If you need a high-end 3D graphics software package for 3D effects, animation, cinematics, or game graphics, check out Maya! Maya is widely used by visual effects and animation studios, and is growing increasingly popular with game developers. This Virtual Training Company tutorial introduces you to Maya s groundbreaking tools and features. Co-authors Chuck Grieb and Roger Dickes begin showing you the tool sets and helping you to understand the structure and organization of Maya. They will introduce you to the modeling, lighting, animation, and dynamic tools available in Maya. You will learn exciting features such as adding texture, digital sculpture, and much more. To get started, just click one of the movie topics below.
IntroductionIntro and How to Launch MayaThe File Menu && File Types HierarchyCreating a ProjectUser Interface BasicsComplex InteractivityLayered FunctionalityVisual Interactivity - EyesTri-axial Coordinate Space and CamerasThe Space BarCamera Tools - Tumble /Track and DollyCamera KeystrokesManual Interactivity - HandsMouse vs. Lower left Keyboard
The Select Tool - Shift vs. Ctrl
The Move Tool
The Rotate Tool
The Scale Tool
The Show Manipulator Tool
Pivots
Display HotkeysObject Specific Display Options (smoothness)
Window Specific Display Options (wire-frame to hardware-shaded)
Theoretical Foundations - What Is a Sphere?Node-Based Hierarchy
The Hierarchy of the Surface
Transform Node Hierarchy
History vs. Hierarchy
Selection MasksObject Mode Selection Masks
Component Mode Selection Masks
ModulesModeling
Rendering
Animation
Dynamics
What is Modeling?Digital Sculpture
Create Surfaces to be Rendered
Skins to be Animated
Nurbs vs. PolygonsNurbs
Polygons
Why We are Working with Nurbs
Creating Curves and Curve EditingCreate CV Curve Tool
CV Curve Tool Explained
Open/Close and Reverse Curve
Snapping
Bugs and Preferences
PrimitivesTypes
Editing Using History
Creating SurfacesRevolve
Creating other Surfaces in Maya
Editing SurfacesDuplicate Tool
Selecting and Pulling CVs and Hulls
Inserting Isoparms
Rebuild Surfaces
Open/Close Surfaces
Attach/Detach Surfaces
Reverse Surface Direction
What is Rendering?Applying Attributes to a Surface
Lighting a Scene to Create Atmosphere
Rendering EditorsHypershade
Attribute Editor
Render View Window
Render Globals Window
Lighting a Scene / Adding TexturesCreate Default Light
Create Point Light / Glow
Create Spot Light
Create Key Light
Create Spot Light for Back Light Effect
Create a Shadow Pattern
Create Fill Light / Finish Scene
Create Leather Texture
Create Sidewall / Shader
Rename Shader
Create Texture BumpMap (Photoshop)
Apply BumpMap Texture
Apply Texture to Wing and Tail Section
Create Glass-like Texture / Finish Scene
MaterialsCommon Material Attributes
Material Types
Textures and UtilitiesTypes of Textures
Textures Explained
Attributes of Textures
Attributes of Utilities
Types of Utilities
LightsTypes of Lights
Light Attributes Pt 1
Light Attributes Pt 2
Light Manipulators
CamerasTypes of Cameras
Camera Controls
What is Animation?Animation Set-Up
Setting Keyframes to Describe Change Over Time
UI ReviewChannel Box
Time Line
Animation EditorsGraph Editor
Dope Sheet
HyperGraph
Outliner
Set UpTransform Node Hierarchy
Skeletal Hierarchy
IK Systems and Deformers
Facial Set Up
Animation Work ProcedureSet Up Scene / Move / Rotate / Scale
Set Keyframes - Scale
Set Keyframes For Ball Rotation
Analysis / Set Pp Timing
Tangents / Graph Editor
Graph Editor Continued
Editing Keyframes / Fine Tuning
Finish Scene / Play Blast
Maya in the Animation IndustryModeler
Technical Director
Animator
Click here to find out more about the Maya Fundamentals Training CD 
