Once the MultiverseForMaya plug-in is loaded in Maya, the Multiverse Shelf will be available.
Most of the Multiverse functionalities are accessible through its shelf, but please note that you can also automate your workflow via scripting via the +Multiverse Python API.
The Multiverse | USD v6.4.3 Shelf
Quick Shelf Buttons Reference
Title
Description
Write USD Asset
Write any selected, static or animated Maya data(such as geometry primitives, hierarchies, properties…) to a single USD file — we call this an“asset”.
You can then Read these USD files back in Maya via the Read button: once read, data will be encapsulated in Multiverse Compounds(mvUsdCompoundShape nodes).
NOTE — In a multi-stage workflow you can, for example, write model, animation, material assignment USD files separately and then layer them in a Multiverse Compound.
If before writing your Maya data is contained in Multiverse Set nodes with the proxy and render purpose set, then the asset will contain proxies, see +Generating Viewport Proxies.
NOTE — Topology varying data can be also written.
TODO: docs for writing variants.
Write USD Composition
Write any selected, static or animated, Maya hierarchyconsisting of a combination of Multiverse Compounds ( mvUsdCompoundShape nodes are generated by a Multiverse Read operation) and of Maya Groups(transform nodes) as a single USD file — we call this a“composition”.
Write USD Overrides
Write“overrides” for the selected Multiverse Compound node(amvUsdCompoundShape node is generated by a Multiverse Read operation) to a single USD file.
Overrides are performed in the Multiverse Explore and Override Window(MEOW).
When writing overrides, an option is available to automatically sync the overrides as a layer on their related Compound.
Read USD(or Alembic)
Read USD files representing static or animated Assets and Compositions. Read ABC files representing Assets. These files can come from any USD-enabled DCC application, such as Multiverse(Maya) and Solaris(Houdini). As a result a Multiverse Compound node(mvUsdCompoundShape) will be created.
NOTE — The viewport draw mode can be set before reading.
Additionally you can generate USD clips for file-per-frame sequences of USD or ABC(typically coming from Houdini).
NOTE — You can also read USD files with varying topology generated from either Multiverse(Maya) or Solaris(Houdini).
Set viewport Compound draw mode to Skip Draw
Skip the viewport draw of the selected Compound.
If nothing is selected skip the draw for all compounds.
Set viewport Compound draw mode to BoundingBox
Draw the selected compound as a Bounding Box in the viewport.
If nothing is selected draw all compounds as a Bounding Box.
Set viewport Compound draw mode to BoundingBoxes
Draw the selected compound as a hierarchy of Bounding Boxes in the viewport.
If nothing is selected draw all compounds as hierarchies of Bounding Boxes.
Set viewport Compound draw mode to Point Cloud(PTC)
Draw the selected compound as a Point Cloud in the viewport.
If nothing is selected draw all compounds as a Point Clouds.
Set viewport Compound draw mode to Viewport Proxy
Draw the selected compound as a Proxy Geometry(if available) in the viewport.
If nothing is selected draw all compounds as a Proxy Geometry(if available).
Proxy Geometry is declared via the use of a Multiverse mvSet nodes which are then written by Write USD Asset operation. They can also come from other applications such as Solaris(Houdini). See +Generating Viewport Proxies.
Set viewport Compound draw mode to Flat Shading
Draw the selected compound with Flat Shading in the viewport.
If nothing is selected draw all compounds with Flat Shading.
Set viewport Compound draw mode to SmoothShading
Draw the selected compound with Smooth Shading in the viewport.
If nothing is selected draw all compounds with Smooth Shading.
Set viewport Compound draw mode to Smooth Shadingwith Materials
Draw the selected compound with smooth shaded materials in the viewport.
Quick Shelf Buttons Reference