Learning Maya

Editor)

Alias|Wavefront

Learning Maya 4 takes you through over twenty project-focused lessons that offer hands-on experience with Maya’s key tools and techniques. The tutorials and workflows in the book have been optimized for version 4.0 and provide step-by-step instructions for utilizing the powerful tools that are available in Maya. 
This full color book gives you hands-on experience and includes five project-based lessons that demonstrate how to model, animate, texture map, add visual effects, and render. 
This book introduces you to the following topics: 
 * The Maya user interface * Working in 3D space * NURBS (Spline) Modeling * Polygonal Modeling * Keyframes and Motion Paths * Trax Non-linear animation * Forward and Inverse Kinematics * Surface Deformations * Camera and lights * Shaders and Textures * Rendering Techniques * Particles and Dynamics * MEL (Maya Embedded Language) 
Learning Maya 4 includes a helpful CD-ROM of support files, tutorial movies and how-to lessons. The CD-ROM includes lesson files compatible with Maya Complete 4.0 and Maya Unlimited 4.0. 
This is the perfect companion book to The Art of Maya, also published by Alias|Wavefront.

Learning Maya 4.0

Computers & Technology

Web Development & Design

Learning Maya | Character Rigging and Animation will teach you everything you need to achieve effective character set-up and animation in Maya. Developed by Alias|Wavefront Education Product Specialists, the book focuses on the creation of a human character, and provides both theoretical exploration and practical application - each chapter includes conceptual discussions and step-by-step instructions. Seventeen short presentations delivered by an Alias|Wavefront Certified Instructor are provided on the included cd-rom. The instructor provides additional theory, tips and suggestions on a chapter-by-chapter basis, thus allowing you greater insight into the concepts explored in the book. 
With this book you will: · Use layers and templating · Connect and parent joints · Set up IK Single Chain Solvers and group IK handles · Use Set Driven Key · Understand and use both Forward and Inverse Kinematics · Simulate the deformation of clothing using Wire Deformers and Set Driven Key · Drive joint rotation with a Blendshape Slider to help consolidate your control windows · Understand the difference between Smooth and Rigid binding · Export weighting maps from one character, and use for another · Use Pole Vector constraints as a fast and easy way of achieving realistic motion in arms and legs · Create complex and subtle character deformations through the use of Clusters and Lattices 
What you need to use this book: · Maya Personal Learning Edition, Maya Complete 4.0 or Maya Unlimited 4.0. · A CD-ROM drive and Netscape Navigator 4.0 or Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher.

Learning Maya | Character Rigging and Animation

Programming

Learning Maya | Dynamics will allow you to make the most of Maya’s Dynamics Tools. This book will teach you what you need to know about Dynamics from an introductory level and will also allow you to explore advanced concepts in a comfortable format. Explore rigid and soft body dynamics, particle animation and rendering, in both theory and practice. Each chapter includes a theoretical discussion to help you understand the concepts at play, as well as easy to follow step-by-step tutorials so that you can start working right away. The book also includes an accompanying CD-ROM featuring chapter-by-chapter overviews offered by the book’s writer, John Patton, an Alias|Wavefront Certified Instructor. Gain additional insight and assistance from these valuable bonus discussions. With this book you will: · Create and animate Rigid Body objects. · Create and animate particles using fields, goals, ramps and expressions. · Render particles with hardware graphics and software techniques. · Dynamically animate NURBs and polygonal surfaces using Soft Bodies. · Utilize Artisan functionality in conjunction with Maya Dynamics tools. · Instance geometry with particle motion. · Use Dynamic Constraints including Rigid Body constraints and soft body springs · Optimize and troubleshoot dynamics scenes. What you need to use this book: · Maya Complete 4.0, Maya Unlimited 4.0, or Maya Personal Learning Edition for Windows · A CD-ROM drive and Netscape Navigator 4.0 or Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher. · QuickTime 5.0.1

Learning Maya | Dynamics

Learning Maya | Rendering will allow you to make the most of Maya’s renderer. This book will teach you what you need to know about lighting, cameras, shading networks and other rendering issues from an introductory level and will also allow you to explore advanced concepts in a comfortable format. Explore lights and shadows, texturing, and other topics both in theory and in practice. Each chapter includes a theoretical discussion to help you understand the concepts at play, as well as easy to follow step-by-step tutorials so that you can start working right away. The book also includes an accompanying CD-ROM featuring chapter-by-chapter overviews offered by one of the book’s contributors, Cathy McGinnis, an Alias|Wavefront Certified Instructor. Gain additional insight and assistance from these valuable bonus discussions. With this book you will: · Set up lights and work with shadows · Understand how cameras work · Build shading networks · Texture NURBS and polygon surfaces · Explore Displacement mapping · Understand Render optimizations · Render for compositing · Learn about Special FX, Hardware Rendering, Field Rendering What you need to use this book: · Maya Complete 4.0, Maya Unlimited 4.0, or Maya Personal Learning Edition for Windows · A CD-ROM drive and Netscape Navigator 4.0 or Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher. · QuickTime 5.0.1

Learning Maya | Rendering

Maya Techniques™ | Polygon Texturing, Shading and Lighting (DVD)

Learning Maya | Foundation is your solution for gaining hands on experience in Maya. An update of our very successful Learning Maya 4, the book takes you through over twenty project-focused lessons that offer hands-on experience with Maya’s key tools and techniques. Join thousands of other Maya users who have successfully completed projects like the bouncing ball and Salty the Seal. The tutorials and workflows in the book have been optimized for Maya version 4.5 and provide step-by-step instructions for utilizing the powerful tools that are available in Maya. With Learning Maya | Foundation you’ll model with NURBs and Polygons, animate, texture map, add visual effects and render your scenes. We’ve also added instructor-led chapter overviews, presented by Alias|Wavefront Certified Instructor Alan Harris, to further demonstrate the concepts covered in the book. 
Learning Maya | Foundation is a full color book that includes EVERYTHING you need to get started: Maya Personal Learning Edition software provided on a CD-ROM with support files, tutorial movies and how-to lessons, as well as a second CD-ROM containing chapter overviews provided in QuickTime format. 
With this book you will: 
Become familiar with the Maya User Interface Work in 3D space Model with NURBS (Spline) Model with Polygons Set Keyframes and Motion Paths Learn to use Trax Non-linear animation Apply Forward and Inverse Kinematics Deform surfaces Set cameras and lights Create Shaders and Textures Discover rendering techniques Explore particles and Dynamics Begin to use MEL (Maya Embedded Language) 
What you need to use this book: A working knowledge of 3D space Maya Complete 4.5 Maya Unlimited 4.5, or Maya Personal Learning Edition A CD-ROM drive and Netscape Navigator 4.0 or Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher. QuickTime 5.0.1

Learning Maya | Foundation

Learning Maya™ | Modeling for Animation (DVD) inludes Maya 4.5 Personal Learning Edition software (CD-ROM)

The Art of Maya: An Introduction to 3D Computer Graphics (2002)

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