Maya 8 Character Modeling takes a unique approach to modeling as it breaks down character creation using an easy-to-follow formula that makes the learning process less daunting. The author presents an overview of modeling basics and then shows how to block out the body, shape body parts, add details, and create joints and controls using Maya 8. By the time you ve finished the book, you ll have created a figure that is textured, rigged, and ready to be animated. With this book: Understand the building blocks of modeling, including quads, edge loops, normals, UVs, and mapping. Discover how modeling by formula eases the character creation process. Find out how to create a UV layout that makes texturing easier. Learn how to place joints and controls and skin your character so it deforms properly when animated. Companion CD included with the images from the book, Maya files to help build the character, AVI movies that show the modeling process in real time, and Mel scripts for installing a character modeling tool menu that can improve the user s workflow!
Maya® 8 Character Modeling (Wordware Applications Library)
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
2 out of 5 Stars,
This review is from: Maya 8 Character Modeling (Wordware Applications Library) (Paperback)
I'm ammending the rating of 3 out of 5 to 2 out of 5. As I'm continuing with chapter 13 I am finding it rife with bad instructions. When you are trying to learn something as hard as rigging this is the worst thing you can do.
On pages 402-403 the author is saying to lay out your leg joints in the front view. Then on page 406 he's saying to select the two knee joints and rotate them on the Z axis. This makes it swing in an unnatural left to right. If the author had said to layout the joints in the SIDE view then the Z axis would swing like a knee should. The author tells you to create your spine joints. Then after you've done that select the pelvis joint and Freeze Transformations. This should zero out all the translate values to make it easy to get back to the default position. This does not zero out the translate values, only the rotate & scale. Also on page 401, instruction 8 tells you to parent neck_2 to the jaw joint. There is no "neck_2" that is the "head" joint you're instructed to create in step 6. SOMEONE from the publisher should check these things before they publish. Maya is hard enought to learn by itself. Trying to weed through bad instructions make it twice as hard to learn. I can not stand that I paid $45 for a book that is constantly telling me to do the wrong thing. I'm coming from Maya 4.5 to 8.5. Yes the modeling/sculpting part of the book has been informative. You should NOT use this book if you're learning to rig. The title says what it is good at, Modeling. Get another book for rigging.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great concepts..,
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This review is from: Maya 8 Character Modeling (Wordware Applications Library) (Paperback)
great help with character modelling, the concepts are explained in a clear and precise manner which is quite suitable for beginners in this area of 3d modelling. Though the version it was written for is outdated, the concepts explained can be used in any version of maya and also with other 3d modelling tools like 3dsmax etc.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Maya 8 Character Modelling Review,
By
This review is from: Maya 8 Character Modeling (Wordware Applications Library) (Paperback)
This book is written in a way that is easy to understand. Although I have not completed all the chapters,I have encounted only minor problems which took a little time to sort out. It was my misunderstanding rather than the book being poorly written. It is the most informative book on character modelling I've come across. I'm only new to modelling but I would recommend this book to anyone.
One disappointment was the CD that comes with the book. No audio. It would be nice to have the option to follow the CD and have a step by step explanation so the Cd could be run side by side with the application without having the need to refer to the book constantly.
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Inside This Book
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
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new edge loop, smooth node, more edge loops, smooth proxy, mirrored geometry, instanced geometry, character modeler, delete history, specular map, base mesh, eye geometry, control mesh, planar mapping, blend shapes, additional geometry, checker pattern, roll bone, character modeling, selected faces, dialog pops, new keyframe, selected geometry, bump map, root joint, angled edges Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Sculpt Geometry, Insert Edge Loop, Split Polygon, Extrude Face, Edit Polygons, Texture Editor, Edit Mesh, Channel Box, Close Figure, Paint Skin Weights, Connection Editor, Freeze Transformations, Time Slider, Load Driven, Max Displacement, Load Driver, Polygon Primitives, Select Border Edge Tool, Subdiv Proxy, Trans Limit, Add Attribute, Handle Tool, Set Driven Key, Smooth Strength, Work Area New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
new edge loop, smooth node, more edge loops, smooth proxy, mirrored geometry, instanced geometry, character modeler, delete history, specular map, base mesh, eye geometry, control mesh, planar mapping, blend shapes, additional geometry, checker pattern, roll bone, character modeling, selected faces, dialog pops, new keyframe, selected geometry, bump map, root joint, angled edges Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Sculpt Geometry, Insert Edge Loop, Split Polygon, Extrude Face, Edit Polygons, Texture Editor, Edit Mesh, Channel Box, Close Figure, Paint Skin Weights, Connection Editor, Freeze Transformations, Time Slider, Load Driven, Max Displacement, Load Driver, Polygon Primitives, Select Border Edge Tool, Subdiv Proxy, Trans Limit, Add Attribute, Handle Tool, Set Driven Key, Smooth Strength, Work Area New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
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