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If the Maya start screen image doesn't appeal to you, you can alter it to any design you like. Before you alter the start screen, make sure that you have a backup of the original MayaRes.dll file. When you change your start screen, you will be altering this file. If you don't have a backup and something goes wrong, Maya may not be able to open. To back up the file, go into the Maya directory, which can be found by following the path C:\AW\Maya4.0\bin directory. Copy the file to another folder on your computer, such as your desktop, just in case the original file needs to be restored.
You will need the freeware Resource Hacker to change your Maya screen (see Resources). When you open the MayaRes.dll file in Resource Hacker, there will be several folders. Open "Bitmap" and "MAYASTARTUPIMAGE.XPM." Right-click on the green icon in the folder and select "Replace Resource." You will be able to add a new image. When you save your work, your Maya 8.5 start screen will now be the image you added. - When it comes to working fast, there are few elements of Maya 8.5 as useful as the Hotbox. The Maya Hotbox contains the same features that are available in the menu bar and can be accessed by holding down the space bar at any time. The Hotbox will pop up wherever the cursor is located on the screen. The advantage of the Hotbox is that it lists every command that is available in Maya in one window, saving you the effort of searching through menus to find a command.
- Hotkeys can really speed up your work in Maya. If there is a function you use regularly, such as X-ray, you can create a hotkey for it. Simply go to the "Window" menu and select "Settings/Preferences" and then "Hotkeys." This will bring up a window in which you can select the function that you want to create a hotkey for from the list and assign it a specific key on your keyboard. Once the key is assigned, that key will act as a keyboard shortcut in Maya. To use the function, you simply press Ctrl plus the assigned hotkey.
