Alias|Wavefront's Maya 3D animation software is an integrated collection of tools for creating computer generated images, used in nearly every blockbuster special effects film that has been released in the last few years. As the first choice for digital content creators, Maya combines animation, dynamics, modelling and rendering tools, enabling you to create digital characters and visual effects for live action films or stand-alone animation. This text covers all the key topics using plenty of examples and illustrations. The source files and scenes that accompany the examples are available from the Springer web site.

Inhalt

1. Basics What Is Maya? How Best to Use This Book The Desired Environment Notes and Notation The Maya Interface The Camera Views Hotkeys The Spacebar and the Hotbox Marking Menus Summary 2. Objects, Duplicates and Transforms Introduction A Simple Object Selection Methods The Outliner Shaded and Unshaded Object Display Transformations Transform Manipulators Using the Channels Box for Transformations A Simple Stick Character from Primitives Hiding, Displaying and Templating Summary 3. Hierarchies,Groups and Nodes Introduction Hierarchies Groups Node Structures Summary 4. Modeling and Surface Creation Introduction Surface Types and Their Components NURBS Modeling Curves NURBS Surface Tools Editing the Final Surface A NURBS Teapot Polygon Modeling A Polygon Teapot Subdivision Surface Modeling A Subdiv Squid Sculpting with Artisan Summary 5. Animation Introduction The Animation Environment Keyed Animation Procedural Animation Non-Linear Animation Paths and Constraints Deformers Skeletons, Bones and Joints Binding a Surface to a Skeleton Summary 6. Rendering Introduction Lights The IPR Renderer Materials and Shading Groups Textures and Texture Mapping Texturing Polygons Texturing Subdivision Surfaces Texturing Lights and Shadows Utilities Building a Basic Shader Environments Reflection Mapping Backgrounds and Integration Volumes The Renderer Surface Rendering Renderer Effects Summary 7. Particle Systems Introduction Emitters, Particle Objects and Fields Collisions Volume Fields and Volume Emitters Emitting from Surfaces and Curves Controlling Emission with Textures Particle Goals Particle Replacement Caching the Scene for Improved Feedback Rendering Particles Summary 8.Dynamic Objects Introduction Rigid Body Dynamics Soft Body Dynamics Clip FX Summary 9. MEL Scripting Introduction Simple Commands Changing Attributes Writing Scripts The MEL User Interface Summary 10. Paint Effects Introduction Painting in 2D Painting in 3D Animating Paint Effects Objects Animating the Growth Rendering Summary 11. Integration Introduction The Corridor and Door The Tentacles The Door Animation The Side Tentacle Animation The Main Tentacle Animation Finishing Touches Summary Index