by Alan Alvarez | Publisher: Total Training | Release Date: November 2009 | ISBN: 00320090089SI

Over the past many years, Maya has become the leading 3D application used in the film, broadcast and game industries. Hailed for its diverse toolset, Maya excels due to its integration, flexibility and performance in regards to modeling, texturing, lighting, rendering, animation, rigging and effects. Designed for the individual new to Maya, this DVD contains over five hours of lecture. The essential UI (user interface) is discussed, focusing on the work- flow of an experienced user. Learn how to efficiently create, manipulate and organize hierarchies, objects, components and cameras. Many concepts are introduced including the use of Polygons versus NURBS, tesselation, antialiasing, UV Layout, projects, preferences and MEL scripts. Customization of the UI is also addressed in order to dramatically improve efficiency and workflow.

1. CHAPTER 1: UI Overview
   • INTRO 00:00:43
   • Introducing the Maya Interface 00:05:29
   • Panel & Camera Movement 00:01:55
   • The Channel Box & Attribute Editor 00:06:46
   • The Command Line 00:10:36
2. CHAPTER 2: Object Manipulation
   • The Nurbs Sphere Tool 00:03:54
   • Nurbs, Polygons & Subdivisions 00:10:33
   • Move, Rotate & Scale 00:02:48
   • Shading 00:00:56
   • The Move Tool 00:05:05
   • The Rotate Tool 00:01:10
   • The Scale Tool 00:01:03
   • Transform Attributes 00:07:04
   • Selections 00:10:54
3. CHAPTER 3: Camera Navigation
   • Using the Camera & Bookmarks 00:05:12
   • Using Keyframes 00:00:47
   • Using Multiple Cameras 00:02:25
   • Orthographic Views 00:01:26
   • How to Pre-Set Views 00:01:12
   • The Grid 00:01:56
   • How to Navigate an Orthographic 00:02:50
   • Using the Hot Box 00:01:49
   • How to Place Things Precisely 00:11:02
4. CHAPTER 4: Object Hierachies
   • Hierachies 00:04:34
   • Pointing, Shaping & Grouping 00:03:01
   • Arranging & Spacing Objects 00:08:03
   • Duplicating & Making Mirror Copies 00:07:59
   • Subdivisions 00:02:17
   • Parenting an Object of a Group 00:07:53
5. CHAPTER 5: Selection Masks
   • Selection Masks & Selecting by Hierarchy 00:06:51
   • Object Mode 00:03:16
   • Component Mode 00:03:58
6. CHAPTER 6: Marking Menus & Hotkeys
   • Marking Menus 00:05:26
   • Adding Root Mode to the Shelf 00:02:02
   • Adding Shelf Buttons to Marking Menus 00:05:14
   • Creating Hot Keys, Part 1 00:05:40
   • Creating Hot Keys, Part 2 00:08:19
7. CHAPTER 7: User Colors
   • Changing the Colors of Objects in the Panel 00:04:50
8. CHAPTER 8: Channels
   • Selection Handles 00:05:08
   • Keyable Attributes 00:01:54
   • Channel Control Window 00:04:19
   • Animating Attributes 00:08:37
9. CHAPTER 9: Scene Management
   • Keeping Scenes Organized 00:05:19
   • Grids & Architectual Modeling 00:04:30
   • Image Planes 00:01:30
   • Rendering a Room 00:02:34
   • Grouping Objects in Layers 00:08:19
   • Nule Nodes & Optimizing a Scene 00:02:21
   • Grouping & Renaming Layers 00:01:55
   • Summary 00:01:19
   • Selecting Objects in Selected Layers & Bounding Box Mode 00:01:55
   • Changing the Color of a Layer 00:02:45
10. CHAPTER 10: Maya Project Structure
    • Scripts Directory 00:02:34
    • Version Directory 00:01:00
    • Making a Project Directory 00:04:49
    • Setting a Maya Project 00:03:08
    • Textures in a Project Directory 00:01:37
    • Summary 00:01:27
    • Saving Options 00:03:57
11. CHAPTER 11: Maya Preferences
    • Scripts Directory 00:01:23
    • Preferences Directory 00:00:46
    • Troubleshooting 00:02:13
    • Loading a Shelf 00:02:31
    • Resetting Preferences to Default 00:05:24
    • Heads Up Display 00:01:51
    • Shelves 00:01:24
    • Mel Scripts & Summary 00:02:26
12. CHAPTER 12: NURBS vs. Polygons
    • Modeling & Image Planes 00:06:13
    • Nurbs vs. Polygons 00:04:23
    • A Closer Look at Nurbs 00:07:05
    • Tessellation 00:03:05
    • Texture Mapping 00:00:55
    • Procedural Texturing 00:01:08
    • Nurbs Modeling 00:04:40
    • UV Texture Editor 00:02:00
    • UV Mapping Multiple Planes 00:06:05
    • Summary 00:03:32
    • Camera Image Plane 00:01:37