Mastering Autodesk Maya 2013

by Palamar, Todd; Lanier, Lee; Honn, Anthony

• ISBN13: 9781118130582
• ISBN10: 1118130588
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-06-19
• Publisher: Sybex

Summary

Provides hands-on intermediate-to-advanced coverage of the leading 3D software Maya is the industry-leading 3D animation and effects software used in movies, visual effects, games, and other genres. For intermediate and advanced users who already know Maya basics, this official Maya guide provides the detailed coverage you need to unlock the software's more complex features. Elevate your skills in modeling, texturing, animation, and visual effects, and gain proficiency in high-level techniques for film, television, game development, and more. Artists who are already proficient in Maya basics can elevate their skills and increase their marketability with the techniques in this official Maya guide This fully updated book brings you up to speed on Maya's latest features and expands your skills with advanced instruction on cloth, fur, and fluids Offers intermediate-level projects on Dynamics, Maya Muscle, Stereo Cameras, Assets, rendering with mental ray, and more Offers challenging tutorials and real-world scenarios from some of the leading professionals in the industry Provides valuable insight into the entire CG production pipeline Mastering Autodesk Maya gives the serious Maya student a head start toward a successful career in 3D animation.

Author Biography

Todd Palamar began his career creating traditional special effects for low-budget horror movies and quickly gravitated to computer animation, first working on numerous straight-to-video movies and then switching to the video game industry. He has written several Maya books, including Maya Studio Projects: Photorealistic Characters and Maya Studio Projects: Dynamics.

Table of Contents

Introduction xxiii

Chapter 1 Working in Autodesk Maya 1

Chapter 2 Virtual Filmmaking 55

Chapter 3 Modeling I 109

Chapter 4 Modeling II 185

Chapter 5 Animation Techniques 245

Chapter 6 Animating with Deformers 313

Chapter 7 Rigging and Muscle Systems 369

Chapter 8 Paint Effects 439

Chapter 9 Lighting with mental ray 491

Chapter 10 mental ray Shading Techniques 549

Chapter 11 Texture Mapping 595

Chapter 12 Rendering for Compositing 647

Chapter 13 Introducing nParticles 711

Chapter 14 Dynamic Effects 781

Chapter 15 Fur, Hair, and Clothing 833

Chapter 16 Maya Fluids 889

Appendix A The Bottom Line 925

Appendix B Autodesk Maya 2013 Certification 947

Index 953