Chapter 4

Beginning Polygonal Modeling

Simple objects call for simple models, and complicated objects call for a complex arrangement of simple models. Like a sculptor, you must analyze the object and deconstruct its design to learn how to create it.

The Autodesk® Maya® software primarily uses two types of modeling: polygons and NURBS. Both require a process that begins with deciding how best to achieve your design, although it’s common to mix modeling methods in a scene.

To help you decide where to begin, this chapter starts with an overview of modeling, briefly describing the two popular methods and how they differ. You’ll also learn about primitives. The second part of the chapter takes a detailed look at modeling with polygons. (The next two ...

Get Introducing Autodesk Maya 2014: Autodesk Official Press now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.