Learn to make the most of Maya 6 through hundreds of expert, field-tested tips, shortcuts, and tricks. Along with strategies for customizing the Maya interface, polygonal modeling, rendering, and using particle behaviors, you'll get insider techniques for working with Maya's new features, including tools, Adobe Photoshop integration, and more.
More than 90 percent of film effects houses and half of the North American game studios now use Maya in their projects, so the pressure is on for 3D specialists to prove their Maya chops!
If you're ready to polish up your Maya skills, here's the book that will make your workflow easier and unleash your creative genius. Learn how the pros do it; if you're already a working pro, you'll still pick up tricks you didn't have until now! To be
in the book, every tip has to be a killer tip. The kind that makes you exclaim, "Of course!" and puts you in the driver's seat for creating amazing 3D graphics at full speed. Twice the Maya results in half the time -- that's this book's promise, and it delivers
Chapter 1 Deciphering the hieroglyphics : unearthing the
secrets of the Maya
Chapter 2 Taming the beast : customizing your interface Chapter 3 The glamorous world of modeling : work smarter,
not harder
Chapter 4 Embracing the revolution : lighting your way
Chapter 5 Rags to rendering : getting a grip on shading
Chapter 6 From home movies to Hollywood : camerawork
basics
Chapter 7 Building character (animation, that is) : more than
skin-deep
Chapter 8 Dangerous effects animation : things you can do
at home
Chapter 9 Getting under the hood : mud wrestling with MEL
Chapter 10 Real world production methods : otherwise
known as stress