CONTENTS AT A GLANCE

Foreword ix

Introduction xv

Chapter 1 Introduction to Computer Graphics and 3D 1

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Chapter 2 The Maya Interface 27

Chapter 3 Your First Maya Animation 59

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Chapter 4 Modeling with NURBS 79

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Chapter 5 Modeling with Polygons 113
Chapter 6 Further Modeling Topics 147

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Chapter 7 Maya Shading and Texturing 167

Chapter 8 Introduction to Animation 193

Chapter 9 Further Animation Topics 229

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Chapter 10 Maya Lighting 269
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Chapter 11 Maya Rendering 291

Chapter 12 Maya Dynamics 317

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Index 347
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Contents
Foreword ix

Introduction xv

Chapter 1 Introduction to Computer

Graphics and 3D 1

Embrace the Art 2

What Is CG? 2

The Stages of Production 4

The CG Production Workflow 7

Core Concepts 11

Summary 26

Chapter 2 The Maya Interface 27

Navigating in Maya 28

A Screen Roadmap 28

Panels and Frequently Used Windows 38

Maya Object Structure 53

Summary 57

Chapter 3 Your First Maya Animation 59

Project Overview: The Solar System 60

The Preproduction Process: Planning 60

Creating a Project 60

The Production Process: Creating and

Animating the Objects 62

Using the Outliner 75

Correcting Hierarchy Problems

using the Outliner 76

Summary 78
Chapter 4 Modeling with NURBS 79

Planning Your Model 80

Modeling with NURBS 85

Creating an Axe Using NURBS 94

Editing NURBS Surfaces 106

Using Artisan to Sculpt NURBS 109

Modeling Suggestions 111

Summary 111

Chapter 5 Modeling with Polygons 113

Polygon Basics 114

Converting NURBS to Polygons 117

Poly Editing Tools 118

Putting the Tools to Use: Making a

Simple Hand 120

Creating Areas of Detail on a

Poly Mesh (Surface) 126

The Sculpt Polygons Tool 129

Modeling Complex Objects:

The Polygon Catapult 130

Suggestions for Modeling Polygons 144

Summary 145

Chapter 6 Further Modeling Topics 147

Modeling with Deformers: The Lattice 148

Subdivision Surfaces 152

Creating a Starfish 152

Building a Teakettle 158

Summary 166

Chapter 7 Maya Shading and Texturing 167

Shader Types 168

Shader Attributes 172

 Texturing the Axe 175

Textures and Surfaces 184

Summary 192

Chapter 8 Introduction to Animation 193

Keyframe AnimationBouncing a Ball 194

Throwing an Axe 202

Object Replacement 217

Animating the Catapult 219

Summary 227

Chapter 9 Further Animation Topics 229

Skeletons and Kinematics 230

Skeletons: The Hand 242

Inverse Kinematics 255

Basic Relationships: Constraints 259

Basic Relationships: Set Driven Keys 264

Summary 267

Chapter 10 Maya Lighting 269

Basic Lighting Concepts 270

Maya Lights 274

Adding Shadows 280

Lighting Effects 283

Tips for Using and Animating Lights 288

Summary 290

Chapter 11 Maya Rendering 291

The Rendering Setup 292

Previewing Your Render:

The Render View Window 301

Reflections and Refractions 303

Using Cameras 305

 Motion Blur 310

Batch Rendering 311

Rendering the Wine Bottle 312

Summary 315

Chapter 12 Maya Dynamics 317

An Overview of Dynamics 318

Rigid and Soft Dynamic Bodies 318

Animating with Dynamics: The Pool Table 322

Particle Dynamics 328

Creating Particles 329

Animating a Particle Effect: Steam 334

Introduction to Paint Effects 341

Summary 344

Where Do You Go from Here? 345

Index 347