Maya Animation Layers

Introduction

The only difference with Maya files saved using Animation Layers is you need the layers plugin to view the extra layers. If you don't, you only see the base layer key frames, the other frames will be lost if you re-save it. Also, before putting a layered animation into the game, you need to bake the keyframes into one layer. This puts a key frame on every frame, so the resulting file should not be considered a working copy anymore. Save the original with the layers.

Installation

NeoReel Download Page - this page tells you everything you need to install it.

If you have problems running it, as I did, simply follow these one-time-only steps;

• Open the script window - Window\General Editors\Script Editor
• Type "neoreelLibrary -config" in the bottom pane and press CTRL+ENTER, the config pane comes up
• Under Utilities, check nrToolbox
• Under Animation, check nrLayers
• Back in the script window, type "neoreelLibrary -refresh" in the bottom pane and press CTRL+ENTER
• type "neoreelLibrary -load nrLayers" in the bottom pane and press CTRL+ENTER

That should get them going. If this is the case, then every time you start Maya and want to work with Layered Animation files, you need to open the script window and type "neoreelLibrary -load nrLayers", but that's a small price to pay to have animation layers in Maya.