Are you familiar with the basic Maya tools? Do your questions about Maya center on how to put all the pieces together and use the software in a production setting? If so, Inside Maya 5 is just what you want and need. Industry professionals who have worked for such houses as Digital Domain, ILM, PDI/DreamWorks, and Pixar provide insights into making decisions that take advantage of the power of Maya without compromising production quality-real-world solutions to real-world challenges!
You'll get coverage of:
- MEL and the Maya API
- Modeling characters, sets, and props
- Modeling techniques for NURBS, polygonal modeling, and subdivision surfaces
- Maya's node-based architecture
- Particles and dynamics
- Character animation and rigging
- Lighting, shading, and rendering
- Using Maya in the digital studio pipeline
- Bonus interviews with Scott Clark (Pixar) and Paul Thuriot (Tippett Studios)
Part 1 Maya and the Production Pipeline
Part 2 Modeling
Part 3 Technical Direction
Part 4 Animation
Part 5 Appendix