Maya 5 Savvy, w. CD-ROM

Savvy--n. Practical know-how.

Maya, the premier high-end 3D application, is so powerful that no one masters it without help. Maya 5 Savvy--a thorough update to Maya 4.5 Savvy--is written for the Maya user looking to boost their skills to the next level.

Running throughout this book is a completely new, cohesive, expertly organized animation project that teaches specific Maya skills and, at the same time, gives you valuable hands-on exposure to the entire animation production process. Staged support files mean that you can begin and end work on this project anywhere you like--which in turn means you can read this book cover to cover or use it as a reference, dipping in wherever you need information on or practice with specific modeling, animation, and rendering techniques. Everywhere you turn,you'll find expert advice on the latest Maya features, time-saving shortcuts, and advanced capabilities. Coverage includes:

Core Maya: interface briefing, plus planning, writing, and storyboarding your animation.

Modeling: NURBS, polygons and subdivision surfaces, character modeling.

Animation: paths and bones, deformers, binding, Trax, rigid body dynamics, MEL scripting, particle animation, expression-driven animation.

Output: rendering architecture, rendering, shading and texturing, lighting, special light effects.

Advanced Tools and Techniques: Paint Effects, ramps and volumes, soft body dynamics, Fluid Effects, Fur, Cloth.