Maya 8

Tom Meade and Shinsaku Arima’s “Maya 8” integrates the latest version of Maya to its full potential. One can learn to integrate motion, create complex effects, manipulate lighting, render final animation, and prepare for postproduction. Maya experts and special effects gurus have covered every step in the Maya production workflow using easy-to-follow tutorials, real-world examples, and insider tips and tricks.

The detailed information contained in this comprehensive resource helps the learners to extract the exact ideas they want to know. Intended for CG artist, engineers, filmmakers or hobbyists who are serious about Maya to create high quality images and animations, the book comes handy for beginners as well as for advanced users.

Organized into seven parts that begins with an overview of Maya followed by typical production workflow, it covers the fundamental aspect such as user interface and navigation. Some knowledge in 3D animation techniques will be necessary to complete the tutorial. However, users with previous experience in Maya can jump right into the character-rigging chapters.

What one can gain from this book is the knowledge of specific workflows that are common to most 3D productions. Whether it is modelling a head for animation or rendering a vehicle for integration into a live action plate, this book can direct one through processes that have been tried and tested in production environments. Along comes a ready-to-use DVD, which helps, in easy understanding the subject. It contains Autodesk Sketchbook Pro, project files, an excerpt and interviews from the film, and instructor-led project overviews.