Book description
A practical, step-by-step guide to Maya 2012
This book is the ideal primer to getting started with Maya, the premier 3D animation and effects software used in movies, visual effects, games, cartoons, short films, and commercials. You'll learn the Maya interface and the basics of modeling, texturing, animating, and visual effects. Professional visual effects artist and instructor Dariush Derakhshani explains the nuances of the complex software, while creative tutorials offer realistic, professional challenges for those new to 3D. You'll be up and running in no time with the world's most popular professional 3D software application.
Provides a thorough, step-by-step introduction to Maya 2012
Explains the core concepts of CG and working in 3D
Covers modeling, rigging, HDRI lighting, mental ray rendering, and more
Concepts are reinforced with tutorials that offer realistic challenges and clear explanations
Color insert provides real-world examples from talented beginning Maya users
Build your Maya and animation skills from the ground up with this practical, thorough guide.
Table of contents
- Cover Page
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Dear Reader,
- Dedication
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
- CONTENTS AT A GLANCE
- Contents
- Introduction
- CHAPTER 1: Introduction to Computer Graphics and 3D
- CHAPTER 2: Jumping in Headfirst, with Both Feet
-
CHAPTER 3: The Maya 2012 Interface
- Navigating in Maya
- Maya's Layout
- Building a Decorative Box
- Mapping the Box's Reference Planes with Hypershade
- Organizing Workflow with Layer Editor
- Modeling the Decorative Box
- Editing the Decorative Box Model Using the Shelf
- Continuing the Decorative Box Model
- Finishing the Decorative Box Model
- Summary
- CHAPTER 4: Beginning Polygonal Modeling
-
CHAPTER 5: Modeling with NURBS, Subdivisions, and Deformers
- NURBS! NURBS!
- Using NURBS Surfacing to Create Polygons
- Converting a NURBS Model to Polygons
- Editing NURBS Surfaces
- Patch Modeling: A Locomotive Detail
- Using Artisan to Sculpt NURBS
- Modeling with Simple Deformers
- The Lattice Deformer
- Animating through a Lattice
- Subdivision Surfaces
- Creating a Starfish
- Building a Teakettle
- Summary
- CHAPTER 6: Practical Experience
- CHAPTER 7: Maya Shading and Texturing
- CHAPTER 8: Introduction to Animation
- CHAPTER 9: More Animation!
- CHAPTER 10: Maya Lighting
- CHAPTER 11: Maya Rendering
- CHAPTER 12: Maya Dynamics and Effects
- Index
Product information
- Title: Introducing Autodesk® Maya® 2012
- Author(s):
- Release date: May 2011
- Publisher(s): Sybex
- ISBN: 9780470900215
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