In just 24 sessions of one hour or less, Sams Teach Yourself Maya® in 24 Hours will help you master Autodesk Maya 2014 and use it to create outstanding 3D graphics and animations. Using this book’s straightforward, step-by-step approach, you’ll master powerful Maya 2014 tools for modeling, texturing, rigging, animating, lighting, rendering, and more. Every lesson builds on what you’ve already learned, giving you a rock-solid foundation for real-world success!   Step-by-step instructions carefully walk you through the most common Maya tasks. Quizzes and exercises test your knowledge of key Maya 2014 tools at the end of each hour. Notes present interesting information related to the discussion. Tips offer advice or show you easier ways to perform tasks.   Learn how to… Get comfortable with Autodesk Maya 2014's complex interface Quickly access the Maya 2014 tools you need for any task Efficiently manage your assets and files Model with polygonal geometry and NURBS curves/surfaces Unfold UVs and apply textures Create node networks in the hypershade Model highly realistic characters Utilize relationships and make nodes work together Rig your objects and characters for animation Add animated movement to your scenes Create and adjust cameras Build diverse shapes with BlendShapes Animate using dynamics and simulations Script and automate common tasks Improve realism with particles, hair/cloth effects, and more Correctly light your scenes Render your final imagery Work effectively with film Manage your projects and scene workflows more efficiently On the DVD: The accompanying DVD contains how-to videos for dozens of key Maya 2014 tasks, extensive sample art and models, and additional bonus content.

Table of Contents:
HOUR 1: Introduction to Autodesk Maya and This Book   1 Our Goal   1 What Is Autodesk Maya?   2 Our Approach   3 How We Use Screenshots   4 Supplementing Your 3D Training   6 Setting a Pace for Learning Maya   8 Summary   8 Q&A   9 Workshop   9   HOUR 2: Menus and Navigating the Maya UI   11 The Maya Interface   11 Starting from the Default Maya Interface   12  The Top Area   13  The Center Area   18  The Left Area   19  The Right Area   21  The Bottom Area   23 Axes, Planes, Coordinates   24 The Outliner   24 Summary   26 Q&A   26 Workshop   27   HOUR 3: File Types and Managing Assets   29 3D File Types   30  Maya Scene Files   30  Maya Binary   30  Maya ASCII   30 Other 3D File Types   31  OBJ   32  FBX   32  ANIM   33  ATOM   33 2D File Types   33  Texture File Types   34 Miscellaneous Formats   37 Maya Projects   37  Set Project   37  Creating a Project   38 Summary   39 Q&A   39 Workshop   40   HOUR 4: Modeling with Polygonal Geometry   43 Objects in Maya   44 Creating Polygons   44  Polygons   46 Summary   57 Q&A   58 Workshop   58   HOUR 5: Modeling NURBS Curves and Surfaces   61 What Are NURBS?   62  Curve Components   62  Surface Components   63 Modeling with NURBS   65  Creating a Simple Surface   66 More Uses for Curves   74  Animation Controllers   74  Path Animation   74 Summary   77 Q&A   78 Workshop   78   HOUR 6: Unfolding UVs and Applying Textures   81 What Are UVs?   82  More Complicated Models   83 Texturing in Maya   88  Applying Our Texture   90  Standard Material Options   91  Standard Materials   93 Customizing Our Blinn   94 Summary   97 Q&A   97 Workshop   98   HOUR 7: Creating Node Networks in the Hypershade   101 Navigating the Hypershade   101  The Panels   102 Creating a Simple Network   108 Summary   116 Q&A   116 Workshop   117   HOUR 8: Character Modeling   119 Character Model Basics   120  Working From Designs   120  Using Symmetry In Modeling   125 Starting a Model   128  Edge Loops   129 Continue Refining Your Model   133  Multi-Edged Intersections: Poles   134  Adding the Arms   135  Inside the Mouth   138  Armpits and Shoulders   138  Hands   139  Eyelids   140  Elbows and Knees   140 Smoothing   142  Smoothing Reduces Detail   142  Deciding on Smoothing   142 Crease Edges   143 Combining Geometry   143  UVs Review   145 Summary   148 Q&A   148 Workshop   148   HOUR 9: Relationships and Making Nodes Work Together   151 Viewing Relationships   152 Creating Connections   154  The Connection Editor   154  Connecting New Attributes   159 Other Relationships   162  Expressions   162  Driven Keys   163  The Relationship Editor   164 Choosing the Right Relationship   165 Summary   167 Q&A   167 Workshop   168   HOUR 10: Basic Rigging: Preparing Objects for Animation   171 What Is a Rig?   172 Why We Rig   172 Preparing Your Mesh   173 Simple Hierarchy   176  The Geo Group   178 Adding Controls   178 Adding Functionality   180  Creating the Bend   181 Summary   183 Q&A   183 Workshop   184   HOUR 11: Character Rigging: Articulating Characters   187 Joints   188 Forward Kinematics Versus Inverse Kinematics   189 Starting a Rig   190  Placing Joints   191  Mirroring Joints   194  Finishing the Joint Chain   194 Jaw Joint   196  Joint Orientation   196 Adding IK to the Arms   197 Adding Controls   199 Connecting Controls   203  Connecting the IK Hand Controls   204 Other Controls   204  BlendShape Control   205  Eye Target   205 Final Cleanup   206 Summary   208 Q&A   208 Workshop   209   HOUR 12: Skinning: Attaching Geometry to a Rig   211 The Skin Nodes   211 Rigid Bind   212  Flexors   214  Deform vs. Transform   215 Smooth Bind   216 Skinning Sam   216 Painting Weights   217  Painting   217  Prune Small Weights   220  Locking Weights   221 Adding More Deformation   222 Summary   225 Q&A   225 Workshop   226   HOUR 13: Animation: Adding Movement to Your Scene   227 The Principles of Animation   228  Squash and Stretch   228  Anticipation   228  Staging   228  Straight-Ahead Action and Pose to Pose   228  Follow Through and Overlapping Action   229  Slow In and Slow Out   229  Arcs   229  Secondary Action   229  Timing   229  Exaggeration   230  Solid Drawing   230  Appeal   230 Time in Maya   230 The Timeline   231 The Range Slider   232 What Is a Keyframe?   232 Creating Keyframes   233 Using AutoKey to Set Keys   235 Manipulating the Timeline   236 Copying and Pasting Keys   237 The Graph Editor and Editing Keys   239  Working with the Graph Editor   240  Interpolation and Tangents   241  Buffer Curves   244 The Dope Sheet   246 Editing Motion with the Trax Editor   248 Constraints and Animating   250  Constraint Versus Parent   250 Using Other Animation Tools   252  Creating Dynamic Relationships with Expressions   253  Creating Animation on a Path   254  Driven Keys   256 An Animated Scene   257 Summary   258 Q&A   258 Workshop   259   HOUR 14: Creating and Adjusting Cameras   261 Creating Cameras   262 Common Camera Attributes   265  Camera Attributes   265  Depth of Field   268  Output Settings   269  Environment   269  Special Effects   270  Display Options   270  2D Pan/Zoom   271  Movement Options   271  Orthographic Views   272 The Different Camera Types   272  Camera   272  Camera and Aim   272  Camera, Aim, and Up   272  Stereo Camera and Multi-Stereo Rig   272 Animating Cameras   272  Keyframing   273 Summary   276 Q&A   276 Workshop   277   HOUR 15: Making Diverse Shapes with BlendShapes   279 BlendShape Node   280 Applying a BlendShape   281 Creating BlendShapes   284  Sculpting Geometry   285  Adding a BlendShape   289  Making Controllers   290 Corrective BlendShapes   291 Other Uses for BlendShapes   293 Summary   294 Q&A   294 Workshop   295   HOUR 16: Animating Using Dynamics and Simulations   297 What Are Dynamics?   298  What are nDynamics?   298  Physics in Action   298  What Does Simulating Mean?   299 Getting Started with Rigid Bodies   299  Creating the Scene   300 Getting Dynamic   302  Let the Apple Fall from the Tree   302 Simulating the Apple Falling   307 The Rigid Body Solver   310  Creating a Cache   310 Summary   311 Q&A   311 Workshop   312   HOUR 17: Scripting and Automating Common Tasks   315 MEL Scripting Basics   316 Writing Scripts in the Script Editor   317 Learning MEL from Maya in Action   320 Getting Help on Commands   322 Creating a Universe with MEL   325  Creating a Universe with MEL: Intermediate   329 Making Use of the Shelves   335 Summary   337 Q&A   337 Workshop   337   HOUR 18: Using Particles to Create Effects   339 What Are Particles?   340  What Is an Emitter?   340  Particles or nParticles?   340 Getting Started with nParticles   341  Editing the Attributes of an Emitter   345  Making More Adjustments   349  Copying Attributes by Using Presets   352 Creating a Cache   354 Summary   355 Q&A   355 Workshop   356   HOUR 19: Lighting Your Scene Correctly   359 Lighting Basics   360  Observing Light and Shadows   360 Creating Lights and Shadows   361  Maya Light Types   362  Casting Shadows   366  Positioning Lights   367 Common Light Attributes   370  Spot Light Attributes   372 Getting Started with Three-Point Lighting   374  Creating the Key Light   374  Creating the Fill Light   377  Creating the Back Light   378 Summary   380 Q&A   381 Workshop   381   HOUR 20: Applying Hair and Cloth for Realism   383 Applying Fur and Hair   384  Loading Fur   384  Applying Fur   384  Modifying Fur Attributes   385  Applying Hair   386 Follicles and Curves   388 Creating Dynamic Hair and Fur   389  nHair and Dynamics   390  Fur and Dynamics   390 nCloth and nDynamics   391 Attaching nCloth to Other Objects   392 Characters and Clothes   393 Animating with Hair and nCloth   394 Summary   397 Q&A   397 Workshop   398   HOUR 21: Rendering Final Imagery   399 Render Basics   400  Render Buttons   401  Rendering Single Images   402  Render View   402  Rendering Regions   405  Comparing Saved Images   406  Fine-tuning with IPR   407 Render Settings   409  Common Settings   410  Quality Presets   413 Rendering Animations with Batch Render   415  Check Render Settings for Batch Rendering   415  To Batch Render   417  Viewing in FCheck   418 Summary   419 Q&A   419 Workshop   419   HOUR 22: Working with Film   421 Importing a Film Plate   421 Using a 3D Tracked Camera   424 Setting Up the Scene   424 Scene Scale   426 Masks   429 More Camera Settings   430  Clip Planes   430  Film Back and Film Gate   431 Common Render Settings   431 Aspect Ratios and Resolution   431 Color   432 Summary   433 Q&A   433 Workshop   434   HOUR 23: Correct Project Management and Scene Workflow   435 The Maya Project Structure   436 Naming Conventions   437 Directory Structure Issues   438 Referencing Pipeline   439 Relative and Absolute Paths   441 Good Project Workflows   441 Pull or Push Workflows   442 Project X Workflow Case Study   443 Summary   445 Q&A   445 Workshop   446   HOUR 24: Ideal Settings, Preferences, and Hotkeys   447 Settings and Preferences Basics   448  User Preferences   449  Saving and Deleting Preferences   455 Hotkeys   456  Hotbox and Marking Menus   456  Common Hotkeys   458 Summary   467 Q&A   467 Workshop   467   Index   469