Learning Maya 3

Click below to view the Learning Maya Tutorial Movies.

Support files including tutorial scene files and source images.

Several MEL Scripts for you to review and test in Maya.

Instructor-lead courses offer you hands-on experience with Maya.

Books, videos and CD-ROMs offer a unique selection of self study tools.

Free online resource including how-tos, MEL scripts, scene files, and shaders.

Free Clips and Textures for you to use from various Artbeats titles.

Learning Maya takes you through a series of project based tutorials to help you learn the interface, workflows and functionality found in Maya. In each project you will model, animate, texture map, add visual effects and render.

Shown below are the five projects that you will be animating as you complete the Learning Maya 3 book:

Project One: Bouncing Ball

Play Movie [286 k]
Quickly get your feet wet by animating a bouncing ball. Add squash and stretch, create a ring of fire using a particle clip effect, then add sparks as the ball hits the flames.

Project Two: Jack-in-the-box

Play Movie [575 k]
Learn the basics of modeling, animating and rendering a scene in Maya. Tools such as Artisan, 3D Texture paint and IPR are used to sculpt and add finishing touches to the scene.

Project Three: Space Battle

Play Movie [567 k]
Starting with a more in-depth look at polygonal and NURBS modeling, this project sets up a motion path animation, complete with Opti F/X explosions. Use Maya Paint Effects to create a realistic starfield.

Project Four: Primitive Man

Play Movie [1.15 mb]
Using Maya's new Trax non-linear animation, you will create a traditional walk cycle and stair climbing cycle for a biped Inverse Kinematic skeleton. This lesson will also explore basic character skinning and deformation.

Project Five: Salty the Seal

Play Movie [2.08 mb]
This project brings together the skills developed in earlier lessons into a more complex scene where you learn how Maya lets you fully integrate modeling, rendering and animation tasks.

Project One: Bouncing Ball Play Movie [286 k] Quickly get your feet wet by animating a bouncing ball. Add squash and stretch, create a ring of fire using a particle clip effect, then add sparks as the ball hits the flames.

Project Two: Jack-in-the-box Play Movie [575 k] Learn the basics of modeling, animating and rendering a scene in Maya. Tools such as Artisan, 3D Texture paint and IPR are used to sculpt and add finishing touches to the scene.

Project Three: Space Battle Play Movie [567 k] Starting with a more in-depth look at polygonal and NURBS modeling, this project sets up a motion path animation, complete with Opti F/X explosions. Use Maya Paint Effects to create a realistic starfield.

Project Four: Primitive Man Play Movie [1.15 mb] Using Maya's new Trax non-linear animation, you will create a traditional walk cycle and stair climbing cycle for a biped Inverse Kinematic skeleton. This lesson will also explore basic character skinning and deformation.

Project Five: Salty the Seal Play Movie [2.08 mb] This project brings together the skills developed in earlier lessons into a more complex scene where you learn how Maya lets you fully integrate modeling, rendering and animation tasks.

Project One: Bouncing Ball

Play Movie [286 k]
Quickly get your feet wet by animating a bouncing ball. Add squash and stretch, create a ring of fire using a particle clip effect, then add sparks as the ball hits the flames.

Project Two: Jack-in-the-box

Play Movie [575 k]
Learn the basics of modeling, animating and rendering a scene in Maya. Tools such as Artisan, 3D Texture paint and IPR are used to sculpt and add finishing touches to the scene.

Project Three: Space Battle

Play Movie [567 k]
Starting with a more in-depth look at polygonal and NURBS modeling, this project sets up a motion path animation, complete with Opti F/X explosions. Use Maya Paint Effects to create a realistic starfield.

Project Four: Primitive Man

Play Movie [1.15 mb]
Using Maya's new Trax non-linear animation, you will create a traditional walk cycle and stair climbing cycle for a biped Inverse Kinematic skeleton. This lesson will also explore basic character skinning and deformation.

Project Five: Salty the Seal

Play Movie [2.08 mb]
This project brings together the skills developed in earlier lessons into a more complex scene where you learn how Maya lets you fully integrate modeling, rendering and animation tasks.