Table of Contents
Hour 1: Introduction to Autodesk Maya and This Book
Supplementing Your 3D Training
Setting a Pace for Learning Maya
Hour 2: Menus and Navigating the Maya UI
Starting from the Default Maya Interface
Hour 3: File Types and Managing Assets
Hour 4: Modeling with Polygonal Geometry
Hour 5: Modeling NURBS Curves and Surfaces
Hour 6: Unfolding UVs and Applying Textures
Hour 7: Creating Node Networks in the Hypershade
Multi-Edged Intersections: Poles
Hour 9: Relationships and Making Nodes Work Together
Choosing the Right Relationship
Hour 10: Basic Rigging: Preparing Objects for Animation
Hour 11: Character Rigging: Articulating Characters
Forward Kinematics Versus Inverse Kinematics
Connecting the IK Hand Controls
Hour 12: Skinning: Attaching Geometry to a Rig
Hour 13: Animation: Adding Movement to Your Scene
Straight-Ahead Action and Pose to Pose
Follow Through and Overlapping Action
The Graph Editor and Editing Keys
Editing Motion with the Trax Editor
Creating Dynamic Relationships with Expressions
Hour 14: Creating and Adjusting Cameras
Stereo Camera and Multi-Stereo Rig
Hour 15: Making Diverse Shapes with BlendShapes
Hour 16: Animating Using Dynamics and Simulations
Getting Started with Rigid Bodies
Let the Apple Fall from the Tree
Hour 17: Scripting and Automating Common Tasks
Writing Scripts in the Script Editor
Learning MEL from Maya in Action
Creating a Universe with MEL: Intermediate
Hour 18: Using Particles to Create Effects
Getting Started with nParticles
Editing the Attributes of an Emitter
Copying Attributes by Using Presets
Hour 19: Lighting Your Scene Correctly
Getting Started with Three-Point Lighting
Hour 20: Applying Hair and Cloth for Realism
Attaching nCloth to Other Objects
Animating with Hair and nCloth
Hour 21: Rendering Final Imagery
Rendering Animations with Batch Render
Check Render Settings for Batch Rendering
Hour 23: Correct Project Management and Scene Workflow
Hour 24: Ideal Settings, Preferences, and Hotkeys
Settings and Preferences Basics