derik
Ah great tip Derik, I’ll include that in future vids.