Complex UV Layout in Maya
Over the last couple of years UV layout in Maya has changed for the better. In this course we're going to be taking a look at some of those changes as we UV map an entire character
# 1 01-07-2014 , 03:57 PM
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Playblast problem

Hello all,

Whenever I create a .avi file using Maya's "Playblast" feature, the animation never appears on the file when I play it. Instead, I just get a black screen that lasts for however many seconds the original animation was supposed to last.

The steps I followed are from "Introducing Autodesk Maya 2012":

  • - Right-click the time slider, then select the "Playbast" option box
  • - Set the format to avi
  • - Set the display size to "From Window"
  • - Set Scale to 1.0
  • - Check the "Save to File" option, then give the playblast a name
  • - Click the "Playblast" button

As said above, once I've saved the file to my computer and attempt to play it, I'm just seeing a black screen. Why is this?


Last edited by newuser; 01-07-2014 at 07:00 PM.
# 2 01-07-2014 , 08:45 PM
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Try using vlc to play back the avi, you probably do not have the correct codec installed on your machine to view the video.


From a readers' Q and A column in TV GUIDE: "If we get involved in a nuclear war, would the electromagnetic pulses from exploding bombs damage my videotapes?"
# 3 01-07-2014 , 08:56 PM
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Tried to no avail. Tried Windows Media Player and Quicktime 7 as well to no avail. Attempted on both my Windows laptop and my Chromebook. I think it is a Maya issue.


Is there an alternative way to create a video file on Maya, aside from the way I outlined above?


Last edited by newuser; 01-07-2014 at 10:24 PM.
# 4 01-07-2014 , 10:23 PM
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you can make output as frames and put them together in after effects or something similar. i never got video output in playblast working properly.

# 5 01-07-2014 , 10:26 PM
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Mickhah, how do I do that (output as frames, then put together)?

# 6 01-07-2014 , 11:00 PM
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in the window with playblast options change "avi" to "iff". so you will get not the video file, but every frame as a single picture. then you need to put them in another program.

# 7 02-07-2014 , 08:39 PM
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Currently, whenever I select 'iff' then run playblast, Fcheck opens and begins playing the animation (black screen only). What should I do then?

# 8 02-07-2014 , 10:30 PM
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try to reset settings.
set to "iff", select the file type, select the directory and make playblast.

# 9 02-07-2014 , 10:39 PM
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Still no luck user added image

Another person I just spoke to thinks the problem is that I am working on a laptop, which uses a graphic "engine" instead of a graphic "card". Because of that, he thinks this problem may be unsolvable on my laptop.

Is there anyone on this board that renders on Maya with a laptop? Or must I have a desktop computer?

# 10 03-07-2014 , 10:21 AM
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