Python · Autodesk Maya
I built this tool to make creating playblasts as simple and consistent as possible for animators.
The tool builds on Maya Capture by abstractfactory, which I used as a foundation and adapted to fit our production workflow. I developed the surrounding UI and workflow, including automatic settings, project-specific overrides, naming and versioning, and camera detection through Maya’s Camera Sequencer.
The idea was that animators should be able to open the tool and press OK without having to adjust any settings manually. The tool handles the setup in the background, while still allowing more control when needed.
Automatic Setup
The tool loads default settings from the server. Before applying them, it checks whether the current project has its own settings in a designated folder. If project-specific settings are available, these take priority over the server defaults.
This allows the tool to adapt to different projects without requiring animators to configure everything themselves.
Simple by Default
The interface opens in a minimal mode, showing only what is needed for a standard playblast. Additional settings can be expanded when a more specific setup is required.
Key Features
- Automatic setup: Loads the appropriate default settings for the current project.
- Project-specific settings: Uses project overrides when available, falling back to server defaults otherwise.
- Automatic naming and versioning: Generates file names and finds the next available version.
- Camera detection: Retrieves camera information from Maya’s Camera Sequencer.
- Scene settings: Temporarily disables overscan for the playblast and restores the original value afterward.
The goal was to remove unnecessary decisions from the animator’s workflow while keeping the tool flexible enough to handle different production needs.