Introducing Maya 2011

A practical, step-by-step guide to Maya 2011

Four previous editions can't be wrong: this book is the
perfect introduction to 3D and Maya. Learn to build and animate
your own digital models and scenes with step-by-step instruction
and fun and practical examples, while you draw inspiration from the
striking examples included from talented Maya users. You'll
create a simple animation of the planets in the solar system, learn
to model a human hand and a decorative box--among other
projects--and master all essential tools.

• Provides a thorough, step-by-step introduction to Maya
  2011

• Explains the core concepts of CG and working in 3D

• Covers modeling, rigging, HDRI lighting, mental ray rendering,
  and more

• Provides project files on CD and walks you through the creation
  of several projects; the CD also includes images, movies, and scene
  files

• Includes a color insert with pages of striking examples from
  talented Maya beginners

Build your Maya and animation skills from the ground up with
this practical, thorough guide.

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

For Instructors: Teaching supplements are available for
this title.

Autorentext
Dariush Derakhshani is an award-winning visual effects supervisor, author, and educator. He has worked on movies such as The Fantastic Four and Pan's Labyrinth, the South Park TV series, and countless commercials and music videos. He teaches Maya and 3D animation, and is the author of all the Introducing Maya books as well as coauthor of Mastering Maya 8.5 and Introducing 3ds Max 2008, all from Sybex.

Zusammenfassung
A practical, step-by-step guide to Maya 2011 Four previous editions can't be wrong: this book is the perfect introduction to 3D and Maya. Learn to build and animate your own digital models and scenes with step-by-step instruction and fun and practical examples, while you draw inspiration from the striking examples included from talented Maya users. You'll create a simple animation of the planets in the solar system, learn to model a human hand and a decorative boxamong other projectsand master all essential tools.

• Provides a thorough, step-by-step introduction to Maya 2011
• Explains the core concepts of CG and working in 3D
• Covers modeling, rigging, HDRI lighting, mental ray rendering, and more
• Provides project files on CD and walks you through the creation of several projects; the CD also includes images, movies, and scene files
• Includes a color insert with pages of striking examples from talented Maya beginners
  Build your Maya and animation skills from the ground up with this practical, thorough guide.

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

For Instructors: Teaching supplements are available for this title.

Inhalt

Introduction xv

Chapter 1 Introduction to Computer Graphics and 3D 1

Art? 2

Computer Graphics 2

The Stages of Production 4

The CG Production Workflow 8

Core Concepts 12

Basic Film Concepts 24

Summary 30

Chapter 2 Jumping in Headfirst, with Both Feet 31

You Put the U in UI 32

Project Overview: The Solar System 37

The Preproduction Process: Planning 37

Creating a Project 38

The Production Process: Creating and Animating the Objects 40

Hierarchy and Maya Object Structure 54

The Solar System Resumed 57

Outputting Your Work: Playblasting 65

Summary 67

Chapter 3 The Maya 2011 Interface 69

Navigating in Maya 70

Maya's Layout 70

Panels and Frequently Used Windows 82

Customizing Maya 99

Summary 103

Chapter 4 Beginning Polygonal Modeling 105

Planning Your Model 106

Polygon Basics 112

Poly Editing Tools 115

Putting the Tools to Use: Making a Simple Hand 119

Creating Areas of Detail on a Poly Mesh 125

Modeling Complex Objects: The Classic Steam Locomotive 134

Suggestions for Modeling Polygons 157

Summary 157

Chapter 5 Modeling with NURBS, Subdivisions, and Deformers 159

NURBS! 160

Using NURBS Surfacing to Create Polygons 171

Converting a NURBS Model to Polygons 173

Editing NURBS Surfaces 174

Patch Modeling: A Locomotive Detail 177

Using Artisan to Sculpt NURBS 188

Modeling with Simple Deformers 190

The Lattice Deformer 196

Animating through a Lattice 200

Subdivision Surfaces 203

Creating a Starfish 204

Building a Teakettle 209

Summary 217

Chapter 6 Practical Experience 219

Beginning the Wagon Project 220

Using Reference Planes 220

Modeling the Side Panels 227

Modeling the Wagon Body 249

Inserting the Handlebar 254

Modeling the Wheels 258

Modeling the Wood Railings 264

Adding Extra Details 274

Building a Decorative Box 280

Summary 291

Chapter 7 Maya Shading and Texturing 293

Maya Shading 294

Shader Types 294

Shader Attributes 298

Texturing the Axe 302

Textures and Surfaces 310

Texturing the Red Wagon 320

Photoreal Mapping: The Decorative Box 352

For Further Study 371

Summary 371

Chapter 8 Introduction to Animation 373

Keyframe AnimationBouncing a Ball 374

Throwing an Axe 384

Replacing an Object 400

Animating Flying Text 402

Rigging the Locomotive, Part 1 406

Animating a Catapult 408

Summary 414

Chapter 9 More Animation! 417

Skeletons and Kinematics 418

Skeletons: The Hand 431

Inverse Kinematics 446

Basic Relationships: Constraints 450

Basic Relationships: Set-Driven Keys 454

Application: Rigging the Locomotive 458

Summary 466

Chapter 10 Maya Lighting 467

Basic Lighting Concepts 468

Maya Lights 472

Light Linking 478

Adding Shadows 479

Raytracing Soft Shadows 483

Mental ray Lighting 484

Mental ray Physical Sun and Sky 486

Lighting Effects 491

Lighting the Decorative Box 495

Further Lighting Practice 501

Tips for Using and Animating Lights 502

Summary 504

Chapter 11 Maya Rendering 505

Rendering Setup 506 Previewing Your Ren...