In this tutorial, Creating a Cartoon Octopus Monster in Maya, you will learn how to create a character from start to finish.

First, you will learn how to use the modeling tools to model the character.

Modeling tools you will learn include:

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  Multi-Cut Tool

  
  


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  Quad Draw Tool

  
  


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  Bridge Tool

  
  


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  Extrude Tool

  
  


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  Mirror Tool

  
  


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  Edit Edge Flow

  
  


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  Project Curve on Surface

  
  

And many, many more tools.

You will also learn how to create the correct topology when modeling. It is important to have correct and clean topology in order to create a great model.

You will also learn the difference between a low resolution model and a high resolution model and how that affects your workflow.

You will learn how to create the character's body, then the eye, then the tentacles.

We will then move on to creating the character's UVs/ UV mapping id very important as it allows you to then create textures for the character.

You will learn how to texture the character with the 3D Paint Tool.

The 3D Paint Tool allows you to paint directly onto the model, then afterwards, you will learn how to save the textures and how to plug the textures into the correct shaders to get the final look.

You will learn how to use the HYPERSHADE, which is the place where Maya keeps all of its materials and shaders.

You will learn how to use the Arnold Standard Surface Shader, an all-in-one-purpose shader that allows you to create many wonderful textures.

You will learn how to create skin, using Subsurface Scattering.

Then you will learn how to create a camera, and understand what the focal length is, and how that affects the proportion of the character.

You will learn how to set the lighting. There is the Skydome lighting, which acts as a global illumination. Then we will use area lights, one for the back and one for the front. Then finally, in Maya, you will learn how to use the render settings to get a final, professional looking rendered image.