Maya API

Explore software extensibility with the OpenMaya and Python APIs

Autodesk® Maya® provides an API to automate repetitive tasks and extend core software functionality, like customization of 3D modeling, animation, visual effects, rendering, and more—with C++, Python, and .NET supported. The SDK offers extensive functionality and code samples, as well as documentation to help get you started developing with the API.

SDKs and tools

View the general product support information from the Maya Knowledge Network.

SDK customization documentation

2017 Update 4 
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2017 Update 3 
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2017 Update 2 
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2017 
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2017 .NET Reference
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2016 Extension 2 
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2016 
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2016 .NET Reference
Download CHM

The Maya API Architecture Whitepaper is an overview of the OpenMaya API architecture that also applies to Python.

The Maya API Introduction Whitepaper is brief overview of the Maya API and the top 10 important classes.

The Maya Plug-in Internationalization overview covers the Maya API Internationalization architecture.

Render Pass Concepts and Techniques

This whitepaper explains how to use the Maya render pass framework. The covered topics include: rendering pipeline efficiency, configuring and customizing render passes, and how to composite render passes. The examples show how to leverage render passes to achieve efficient compositing workflows for common rendering, lighting and look tuning tasks.

Maya Viewport 2.0

This explains how to use the Maya Viewport 2.0 API and port your legacy viewport code to the latest Maya viewport technology.

Community and support

Whether you're an experienced Maya user or just starting out, this is a good place to ask questions, share tips, connect, and learn from others.