Maya in 24 Hours, Sams Teach Yourself

Maya in 24 Hours, Sams Teach Yourself

Released August 2013
Publisher(s): Sams
ISBN: 9780133256345

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Book description

In just 24 sessions of one hour or less, Sams Teach Yourself Maya® in 24 Hours will help you master Autodesk Maya 2014 and use it to create outstanding 3D graphics and animations. Using this book’s straightforward, step-by-step approach, you’ll master powerful Maya 2014 tools for modeling, texturing, rigging, animating, lighting, rendering, and more. Every lesson builds on what you’ve already learned, giving you a rock-solid foundation for real-world success!

Step-by-step instructions carefully walk you through the most common Maya tasks.

Quizzes and exercises test your knowledge of key Maya 2014 tools at the end of each hour.

Notes present interesting information related to the discussion.

Tips offer advice or show you easier ways to perform tasks.

Learn how to…

  • Get comfortable with Autodesk Maya 2014's complex interface

  • Quickly access the Maya 2014 tools you need for any task

  • Efficiently manage your assets and files

  • Model with polygonal geometry and NURBS curves/surfaces

  • Unfold UVs and apply textures

  • Create node networks in the hypershade

  • Model highly realistic characters

  • Utilize relationships and make nodes work together

  • Rig your objects and characters for animation

  • Add animated movement to your scenes

  • Create and adjust cameras

  • Build diverse shapes with BlendShapes

  • Animate using dynamics and simulations

  • Script and automate common tasks

  • Improve realism with particles, hair/cloth effects, and more

  • Correctly light your scenes

  • Render your final imagery

  • Work effectively with film

  • Manage your projects and scene workflows more efficiently

    • On the DVD: The accompanying DVD contains how-to videos for dozens of key Maya 2014 tasks, extensive sample art and models, and additional bonus content.

    Table of contents

    1. About This eBook
    2. Title Page
    3. Copyright Page
    4. Praise for Sams Teach Yourself Maya in 24 Hours
    5. Contents at a Glance
    6. Table of Contents
    7. About the Authors
    8. Dedication
    9. Acknowledgments
    10. We Want to Hear from You!
    11. Reader Services
    12. Hour 1. Introduction to Autodesk Maya and This Book
      1. Our Goal
      2. What Is Autodesk Maya?
      3. Our Approach
      4. How We Use Screenshots
      5. Supplementing Your 3D Training
      6. Setting a Pace for Learning Maya
      7. Summary
      8. Q&A
      9. Workshop
    13. Hour 2. Menus and Navigating the Maya UI
      1. The Maya Interface
      2. Axes, Planes, Coordinates
      3. The Outliner
      4. Summary
      5. Q&A
      6. Workshop
    14. Hour 3. File Types and Managing Assets
      1. 3D File Types
      2. Other 3D File Types
      3. 2D File Types
      4. Miscellaneous Formats
      5. Maya Projects
      6. Summary
      7. Q&A
      8. Workshop
    15. Hour 4. Modeling with Polygonal Geometry
      1. Objects in Maya
      2. Creating Polygons
      3. Summary
      4. Q&A
      5. Workshop
    16. Hour 5. Modeling NURBS Curves and Surfaces
      1. What Are NURBS?
      2. Modeling with NURBS
      3. More Uses for Curves
      4. Summary
      5. Q&A
      6. Workshop
    17. Hour 6. Unfolding UVs and Applying Textures
      1. What Are UVs?
      2. Texturing in Maya
      3. Customizing Our Blinn
      4. Summary
      5. Q&A
      6. Workshop
    18. Hour 7. Creating Node Networks in the Hypershade
      1. Navigating the Hypershade
      2. Creating a Simple Network
      3. Summary
      4. Q&A
      5. Workshop
    19. Hour 8. Character Modeling
      1. Character Model Basics
      2. Starting a Model
      3. Continue Refining Your Model
      4. Smoothing
      5. Crease Edges
      6. Combining Geometry
      7. Summary
      8. Q&A
      9. Workshop
    20. Hour 9. Relationships and Making Nodes Work Together
      1. Viewing Relationships
      2. Creating Connections
      3. Other Relationships
      4. Choosing the Right Relationship
      5. Summary
      6. Q&A
      7. Workshop
    21. Hour 10. Basic Rigging: Preparing Objects for Animation
      1. What Is a Rig?
      2. Why We Rig
      3. Preparing Your Mesh
      4. Simple Hierarchy
      5. Adding Controls
      6. Adding Functionality
      7. Summary
      8. Q&A
      9. Workshop
    22. Hour 11. Character Rigging: Articulating Characters
      1. Joints
      2. Forward Kinematics Versus Inverse Kinematics
      3. Starting a Rig
      4. Jaw Joint
      5. Adding IK to the Arms
      6. Adding Controls
      7. Connecting Controls
      8. Other Controls
      9. Final Cleanup
      10. Summary
      11. Q&A
      12. Workshop
    23. Hour 12. Skinning: Attaching Geometry to a Rig
      1. The Skin Nodes
      2. Rigid Bind
      3. Smooth Bind
      4. Skinning Sam
      5. Painting Weights
      6. Adding More Deformation
      7. Summary
      8. Q&A
      9. Workshop
    24. Hour 13. Animation: Adding Movement to Your Scene
      1. The Principles of Animation
      2. Time in Maya
      3. The Timeline
      4. The Range Slider
      5. What Is a Keyframe?
      6. Creating Keyframes
      7. Using AutoKey to Set Keys
      8. Manipulating the Timeline
      9. Copying and Pasting Keys
      10. The Graph Editor and Editing Keys
      11. The Dope Sheet
      12. Editing Motion with the Trax Editor
      13. Constraints and Animating
      14. Using Other Animation Tools
      15. An Animated Scene
      16. Summary
      17. Q&A
      18. Workshop
    25. Hour 14. Creating and Adjusting Cameras
      1. Creating Cameras
      2. Common Camera Attributes
      3. The Different Camera Types
      4. Animating Cameras
      5. Summary
      6. Q&A
      7. Workshop
    26. Hour 15. Making Diverse Shapes with BlendShapes
      1. BlendShape Node
      2. Applying a BlendShape
      3. Creating BlendShapes
      4. Corrective BlendShapes
      5. Other Uses for BlendShapes
      6. Summary
      7. Q&A
      8. Workshop
    27. Hour 16. Animating Using Dynamics and Simulations
      1. What Are Dynamics?
      2. Getting Started with Rigid Bodies
      3. Getting Dynamic
      4. Simulating the Apple Falling
      5. The Rigid Body Solver
      6. Summary
      7. Q&A
      8. Workshop
    28. Hour 17. Scripting and Automating Common Tasks
      1. MEL Scripting Basics
      2. Writing Scripts in the Script Editor
      3. Learning MEL from Maya in Action
      4. Getting Help on Commands
      5. Creating a Universe with MEL
      6. Making Use of the Shelves
      7. Summary
      8. Q&A
      9. Workshop
    29. Hour 18. Using Particles to Create Effects
      1. What Are Particles?
      2. Getting Started with nParticles
      3. Creating a Cache
      4. Summary
      5. Q&A
      6. Workshop
    30. Hour 19. Lighting Your Scene Correctly
      1. Lighting Basics
      2. Creating Lights and Shadows
      3. Common Light Attributes
      4. Getting Started with Three-Point Lighting
      5. Summary
      6. Q&A
      7. Workshop
    31. Hour 20. Applying Hair and Cloth for Realism
      1. Applying Fur and Hair
      2. Follicles and Curves
      3. Creating Dynamic Hair and Fur
      4. nCloth and nDynamics
      5. Attaching nCloth to Other Objects
      6. Characters and Clothes
      7. Animating with Hair and nCloth
      8. Summary
      9. Q&A
      10. Workshop
    32. Hour 21. Rendering Final Imagery
      1. Render Basics
      2. Render Settings
      3. Rendering Animations with Batch Render
      4. Summary
      5. Q&A
      6. Workshop
    33. Hour 22. Working with Film
      1. Importing a Film Plate
      2. Using a 3D Tracked Camera
      3. Setting Up the Scene
      4. Scene Scale
      5. Masks
      6. More Camera Settings
      7. Common Render Settings
      8. Aspect Ratios and Resolution
      9. Color
      10. Summary
      11. Q&A
      12. Workshop
    34. Hour 23. Correct Project Management and Scene Workflow
      1. The Maya Project Structure
      2. Naming Conventions
      3. Directory Structure Issues
      4. Referencing Pipeline
      5. Relative and Absolute Paths
      6. Good Project Workflows
      7. Pull or Push Workflows
      8. Project X Workflow Case Study
      9. Summary
      10. Q&A
      11. Workshop
    35. Hour 24. Ideal Settings, Preferences, and Hotkeys
      1. Settings and Preferences Basics
      2. Hotkeys
      3. Summary
      4. Q&A
      5. Workshop
    36. Index
    37. Where Are the Companion Content Files?

    Product information

    • Title: Maya in 24 Hours, Sams Teach Yourself
    • Author(s):
    • Release date: August 2013
    • Publisher(s): Sams
    • ISBN: 9780133256345