book

Tradigital Maya

Name: Tradigital Maya
Author: Lee Montgomery
ISBN: 9781136126611

by Lee Montgomery

August 2012

Intermediate to advanced

540 pages

15h 10m

English

Routledge

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Cover
Halftitle
Title
Copyright
Dedication
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction – Traditional to Digital
Chapter 1: Arcs – Organic Movement/Natural Motion
Arcs in Object MotionLocalized Arcs – Human MotionChapter 1.1 – Animation Test – Bouncing BallAnimation PreferencesMaya Grid DisplayCreating the Bouncing BallAnimation Preferences – Key TangentsSelection and Transformation Tools and SettingsAnimating the Ball BounceCopying and Pasting Keys and Setting Height KeyThe Maya Graph EditorBreakdown Key (In-between)PlayblastChanging Key Tangent TypeGhosted PlayblackRefining the Animation Timing – Key TangentsSquash and StretchLooping the AnimationLoop Animation – Curve EditLoop Animation – Bounce Across GroundViewing and Editing the Trajectory ArcValidating the Animation and Additional Edits to Refine the MotionChapter 1.2 – F16 Fighter Flight PathIntroducing the AssetEP Curve – Motion PathMotion Path – Connecting the Model to the CurveEditing Motion Path TimingChapter 1.3 – Character IK Arm SwingMaya Joint Chains, Forward & Inverse Kinematics, and Additional ControlsPose Blocking, Timing & Spacing, and Motion ArcsAnimating with Forward Kinematics (FK)Animating with Inverse Kinematics (IK)IK Rotate Plane SolverBlocking in the Poses for the Arm SwingIn-between Pose – Ease InValidating the Timing and MotionMotion TrailEditing the Arc on the SwingShifting and Scaling KeyframesCamera BookmarksEditing the Arm Swing – Out/InLooping the Arm SwingEditing the New Motion – Arm Swing BackFollow-through on the WristElbow Angle (Pole Vector)Chapter 1.4 – Character – Run RhythmScene Setup and AnimationLopping the MotionHip SwayLooping Curves and Fixing TangencyLooping and Extending the Run Animation
Chapter 2: Anticipation – Building the Action
F16 Fighter – Takeoff and Fight SequenceHead Turn Animation/Animation AppealVFX – Dynamics Rocket SmashCharacter AnimationChapter 2.1 – Baseball Pitcher ThrowReference and ThumbnailingCharacter Asset and Display ModesFull Body IKPosing and Keying ModesEffector PinningFull Body IK – Effector Pinning in ActionReach – T/RCharacter Pose Blocking Part 1 – Idle Pose to Coiled Readiness PoseCharacter Pose Blocking Part 2 – Readiness Pose to Moving HoldCharacter Pose Blocking Part 3 – Readiness Pose to Pre-Release PoseChapter 2.2 – nParticle – Rocket LaunchIntroducing the AssetAnimating the Mechanical Motion for the RocketBase Pivot for Pre-rocket LaunchArm Crane for Pre-rocket LaunchEmitter Setup for nParticlesEmitter RateNucleus Solver – Ground Plane SetupTweaking the Effect on the nParticlesShading and Texturing the nParticlesNo Smoke without FireEnhancing the Quality of the Smoke Effect

Chapter 3: Animation Editing – Timing & Spacing
Timing & Spacing – Anticipation to Follow-through and OverlapTiming & Spacing – Appeal – Mood & CharacterizationTiming & Spacing – Framing the Action – Camera Cuts and ActionChapter 3.1 – Timing & Spacing – AnalysisTiming & Spacing Pt. 1 – Jump Animation – Spacing ContrastTiming & Spacing Pt. 2 – Walk SpacingOverall Timing for WalksTiming & Spacing Pt. 3 – Run Spacing – Overall SpacingTiming & Spacing Pt. 4 – Run Spacing – Foot/Hip SpacingChapter 3.2 – Re-timing Action – Character Baseball SwingIntroducing the Character AssetTiming & SpacingObject Selection MasksEditing Timing & Spacing – First Half of Swing AnimationEditing Timing & Spacing – Second Half of Swing AnimationTiming & Spacing – Isolated Elements
Chapter 4: Animation Editing – Ease In & Ease Out
Chapter 4.1 – Ease In & Ease Out – Character Baseball SwingOverall Timing Edit – Ease In & Ease OutViewing Timing & Spacing – Motion TrailEditing Timing & Spacing – Ease In on SwingPose Edits – Ease InEditing Timing & Spacing – Ease Out on SwingPost Ease Out (Lead Out) & Moving HoldChapter 4.2 – Ease In & Ease Out – Head TurnRig SetupHead Turn Animation – BlockingAdding In-between Key – Linear Ease InSmooth Ease In – Weighted TangencySmooth Ease In Pt. 2 – Double Take on TurnSoftening the Ease In – Additional EditsRe-Timing the Motion – Fast TurnEase Out on Head Turn
Chapter 5: Staging – Framing the Action and Setting the Mood
StoryboardingAnimaticsFraming the ActionThumb-NailingChapter 5.1 Thumb-Nails and StoryboardsThumb-NailsStoryboardingStoryboard and Breakdowns – F16 Fighter SequenceChapter 5.2 Camera – Advanced SettingsCamera AttributesViewport 2.0 Hardware RenderingClipping PlanesFocal Length/Angle of ViewDOFAdditional Viewport 2.0 Quality Settings – Ambient Occlusion/Anti-AliasingMotion BlurMaya Software/Mental Ray Motion BlurRendering with Viewport 2.0
Chapter 6: Follow-Through and Overlapping Action
Follow-Through and Overlap – Object Animation, Simulation, and DynamicsSquash and Stretch – Maya Muscle SetupnDynamics – Rocket SmashChapter 6.1 – Baseball Pitcher Throw Pt. 2 – Follow-ThroughPose BlockingCharacter Pose Blocking Part 1 – Pre-Release Pose to StepCharacter Pose Blocking Part 2 – Foot PlantRe-Timing the MotionWeight Shift – Throw ReadinessThrow Pose – Corkscrew Follow-ThroughThrow Pose – Corkscrew Follow-Through 2Chapter 6.2 – nCloth – Cape Follow-ThroughModeling the Base Mesh for the nCloth CapeNucleus Space Scale AttributenRigid – Adding the Character Mesh to the SimulationnConstraint – Connecting the Cape to the CharacterPreviewing the Simulation – nCloth Rest PoseCollision Thickness AttributeGeometry Cache – Adding the Character Animation to the nCloth SetupnCloth Attributes and Presets Pt. 1 – LeathernCloth Attributes and Presets Pt. 2 – T-ShirtnCloth Attributes – Refining the Simulation to Improve QualityIncreasing nCloth Mesh Resolution and Fixing Collision ThicknessFinal Tweaks to the nCloth SimulationChapter 6.3 – Prop Follow-Through and Overlap – Character Baseball SwingFull Body – Major Weight Shifts on Swing and Arc of BatUpper Body – Torso Coil Rotation and Arm/Bat Follow-ThroughStart Pose to Swing Pose 1Swing Pose 1 to Swing Pose 2Swing Pose 2 to Swing Pose 3Swing Pose 3 to Swing Pose 4Swing Pose 4 to Swing Pose 5
Chapter 7: Secondary Action – Enhancing the Shot
nCloth Simulation/nDynamicsLayered Animation and Supporting ActionDetail AnimationChapter 7.1 – Hand Animation Rig SetupIntroducing the Hand RigAttribute Connections for Finger Joint RotationWorking With the Finger ControlsAnimating With the Rig Clenching Fist
Chapter 8: Straight Ahead Action and Pose to Pose
Pose to Pose – Walk and Run Cycles and Video GameStraight Ahead Action and Combining Both MethodologiesChapter 8.1 – Pose-to-Pose Run CycleLeg and Hip PoseMirroring the Pose across the Character (Left <> Right)Copying Pose from Frame to FrameFoot PlantCentre of Mass – Weight Rise and FallEditing the Motion Curve Through the Graph EditorCycling the Motion CurveHip RotationUpper Torso – Main PoseTorso and Head Follow ThroughTorso Counterbalance Rotation – Part OneTorso Counterbalance Rotation – Part TwoHead CounterbalanceArm Swing on RunMirroring the Arm PoseHip Weight ShiftChapter 8.2 – Dynamics Rocket SmashRigid Body Dynamics – Scene Setup and AttributesRigid Body Dynamics – Refining and Directing the EffectDynamics – Scene Setup and Elements
Chapter 9: Solid Drawing and Design – Form Meets Function
Thumbnailing, Draughting, and Traditional ModelingDynamic PosingTwinningCharacter RiggingChapter 9.1 – Dynamic PosingLeg/Foot Angle and PoseHip TiltSpine = S-CurveSpine TwistHand Posing and FinalizationFinalizing the PoseAction Pose – 01 Gunplay – Blocked in PosingAction Pose – 01 Gunplay – Refined PosingAction Pose – 02 Swing – Blocked in PosingAction Pose – 02 Swing – Refined PosingChapter 9.2 – TwinningTwinned Motion – Gestural StepRefined Motion and Posing – Gestural StepAdditional Edit – Timing Offset on Arm Swing
Chapter 10: Appeal
Appeal in Character Design and AnimationProduction Design – LightingPerformance AppealChapter 10.1 – Production Design – CharacterFemale HeroineMale Athlete 1 – Baseball PitcherMale Athlete 2 – Baseball BatterChapter 10.2 – Lighting and MoodViewport Renderer and LightsViewport 2.0 and LightingLighting – Three-Point LightingLighting and MoodChapter 10.3 – Character PerformanceScene Setup and RigSurprise/ShockAustere/AloofDejected/SubduedBright/Chatty
Chapter 11: Squash and Stretch
Manual Squash and Stretch and DeformationCharacter Posing and Squash and StretchFacial Animation – Blend Shapes SetupDynamicsDynamics – Maya MuscleChapter 11.1 – Animation Test – Flour-SackSquashStretchTwistFollow-Through and Overlapping ActionEase In & Ease Out and TimingAppeal and PerformanceChapter 11.2 Character – Hero Jump
Chapter 12: Exaggeration
Baseball Batter AnimationWalk Cycle AnimationVFX DynamicsChapter 12.1 – Exaggeration – Character Baseball SwingAnimation Lead-InSwing AnimationExaggerated Torso RotationBat Angle EditedPre-Step Pose1 – Left Foot Raise ExaggeratedPre-Step Pose2 – Hips Shift Forward SlightlyExaggerated Action LineChapter 12.2 – Exaggeration – HumanIK Retarget and EditCharacter Rig – HumanIKHumanIK – Character Controls WindowHumanIK – Character RetargetingHumanIK – Retargeting Data to Control Rig – Bake to Rig and Cleanup after RetargetEditing Animation on Animation Layer with Effector Pinning – Elbow PosingAnimation Edit – Exaggerated Walk – DejectedAdditional Edits 01 – Feet DragAdditional Edits 02 – Head LullAdditional Edits 03 – Hip Dip – Weight a MassChapter 12.3 Exaggeration – Dynamics ExplosionDynamics – Scaffolding Setup Part 1 – Scene SetupBasic Rigid Bodies Setup – Collapsible ScaffoldingDynamics – Scaffolding Setup Part 2 – Rigid Bodies – Hinge ConstraintDynamics – Scaffolding Setup Part 3 – Hinge-Connected ElementsDynamics – Roof Smash – FieldsViewing the Additional Simulated Effects in CombinationFollow-Through and Overlapping ActionSecondary Action and Exaggeration
Chapter 13: Conclusion
Chapter 13.1 – Recap – The Principles and ApplicationPre-visualization, Scene Layout, and RevisionCharacter AnimationDynamics and SimulationChapter 13.2 – Industry Trends Moving ForwardIndustry SpecializationDigital Pre-visualizationVirtual Cinematography and Performance CaptureVideo Games – Real-Time Animation and Run-Time BlendingChapter 13.3 – Selected Reading and Additional ReferenceTiming for Animation, Second Edition by Harold Whittaker and John Halas (Authors), Tom Sito (Editor)Animation: The Mechanics of Motion by Chris WebsterDrawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes, V1 by Walt Stanchfield and Don HahnThe Illusion of Life: Disney Animation by Ollie Johnston and Frank ThomasThe Animator’s Survival Kit (Paperback) by Richard WilliamsActing for Animators: A Complete Guide to Performance Animation by Ed HooksCartoon Animation (The Collector’s Series) by Preston BlairThe Human Figure in Motion by Eadweard MuybridgeAnimals in Motion by Eadweard MuybridgeIndustry Periodicals, Websites, and Training
Index

Content preview from Tradigital Maya

For all those new animators struggling to hone their craft, this book is dedicated to their endeavor and to the fellow professionals and academics who commit their time to supporting their dreams.

I hope that you have as much enjoyment in reading the book as I had in writing it and that it stands up next to the other great references on animation out there.

Special mention should also go to my friends and family who’ve supported me throughout my career and particularly during the last 12 months as I worked on the book. Without the love and support of my parents I would be nowhere in my life and I hope they’re as proud of me as I am of them.

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Tradigital Maya

by Lee Montgomery

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.