How to Export Models from Autodesk Maya to Unity

Edited 1 week ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Exporting models from Autodesk Maya to Unity is a common task for game developers and 3D artists who want to use their custom models in Unity-based projects. This process can be divided into several steps, and it is necessary to follow them carefully to ensure that your models retain their intended shapes, textures, animations, and other properties. In this guide, we will explain each step in detail, from creating the model in Maya to importing it into Unity.

Step 1: Preparing the model in Autodesk Maya

Before you export a model from Maya, you need to make sure it is properly prepared. This includes organizing the model's components and checking for issues that could cause problems during the export and import process. Here are some key points to consider:

• Outliner organization: The outliner in Maya is a tool that shows the hierarchy of the components in your model. Make sure the hierarchy is clean and logical. Rename your objects to give them meaningful names, which will help you identify them easily once you get them into Unity.
• Freeze transformations: This will reset your model's transformations (position, rotation, scale). To do this, select your model and then go to Modify > Freeze Transformations. This ensures that the model's coordinates are set to zero, preventing unexpected transformations when importing into Unity.
• Clear history: Clear the model's creation history by going to Edit > Delete by Type > History. This step prevents any errors from occurring due to leftover operations.
• UV mapping: Make sure your model has proper UV mapping for textures. Unity uses these mappings to apply textures correctly.
• Texture reference path: Make sure all textures are saved in the same project directory as your Maya file. Rename textures if necessary to match material names for better organization.

Step 2: Exporting from Maya

Once your model is ready, the next step is to export it from Maya. The most common format used to export models in Unity is FBX. The FBX format is capable of storing a wide range of attributes such as geometry, materials, and animations. Follow these steps to export your model:

1. Select the model you want to export.
2. If you want to export every visible element in the scene, go to File > Export Selection or File > Export All.
3. In the Export window, change the file type to "FBX" in the "Files of Type" dropdown menu.
4. Click the "Options" button next to the "FBX" format selection.
5. A new window will open, showing you various settings for FBX export. Here are the important settings:
   • Animation: If your model includes animations, make sure this option is checked. Set the correct FPS that matches your project's settings.
   • Smoothing group: Enable this to preserve smoothing information from Maya.
   • Embed media: This setting allows you to embed a texture file with the FBX file. Use this option if you are transferring a model with textures as well.
   • Units: Choose centimeters as the scale unit, as Unity uses meters by default, and Maya works in centimeters. Proper scaling will be handled within Unity.
   • Advanced options: Explore additional FBX export options under the "Advanced Options" section if needed. Generally, the default settings work well for most projects.
6. After configuring your settings, choose the destination folder and file name, then click "Export Selection" or "Export All."

Step 3: Importing into Unity

Now that you have exported your model as an FBX file, the next step is to import it into Unity. Follow these instructions to import:

1. Open your Unity project or create a new one.
2. In the Project window, right-click the "Assets" folder or any other subfolder where you want to place your model. Select Import New Asset.
3. Locate the FBX file you exported from Maya and select it. Click "Import."
4. Once imported, find the FBX file in the Assets window and click on it to open its Inspector panel.
5. In the inspector, you'll find several tabs for configuring how to import the model:
   • Model: Check the scale factor, which should be set to 1 if exporting using centimeters. If your model appears too large or too small, adjust this setting.
   • Rig: If your model includes a rig, set the rig as needed. You can choose between normal and human settings for characters.
   • Animations: If animations were exported with your model, configure their import settings to ensure they work as intended. Set appropriate options, such as looping.
   • Materials: Unity attempts to create materials based on the materials that exist in Maya. You can update these materials as needed and specify textures if not managed automatically.

Step 4: Applying textures and materials

Once your model is in Unity, you need to check the materials and textures to make sure they are applied correctly. Follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the Materials folder in your Project window, which contains the materials created by Unity at import.
2. Select a material, then view the Inspector panel to see its properties.
3. If a texture is missing, assign it manually by clicking the small circle next to the texture slot. This opens a new window where you can choose your texture.
4. Adjust other material properties such as color, specular highlights, and shader type to match the appearance you want.

Step 5: Inspecting the model in Unity

Now that your model is imported and textured, it’s time to inspect it in your Unity scene to make sure everything is correct.

1. Drag your model from the Project window to the Scene view.
2. Check for any visual issues such as missing polygons, incorrect textures, or inconsistencies in scale or orientation.
3. If there are animation clips, play them in Unity to make sure they are working correctly.
4. If necessary, make adjustments in the Inspector panel to fix any obvious problems.

Step 6: Troubleshoot common issues

Sometimes, problems may still occur even after taking careful steps. Here are some common problems and solutions:

• The model appears too small or too large: Check the scale factor applied to the model in Unity's inspector. Make sure it aligns with the scale used in Maya.
• Textures are missing: Make sure the textures are exported correctly. If they are missing, manually attach the textures to the corresponding material's slot.
• Animations not playing: Verify that the animations are imported under the Animations tab. Make sure the clips are set to loop if necessary.
• Strange artifacts or glitches: This can be caused by old history or layers not deleted from Maya. Re-export after cleaning it up with the "Delete by Type" command.

Conclusion

Exporting models from Autodesk Maya to Unity may seem intimidating at first, but by following these systematic steps, you can efficiently prepare, export, and import your 3D assets while maintaining the desired quality and functionality. Paying attention to details during each step ensures a seamless workflow and optimized performance of your models within Unity. Whether you're working on a simple static model or a complex character animation, these guidelines provide a solid foundation for a successful transition from Maya to Unity.

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