Overview

The Megascans plugin for Autodesk Maya allows you to connect Quixel Bridge and Maya, giving you a one-click solution for importing your Megascans, Mixer and custom assets straight into Maya within seconds.

This tool relies on Bridge’s robust architecture to give you the best asset management experience, and Maya’s python implementation to create materials, textures and geometry automatically, giving you photorealistic results on the go.

The plugin supports only the very latest versions the following renderers:

• Arnold
• Redshift
• V-ray

Installation

Plugin installation is part of Bridge Export Settings. These settings are global and once set up, will not need to be changed too often.

You can install the plugin using any one of these methods:

1. You can set up the plugin when you launch Bridge after installing it for the first time on your machine.
2. Through Export Settings.
3. Through the Manage Plugins option in the Edit menu.

Installation during initial setup

1. When you launch Bridge after installing it for the first time on your machine, you will see initial setup options. Click the Library Path to choose the folder on disk where you would like your asset library to be.

The Library Path is important because this is where Bridge will store your assets and plugins. If you don’t already have a folder for this purpose, Bridge will create it for you.

2. Click Next.
3. From the Export Target drop-down, select Maya.

4. Click Download Plugin to begin downloading the plugin.

Once the download is done you’ll see a confirmation message in Bridge.

5. Click Install Plugin to install the plugin in Maya.
6. Once the plugin is installed you should see the Installed status on the pop-up. Click Done to complete the set up.

7. Start up Maya and you should see a Megascans shelf button there confirming that the plugin was installed successfully.

In Maya, Bridge will create a quixel.mod file at the following location (based on your OS) that references the plugin from your library:

• Windows: C:\Users\<user>\Documents\maya
• Mac OS: ~home/Library/Preferences/Autodesk/maya
• Linux: Home/maya OR Computer/home/<Username>/maya

If you open this file it will have the path to where the Maya plugin resides on your machine:

Installation via Export Settings

1. To access the settings, click the gear icon on the bottom left corner of the asset’s right panel or go to Edit > Export Settings.

2. Click Export Settings in the pop-up menu to view all the export options. You can tweak your settings, like texture format, LODs, mesh format (FBX or OBJ), etc.

Exporting Assets

1. In Bridge, go to the Local filter in the left panel to export a downloaded asset. Make sure Maya is running.
2. Click the Quick Export icon or hit the Export button.

As soon as you click on Export in Bridge your asset should pop up in your Maya scene.

The plugin will automatically detect the render engine from your Maya render settings and set up your assets accordingly.

Plugin Interface

The plugin has a minimal interface, only exposing the option of Apply Material to Selection. When checked, this checkbox will automatically apply imported surfaces on the selected object(s) in the scene.

You can access the interface by clicking on the MSPlugin shelf button.