Learning Autodesk Maya 2009 The Modeling & Animation Handbook: Official Autodesk Training Guide - Softcover

Autodesk Maya Press

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1897177526 ISBN 13: 9781897177525

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2008

Synopsis

Develop out of this world modeling and animation skills with this official guide to Autodesk Maya 2009. With this expert guidance from the makers of Maya software, you’ll discover how to make sound decisions from the start of your projects and save yourself valuable time by avoiding unnecessary challenges further down the pipeline. You’ll get hands–on instruction to production–quality modeling and animation using artwork from the animated short, Theme Planet, and learn to:

• Model with polygons and NURBS
• Work with skeletons, joint orientation, and inverse kinematics
• Set up a leg, arm and spine, and create constraints
• Skin your characters and work with blend shapes
• Create a run cycle and keyframed animation
• Enhance your skills with bonus DVD content including free 3D models from TurboSquid, instructor–led videos and reference guides

For Instructors: Teaching supplements are available for this title.

About this title

Synopsis

This exceptional, full-color Autodesk Maya Press title -- produced by Autodesk, the software's creators -- uses an award-winning movie short as the basis for the book's all-new hands-on tutorials. The book provides clear step-by-step projects to help you understand the modeling and animation stages of production. You'll learn how to build models with a variety of surface types and then make them move with a wide range of animation techniques as well as how to make sound decisions from the beginning to save unnecessary challenges further down the pipeline. As a bonus feature, this book also introduces some animation techniques using Alias MotionBuilder. Topics include: Polygon Modeling. NURBS Modeling. General Modeling Issues. Tessalation; Texturing. Using layers to organize your work. Creating Skeleton Chains and edit joint orientation. Setting up Single Chain, Rotation Plane, and Spline IK Solvers. Using Set Driven Key to create powerful yet simple control systems. Understanding and using Forward and Inverse Kinematics. Simulating the deformation of clothing using Wire Deformers and Set Driven Key. Drive joint rotation with a Blendshape Slider to help consolidate control windows.Using Pole Vector constraints as a fast and easy way of achieving realistic motion in arms and legs.

Creating complex and subtle character deformations through the use of Clusters and Lattice. Order your copy today.

Edition details

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1897177526
• ISBN 13: 9781897177525
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 560