Complete Maya Programming Volume II

Complete Maya Programming Volume II

by David Gould
Released August 2005
Publisher(s): Morgan Kaufmann
ISBN: 9780080529578

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Book description

David Gould's acclaimed first book, Complete Maya Programming: An Extensive Guide to MEL and the C++ API, provides artists and programmers with a deep understanding of the way Maya works and how it can be enhanced and customized through programming. In his new book David offers a gentle, intuitive introduction to the core ideas of computer graphics.

Each concept is explained progressively and is fully implemented in both MEL and C++ so that an artist or programmer can use the source code directly in their own programs. Geometry and modeling are covered in detail with progressively more complex examples demonstrating all of Maya's possible programming features.

David Gould's first volume is widely regarded as the most authoritative reference on Maya programming. Volume II continues this tradition and provides an unmatched guide for the artist and programmer tackling complex tasks.

  • Covers a spectrum of topics in computer graphics including points and vectors, rotations, transformations, curves and surfaces (polygonal, NURBS, subdivision), and modeling
  • Offers insights to Maya's inner workings so that an artist or programmer can design and develop customized tools and solutions
  • Discusses problem solving with MEL (Maya's scripting language) and the more powerful and versatile C++ API, with plenty of code examples for each

Table of contents

  1. Front Cover
  2. Complete Maya Programming: An In-depth Guide to 3D Fundamentals, Geometry, and Modeling
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Contents (1/2)
  5. Contents (2/2)
  6. Preface
  7. Chapter 1. Introduction
    1. 1.1 Example Files
    2. 1.2 Executing MEL Code in the Script Editor
  8. Chapter 2. Points
    1. 2.1 Dimensions
    2. 2.2 Cartesian Coordinates
    3. 2.3 Homogeneous Coordinates
    4. 2.4 Polar and Spherical Coordinates
    5. 2.5 Conversions
    6. 2.6 MEL
    7. 2.7 C++ API
    8. 2.8 Locators
  9. Chapter 3. Vectors
    1. 3.1 MEL
    2. 3.2 C++ API
    3. 3.3 Adding
    4. 3.4 Subtracting
    5. 3.5 Scaling
    6. 3.6 Length
    7. 3.7 Distance Between Points
    8. 3.8 Normalizing Vectors
    9. 3.9 Dot Product (1/2)
    10. 3.9 Dot Product (2/2)
    11. 3.10 Cross Product
    12. 3.11 Points Versus Vectors
  10. Chapter 4.Rotations
    1. 4.1 Angles
    2. 4.2 Rotations
    3. 4.3 Orientation Representations (1/3)
    4. 4.3 Orientation Representations (2/3)
    5. 4.3 Orientation Representations (3/3)
  11. Chapter 5. Transformations
    1. 5.1 Matrices (1/2)
    2. 5.1 Matrices (2/2)
    3. 5.2 Transforming Points
    4. 5.3 Transforming Vectors
    5. 5.4 Transforming Normals
  12. Chapter 6. Transform Nodes
    1. 6.1 Pivot Points
    2. 6.2 Transformation Matrices (1/3)
    3. 6.2 Transformation Matrices (2/3)
    4. 6.2 Transformation Matrices (3/3)
    5. 6.3 Hierarchies of Transformations (1/2)
    6. 6.3 Hierarchies of Transformations (2/2)
  13. Chapter 7. Coordinate Frames
    1. 7.1 Up Axis
    2. 7.2 Handedness
    3. 7.3 Custom Coordinate Frames (1/2)
    4. 7.3 Custom Coordinate Frames (2/2)
  14. Chapter 8. Polygonal Meshes
    1. 8.1 Displaying Meshes
    2. 8.2 Querying Meshes (1/18)
    3. 8.2 Querying Meshes (2/18)
    4. 8.2 Querying Meshes (3/18)
    5. 8.2 Querying Meshes (4/18)
    6. 8.2 Querying Meshes (5/18)
    7. 8.2 Querying Meshes (6/18)
    8. 8.2 Querying Meshes (7/18)
    9. 8.2 Querying Meshes (8/18)
    10. 8.2 Querying Meshes (9/18)
    11. 8.2 Querying Meshes (10/18)
    12. 8.2 Querying Meshes (11/18)
    13. 8.2 Querying Meshes (12/18)
    14. 8.2 Querying Meshes (13/18)
    15. 8.2 Querying Meshes (14/18)
    16. 8.2 Querying Meshes (15/18)
    17. 8.2 Querying Meshes (16/18)
    18. 8.2 Querying Meshes (17/18)
    19. 8.2 Querying Meshes (18/18)
    20. 8.3 Creating Meshes (1/19)
    21. 8.3 Creating Meshes (2/19)
    22. 8.3 Creating Meshes (3/19)
    23. 8.3 Creating Meshes (4/19)
    24. 8.3 Creating Meshes (5/19)
    25. 8.3 Creating Meshes (6/19)
    26. 8.3 Creating Meshes (7/19)
    27. 8.3 Creating Meshes (8/19)
    28. 8.3 Creating Meshes (9/19)
    29. 8.3 Creating Meshes (10/19)
    30. 8.3 Creating Meshes (11/19)
    31. 8.3 Creating Meshes (12/19)
    32. 8.3 Creating Meshes (13/19)
    33. 8.3 Creating Meshes (14/19)
    34. 8.3 Creating Meshes (15/19)
    35. 8.3 Creating Meshes (16/19)
    36. 8.3 Creating Meshes (17/19)
    37. 8.3 Creating Meshes (18/19)
    38. 8.3 Creating Meshes (19/19)
    39. 8.4 Editing Meshes (1/12)
    40. 8.4 Editing Meshes (2/12)
    41. 8.4 Editing Meshes (3/12)
    42. 8.4 Editing Meshes (4/12)
    43. 8.4 Editing Meshes (5/12)
    44. 8.4 Editing Meshes (6/12)
    45. 8.4 Editing Meshes (7/12)
    46. 8.4 Editing Meshes (8/12)
    47. 8.4 Editing Meshes (9/12)
    48. 8.4 Editing Meshes (10/12)
    49. 8.4 Editing Meshes (11/12)
    50. 8.4 Editing Meshes (12/12)
  15. Chapter 9. NURBS
    1. 9.1 Concepts (1/4)
    2. 9.1 Concepts (2/4)
    3. 9.1 Concepts (3/4)
    4. 9.1 Concepts (4/4)
    5. 9.2 NURBS Curves (1/12)
    6. 9.2 NURBS Curves (2/12)
    7. 9.2 NURBS Curves (3/12)
    8. 9.2 NURBS Curves (4/12)
    9. 9.2 NURBS Curves (5/12)
    10. 9.2 NURBS Curves (6/12)
    11. 9.2 NURBS Curves (7/12)
    12. 9.2 NURBS Curves (8/12)
    13. 9.2 NURBS Curves (9/12)
    14. 9.2 NURBS Curves (10/12)
    15. 9.2 NURBS Curves (11/12)
    16. 9.2 NURBS Curves (12/12)
    17. 9.3 NURBS Surfaces (1/12)
    18. 9.3 NURBS Surfaces (2/12)
    19. 9.3 NURBS Surfaces (3/12)
    20. 9.3 NURBS Surfaces (4/12)
    21. 9.3 NURBS Surfaces (5/12)
    22. 9.3 NURBS Surfaces (6/12)
    23. 9.3 NURBS Surfaces (7/12)
    24. 9.3 NURBS Surfaces (8/12)
    25. 9.3 NURBS Surfaces (9/12)
    26. 9.3 NURBS Surfaces (10/12)
    27. 9.3 NURBS Surfaces (11/12)
    28. 9.3 NURBS Surfaces (12/12)
  16. Chapter I0. Subdivision Surfaces
    1. 10.1 Concepts (1/2)
    2. 10.1 Concepts (2/2)
    3. 10.2 Displaying Subdivision Surfaces
    4. 10.3 Querying Subdivision Surfaces (1/8)
    5. 10.3 Querying Subdivision Surfaces (2/8)
    6. 10.3 Querying Subdivision Surfaces (3/8)
    7. 10.3 Querying Subdivision Surfaces (4/8)
    8. 10.3 Querying Subdivision Surfaces (5/8)
    9. 10.3 Querying Subdivision Surfaces (6/8)
    10. 10.3 Querying Subdivision Surfaces (7/8)
    11. 10.3 Querying Subdivision Surfaces (8/8)
    12. 10.4 Creating and Converting Subdivision Surfaces (1/5)
    13. 10.4 Creating and Converting Subdivision Surfaces (2/5)
    14. 10.4 Creating and Converting Subdivision Surfaces (3/5)
    15. 10.4 Creating and Converting Subdivision Surfaces (4/5)
    16. 10.4 Creating and Converting Subdivision Surfaces (5/5)
    17. 10.5 Editing Subdivision Surfaces
  17. Chapter 11. Contexts (Tools)
    1. 11.1 SelectRingContextl Plug-in (1/4)
    2. 11.1 SelectRingContextl Plug-in (2/4)
    3. 11.1 SelectRingContextl Plug-in (3/4)
    4. 11.1 SelectRingContextl Plug-in (4/4)
    5. 11.2 SelectRingContext2 Plug-in (1/9)
    6. 11.2 SelectRingContext2 Plug-in (2/9)
    7. 11.2 SelectRingContext2 Plug-in (3/9)
    8. 11.2 SelectRingContext2 Plug-in (4/9)
    9. 11.2 SelectRingContext2 Plug-in (5/9)
    10. 11.2 SelectRingContext2 Plug-in (6/9)
    11. 11.2 SelectRingContext2 Plug-in (7/9)
    12. 11.2 SelectRingContext2 Plug-in (8/9)
    13. 11.2 SelectRingContext2 Plug-in (9/9)
    14. 11.3 SelectVolumeContextl Plug-in (1/10)
    15. 11.3 SelectVolumeContextl Plug-in (2/10)
    16. 11.3 SelectVolumeContextl Plug-in (3/10)
    17. 11.3 SelectVolumeContextl Plug-in (4/10)
    18. 11.3 SelectVolumeContextl Plug-in (5/10)
    19. 11.3 SelectVolumeContextl Plug-in (6/10)
    20. 11.3 SelectVolumeContextl Plug-in (7/10)
    21. 11.3 SelectVolumeContextl Plug-in (8/10)
    22. 11.3 SelectVolumeContextl Plug-in (9/10)
    23. 11.3 SelectVolumeContextl Plug-in (10/10)
  18. A. Further Learning
    1. A.1 Online Resources
    2. A.2 Maya Application
  19. B. Further Reading
    1. B.1 Mathematics
    2. B.2 Programming
    3. B.3 Computer Graphics
  20. Glossary (1/4)
  21. Glossary (2/4)
  22. Glossary (3/4)
  23. Glossary (4/4)
  24. Index (1/3)
  25. Index (2/3)
  26. Index (3/3)

Product information

  • Title: Complete Maya Programming Volume II
  • Author(s): David Gould
  • Release date: August 2005
  • Publisher(s): Morgan Kaufmann
  • ISBN: 9780080529578