Advanced Maya: Character Modeling [DVD-ROM]

Kenny Cooper (Author), Jim Lammers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2003

Advanced Maya: Character Modeling will take you through each step of modeling a character from head to toe. Starting with photographs of a human female model, every step from the first polygon to the final tweak is illustrated and explained. Also, learn how to create a custom shelf to be used throughout the modeling process that will speed up your workflow.

The 16 page book is a handy guide to the included DVD disc. The DVD disc (data format) includes over 16 hours of high-resolution (1024x768) video in Quicktime™ MOV format, designed for crystal clear viewing on a computer monitor. Voice narraration on these movies by artist Kenny Cooper will guide you through each movie. A Maya scene file is saved on the disc for the start and end of each movie segment - 50 segments in all.

Designed for the intermediate level Maya user, this training video will help you learn how to use polygonal and sub-divisional modeling tools to create a fully articulated human 3D model. Follow along as each body part is created, matched, attached and refined.

- Includes printed guide to all 50 movies
- 16 hours of Quicktime™ Movies with audio
- Suitable for all Maya platforms
- Suitable for intermediate Maya users (advise that you have a basic understanding of Maya before beginning)
- High resolution 1024x768 captures
- Movies created using Maya 5.0
- Works with the free Personal Learning Edition of Maya
- Produced by Jim Lammers, co-author of the best-selling Maya Fundamentals books.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kenny Cooper is an animator at Trinity Animation, Inc. Kenny has been using Maya for over 5 years and was one of the founders of the popular 3D Palace web site and contributed many of their popular Maya tutorials. He attended the University of Computer Technology in Phoenix, Arizona before working at Trinity Animation.

Jim Lammers is an animator, instructor, and reseller of Maya based in Kansas City, Missouri. A graduate of the University of Missouri's electrical engineering program, he switched to freelance animation within a few years of graduation and eventually formed his company, Trinity Animation, in 1992. Since then, Jim has combined animation production with training and 3D software sales, including plug-in developer Boomer Labs and Alias. Trinity Animation's Web site is a primary source for 3D software worldwide. Jim coordinates the Kansas City Animation User Group and continues to produce animation. He created 3D effects for the Sony/TriStar film Starship Troopers in 1997 under the renowned Hollywood effects veteran Peter Kuran and his company, VCE. His other past animation work includes visualization projects for clients such as Nestle, McDonald's, and Butler Manufacturing. Jim can be reached at [e-mail].

Product Details

• DVD-ROM: 16 pages
• Publisher: Trinity Animation, Inc. (September 2003)
• ISBN-10: 0970685521
• ISBN-13: 978-0970685520
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,819,472 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finally!, September 6, 2005

By 

B. Coots "VFXGeek" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Advanced Maya: Character Modeling (DVD-ROM)

As a trained, certified Maya user I have never fully explored modeling human characters as my work never required it. But like most 3D artists I am always hoping to expand my abilities, and as a result I have completed just about every single tutorial online and none seemed to really get me where I wanted to be. This DVD, however, will get you there. The Author's technique is easy to follow, produces a clean and polished result, and just makes sense where other tutorials simply fall apart if you don't understand one step. I would definitely recommend this DVD to current Maya users, though new users might be lost early on since the Author assumes a working knowledge of the Maya interface and settings.

The only reason I give it a 4 instead of 5 is that the Author spends a lot of time moving points around and spinning around his model. While you too will be doing this in the course of building your character, you probably don't need to see him do it for 15 minute stretches to get the idea. There seems to have been no editing of the material, so there are one or two times where he makes a mistake and has to back up several steps, which if you were following along too closely means you too will have to back up and unlearn a step or two. Editing, fellas, editing.
They probably could have used this wasted time more wisely, perhaps giving a better overview of WHY you are doing this particular step, how it fits into the big picture, and less with the "how."

That said, the Author really does know his stuff and is a good teacher, so I still highly recommend this for anyone looking to learn character modeling.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's like watching "New Yankee Workshop" for 3D artists, December 30, 2003

By 

jj - See all my reviews

This review is from: Advanced Maya: Character Modeling (DVD-ROM)

The Advanced Maya: Character Modeling DVD is an informative collection of video tutorials designed for the animator trying to learn or advance their character-modeling skills inside of Maya.

I've never been good at modeling characters but I quickly learned from Kenny and Jim's on-screen tutelage the techniques and skills necessary to create the figure featured on the cover of the disc. The authors provide a good example of the craft that enabled this fumble-thumbed animator to build a complex subject with a program that I had little experience.

I'm a kinesthetic student so watching their examples was a great way for me to learn. It's like watching "New Yankee Workshop" for 3D artists working in Maya. I surprised myself to see how easily and quickly I created these complex shapes following their instruction.

I recommend this disc for every character modeler working in Maya whether you're a novice or have experience with the software. Kenny and Jim have created a solid curriculum that will enable any serious modeler to advance their craft.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, February 5, 2004

By 

David Smith (Danville, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Advanced Maya: Character Modeling (DVD-ROM)

This video is amazing. I struggle so hard for so long trying to make a decent human model and spent so much money on other books. This is great, its a perfect walk through on how to make a model. I'm on video 41 of 50 and its looking great and I've gained so much confidence that now I start to watch the videos and already know how to go about makeing the next part before he shows me. If you want to make human models then get this its perfect forget about wasting money on any of the books out there.