Maya® Studio Projects Dynamics

Maya® Studio Projects Dynamics

Released November 2009
Publisher(s): Sybex
ISBN: 9780470487761

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Book description

The only hands-on book devoted to mastering Maya's dynamics tools for water, wind, and fire

In the world of animation, the ability to create realistic water, wind, and fire effects is key. Autodesk Maya software includes powerful dynamics tools that have been used to design breathtaking effects for movies, games, commercials, and short films. This professional guide teaches you the primary techniques you need to make the most of Maya's toolkit, so you'll soon be creating water that ripples, gusting winds and gentle breezes, and flickering fires the way Hollywood pros do.

The one-of-a-kind book is completely project-based. Learn the intricacies of Maya's Dynamics tools and continue to build your skills with projects that increase in complexity. A DVD is included with additional video training.

  • Maya is the industry-leading 3D animation and effects software; Maya dynamics tools create water and other fluids, wind, fire, fur, particles, and more

  • Build professional skills in Maya Dynamics with this project-based guide

  • Put your skills to work by completing a series of projects on water, wind, and fire effects

  • A DVD included with the book provides additional video training

Maya Studio Projects: Dynamics is one of a new series of books designed to teach animators and designers fresh skills through project-based instruction.

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. Dear Reader,
  3. Acknowledgments
  4. About the Author
  5. Introduction
    1. Who Should Read This Book
      1. What You Will Learn
      2. Hardware and Software Requirements
    2. How to Use This Book
      1. The Companion DVD
    3. Contacting the Author
  6. 1. Exploring Particles
    1. 1.1. Particle Simulation
      1. 1.1.1. Project: Building a Solar System
    2. 1.2. Particle Emitters
      1. 1.2.1. Surface Emitters
        1. 1.2.1.1. Project: Creating a Comet
      2. 1.2.2. Curve Emitters
        1. 1.2.2.1. Project: Creating an Asteroid Belt
    3. 1.3. Particle Rendering
      1. 1.3.1. Playblast and Caching
      2. 1.3.2. Hardware Rendering
      3. 1.3.3. Software Rendering
        1. 1.3.3.1. Project: Software-Rendered Comet
      4. 1.3.4. Mental Ray Rendering
        1. 1.3.4.1. Project: Mental Ray Asteroids
  7. 2. Fluid Mechanics
    1. 2.1. Understanding Fluids
      1. 2.1.1. Containers
      2. 2.1.2. Content Details
        1. 2.1.2.1. Density
      3. 2.1.3. Project: Food Coloring Density
        1. 2.1.3.1. Velocity and Turbulence
      4. 2.1.4. Project: Food Coloring Velocity
        1. 2.1.4.1. Temperature
        2. 2.1.4.2. Fuel
        3. 2.1.4.3. Color
      5. 2.1.5. Project: Food Coloring Color
    2. 2.2. Building a Simulation
    3. 2.3. Project: The Sun
      1. 2.3.1. Creating the Sun
      2. 2.3.2. Adding Detail to the Sun
  8. 3. Breaking Ground
    1. 3.1. Layers of the Earth
      1. 3.1.1. The Core
      2. 3.1.2. The Mantle
      3. 3.1.3. The Crust
    2. 3.2. Project: The Sandbox
    3. 3.3. Natural Simulation
    4. 3.4. Destroying Geometry
      1. 3.4.1. Project: Smashing the Ground
    5. 3.5. Sinkholes
      1. 3.5.1. Project: Sinkhole
  9. 4. Volcanic Activity
    1. 4.1. Volcano Formation
    2. 4.2. Eruption
      1. 4.2.1. Project: Plinian Eruption, Part 1
      2. 4.2.2. Project: Plinian Eruption, Part 2
    3. 4.3. Lava
      1. 4.3.1. Project: Lava in the Streets
  10. 5. Tornadoes
    1. 5.1. Spinning Air
      1. 5.1.1. Project: Funnel Cloud
    2. 5.2. Twister
      1. 5.2.1. Project: Twister
        1. 5.2.1.1. Controlling the Fluid Spread
        2. 5.2.1.2. Adding a Dust Cloud
        3. 5.2.1.3. Shading the Dust Cloud
        4. 5.2.1.4. Combining the Parts of the Tornado
    3. 5.3. Tornado Winds
      1. 5.3.1. Project: Creating an F5
      2. 5.3.2. Project: Rendering the F5
  11. 6. Playing with Fire
    1. 6.1. Fuel
      1. 6.1.1. Project: Igniting Fuel
      2. 6.1.2. Temperature and Fuel
        1. 6.1.2.1. Heat Released
        2. 6.1.2.2. Ignition Temperature and Max Temperature
        3. 6.1.2.3. Light Released
    2. 6.2. Making Fire
      1. 6.2.1. Project: Making Fire
      2. 6.2.2. Project: House Fire Part 1
      3. 6.2.3. Project: Controlling Fire
      4. 6.2.4. Project: Burn It to the Ground
  12. 7. Explosions
    1. 7.1. Creating Explosive Forces
      1. 7.1.1. Project: Explosion
    2. 7.2. Pyrotechnics
      1. 7.2.1. Project: Shock Wave
      2. 7.2.2. Project: Gas Station Explosion Part 1
      3. 7.2.3. Project: Gas Station Explosion Part 2
      4. 7.2.4. Project: Fire Columns
  13. 8. Floods
    1. 8.1. Water
    2. 8.2. City Flood
      1. 8.2.1. Project: Water Volume
    3. 8.3. Water Turbulence
      1. 8.3.1. Project: Making Waves
      2. 8.3.2. Project: Rendering Water
  14. A. About the Companion DVD
    1. A.1. What You'll Find on the DVD
    2. A.2. System Requirements
    3. A.3. Using the DVD
    4. A.4. Troubleshooting
    5. A.5. Customer Care

Product information

  • Title: Maya® Studio Projects Dynamics
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: November 2009
  • Publisher(s): Sybex
  • ISBN: 9780470487761