Alias|Wavefront today announced that it’s developing Maya Personal Learning Edition, a version of its Mac OS X-native 3D graphics and animation package specially developed to introduce neophyte users to the company’s powerful Maya Complete software. Best of all, the software will be made available as a free download.
Maya Personal Learning Edition provides full access to the toolsets included in the US$7,500 Maya Complete package. NURBS modeling, animation, inverse kinematics, Maya Artisan, Maya Paint Effects, particles, dynamics and rendering are all supported.
Users are granted a free seat of Maya for non-commercial use, with a renewable annual registration. Alias|Wavefront explained that Maya Personal Learning Edition adds a watermark on images and uses a special non-commercial file format. Industry-standard plug-ins are not supported, either. Still, for the price, Alias|Wavefront is counting on attracting creative professionals, students and anyone else with an interest in 3D computer graphics and animation.
Additionally, Alias|Wavefront is supporting users of Maya Personal Learning Edition by creating a Web-based user center. The center provides discussion forums, areas to share work, access to learning materials and galleries.
Coming this February, Maya Personal Learning Edition will be available as a free download. Alternately, you can buy a copy on CD for a nominal charge of US$5.
Alias|Wavefront is at this week’s Macworld Conference & Expo at booth 917. They’re showing off Maya 3.5.1 for Mac OS X.