Foundation.Learning Autodesk® Maya® 2008 / Foundation is your key to unlocking the power of Autodesk Maya software, directly from the creators of one of the world's most powerful 3D animation and effects softwa4re products. Get hands-on experience with the innovative tools and powerful techniques available in Autodesk Maya 2008 software through all new project-based lessons.
Learn key Maya tools and techniques while you model, animate, render and add dynamic effe4cts to your creations. Further, You'll gain a sense of the entire production process as you work on creating and animating characters from the Sony Pictures Animation feature film, Surf's Up. You'll even learn about compositing your characters into alternate environments in a bonus chapter on Autodesk® Combustion® software. Based entirely on easy-to-follow step-by-step lessons and including helpful demos on DVD, this book will help you develop your 3D skills.
With this book, you will:
Explore the Maya user interface (UI)
Learn to work in 3D space
Build characters & props with polygons
create organic structures with NURBS
Set keyframes & motion paths
Learn to use Trax non-linear animation
Apply forward & inverse kinematics
Deform surfaces
Set cameras & lights
Create & apply shaders and textures
Discover rendering techniques
Explore particles & dynamics
Begin to use MEL (Maya Embedded Language)
Bonus features included on DVD
Link to FREE trial version of autodesk® Combustion®
Autodesk® Maya® Reference Guides
Instructor-led podcasts presented by an Autodesk Certified Instructor
What you need to use this book