Introducing Autodesk Maya 2014: Autodesk Official Press

Introducing Autodesk Maya 2014: Autodesk Official Press

by Dariush Derakhshani
Released May 2013
Publisher(s): Sybex
ISBN: 9781118574904

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Book description

What you need to get up and running on Autodesk Maya 2014

Autodesk Maya is the industry-leading 3D animation and effects software, and this detailed Autodesk Official Press book is the ideal way to get you started using Maya like a studio veteran. Professional visual effects artist and Maya expert Dariush Derakhshani clearly explains the basics of modeling, texturing, animating and visual effects for new users, while leading you through fun and challenging lessons that give you plenty of hands-on practice. The book includes a color insert featuring dazzling examples from talented beginners, so you can see what's possible.

  • Gets beginners and those migrating from other 3D applications up and running on Autodesk Maya 2014

  • Helps users master the Maya interface and the basics of modeling, texturing, animating, and visual effects

  • Provides practical and fun, step-by-step tutorials that illustrate realistic, professional challenges

  • Includes a full-color insert of amazing examples from talented beginners

  • Written by an Autodesk Authorized Author and is an Autodesk Official Press book

Whether you're new to 3D or migrating from another 3D application, Introducing Autodesk Maya will kickstart your creativity and get you up and running on Maya.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Acknowledgments
  3. About the Author
  4. Introduction
    1. Introduction
  5. Chapter 1: Introduction to Computer Graphics and 3D
    1. Art?
    2. Computer Graphics
    3. The Stages of Production
    4. The CG Production Workflow
    5. Core Concepts
    6. Basic Film Concepts
    7. Summary
  6. Chapter 2: Jumping in Headfirst, with Both Feet
    1. You Put the U in UI
    2. Project Overview: The Solar System
    3. The Preproduction Process: Planning
    4. Creating a Project
    5. The Production Process: Creating and Animating the Objects
    6. Hierarchy and Maya Object Structure
    7. The Solar System, Resumed
    8. Outputting Your Work: Playblasting
    9. Summary
  7. Chapter 3: The Autodesk Maya 2014 Interface
    1. Navigating in Maya
    2. Exploring the Maya Layout
    3. Building a Decorative Box
    4. Mapping the Box’s Reference Planes with Hypershade
    5. Organizing Workflow with the Layer Editor
    6. Modeling the Decorative Box
    7. Editing the Decorative Box Model Using the Shelf
    8. Continuing the Decorative Box Model
    9. Finishing the Decorative Box Model
    10. Summary
  8. Chapter 4: Beginning Polygonal Modeling
    1. Planning Your Model
    2. Polygon Basics
    3. Poly Editing Tools
    4. Putting the Tools to Use: Making a Simple Hand
    5. Creating Areas of Detail on a Poly Mesh
    6. Modeling a Catapult
    7. Suggestions for Modeling Polygons
    8. Summary
  9. Chapter 5: Modeling with NURBS Surfaces and Deformers
    1. NURBS! NURBS!
    2. Using NURBS Surfacing to Create Polygons
    3. Converting a NURBS Model to Polygons
    4. Editing NURBS Surfaces
    5. Patch Modeling: A Locomotive Detail
    6. Using Artisan to Sculpt NURBS
    7. Modeling with Simple Deformers
    8. The Lattice Deformer
    9. Animating Through a Lattice
    10. Summary
  10. Chapter 6: Practical Experience
    1. Evaluating the Table Lamp
    2. Modeling the Base
    3. Creating the Lamp Stem
    4. Modeling the Lampshade
    5. Making the Toy Airplane
    6. Using Maya File References
    7. Finishing the Toy Airplane
    8. Updating the File Reference
    9. Summary
  11. Chapter 7: Autodesk Maya Shading and Texturing
    1. Maya Shading
    2. Shader Types
    3. Shader Attributes
    4. Shading and Texturing the Table Lamp
    5. Textures and Surfaces
    6. Textures and UVs for the Red Wagon
    7. Photo-Real Mapping: The Decorative Box
    8. For Further Study
    9. Summary
  12. Chapter 8: Introduction to Animation
    1. Keyframe Animation: Bouncing a Ball
    2. Throwing an Axe
    3. Replacing an Object
    4. Animating Flying Text
    5. Rigging the Locomotive, Part 1
    6. Animating the Catapult
    7. Summary
  13. Chapter 9: More Animation!
    1. Skeletons and Kinematics
    2. Skeletons: The Hand
    3. Inverse Kinematics
    4. Basic Relationships: Constraints
    5. Basic Relationships: Set-Driven Keys
    6. Application: Rigging the Locomotive
    7. Creating a Simple Character Rig
    8. For Further Study
    9. Summary
  14. Chapter 10: Autodesk Maya Lighting
    1. Basic Lighting Concepts
    2. Maya Lights
    3. Light Linking
    4. Adding Shadows
    5. Raytracing Soft Shadows
    6. mental ray Lighting
    7. mental ray Physical Sun and Sky
    8. Lighting Effects
    9. Lighting the Table Lamp and Decorative Box
    10. Further Lighting Practice
    11. Tips for Using and Animating Lights
    12. Summary
  15. Chapter 11: Autodesk Maya Rendering
    1. Rendering Setup
    2. Previewing Your Render: The Render View Window
    3. Reflections and Refractions
    4. Using Cameras
    5. Motion Blur
    6. Batch Rendering
    7. Rendering the Wine Bottle
    8. mental ray for Maya
    9. Render Layers
    10. Final Gather
    11. Ambient Occlusion
    12. HDRI
    13. Displacement Mapping the Decorative Box
    14. Rendering the Lamp and Decorative Box
    15. Summary
  16. Chapter 12: Autodesk Maya Dynamics and Effects
    1. An Overview of Dynamics and Maya Nucleus
    2. Rigid and Soft Dynamic Bodies
    3. Animating with Dynamics: The Pool Table
    4. Fun Dynamics: Shoot the Catapult!
    5. nParticle Dynamics
    6. Emitting nParticles
    7. Animating a Particle Effect: Locomotive Steam
    8. Introduction to Paint Effects
    9. Toon Shading
    10. Getting Started with nCloth
    11. Customizing Maya
    12. Summary
    13. Where Do You Go from Here?
  17. Gallery: Beginners’ Gallery

Product information

  • Title: Introducing Autodesk Maya 2014: Autodesk Official Press
  • Author(s): Dariush Derakhshani
  • Release date: May 2013
  • Publisher(s): Sybex
  • ISBN: 9781118574904