Introducing Maya 2009 [Paperback]

Dariush Derakhshani (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 9, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0470372370 | ISBN-13: 978-0470372371 | Edition: 1

If you’re new to Maya, the industry-leading 3D animation and effects software, Introducing Maya includes step-by-step tutorials and easy-to-follow explanations to teach you the basics and nuances of this complex software. Whether you’re a student or a hobbyist, you can learn all about the Maya interface and the fundamentals of modeling, texturing, animating and visual effects with realistic examples. If you’re new to 3D animation or transitioning from another 3D application, this book will provide you with the tools you need to become proficient at Maya.

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

For Instructors: Teaching supplements are available for this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dariush Derakhshani is a Creative Director and Head of CG for Radium|ReelFX - Santa Monica, a creative and design studio with offices in Dallas, Texas; San Francisco; and Santa Monica, California. Dariush has been working in CG for over twelve years and teaching classes in CG and effects production for close to ten. He is the best-selling author of a handful of books, including the popular Introducing Maya series. Dariush started using CAD software in his architecture days, then migrated to using 3D programs when his firm’s principal architects needed to show their clients design work on the computer. Starting with Alias PowerAnimator version 6, which he encountered when he enrolled in the University of Southern California Film School’s Animation program, Dariush has been using Alias animation software for the past twelve years. He received an M.F.A. in Film, Video, and Computer Animation in 1997 from USC. Dariush also holds a B.A. in Architecture and Theatre from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and worked at a New Jersey architecture firm before moving to L.A. for film school. He has worked on feature films, music videos, and countless commercials as a 3D animator, CG lead, and sometimes compositor. He is bald and has flat feet.

Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Sybex; 1 edition (January 9, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470372370
• ISBN-13: 978-0470372371
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #652,316 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sybex / Wiley Customer service is great! So is this book., August 4, 2009

By 

Derek A. Bentley (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introducing Maya 2009 (Paperback)

First I would like to thank Wiley customer service for promptly sending me a new "Introducing Maya 2009" book after I called to inform them my book was falling apart. Like some other reviews on here stated, the binding started coming apart, and pages/chunks of the book fell out after a few days of use. They sent a replacement UPS Ground, and it arrived in perfect condition.

As for the book itself I found the tutorials well written, and easy to follow. I would recommend this book as the best starter book for learning Maya 2009. Using this book my transition from using 3DS Max to Maya was a breeze.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love this book, April 15, 2009

By 

Asim Bijarani (Pakistan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Introducing Maya 2009 (Paperback)

OMG.. This book is amazing. very easy to understand, even I wasn't supposed to enter in this complex 3 Dimensional world of Maya, but when I got this book and started reading, it attracted me so much. This book helps me to understand what 3D is all about and what Maya 2009 software can do to make an artificial 3D word-
CD included with this book is very helpful - also I want to appreciate the paper quality, I wasn't expecting a that good quality book in very reasonable price...

I just Love this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars By far one of the best, if not THE BEST introduction to Maya around!!!, September 28, 2010

By 

JJ the Animator - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Introducing Maya 2009 (Paperback)

As the header suggests, this book by the seasoned Maya Veteran Dariush Derakhshani, is easily one of the best Maya books around. The rest of my review will explain why...
I am a film and animation graduate from Arizona State. I have received two degrees, one in film, and one in animation... Over the course of my education, I was privledged with the opportunity to help teach several animation classes over the course of roughly 3 years. Needless to say, there were many, many, many books that we attempted to use and all of which did not meet the kinds of needs we had for the students...
Maya is a complicated program. Actually, it is more like 7+ programs rolled into one beast of a program. Most people find that after a few tutorials (no matter what book) that they lose interest in the subject fairly quick. For those few that stick it through and fall in love with it, this book actually points you in the right direction to learn the basics, and push you to discover things on your own. Software tutorials present a unique challenge because when a student is in the process of completing the tutorial, comprehension is usually lost. There is no thinking, it is usually just a matter of following directions. This book challenges that by giving you instructions, and forcing you to learn what you have done through various forms of repetition. It teaches a foundation without sacrificing quality, which is something of a problem for most beginner books. As an owner of several books from the Sybex line, including this one, I would highly recommend this book to anybody who wants to try it, or anybody who wants to take it seriously. Our students created projects of much greater quality after using this book, and I can think of no better beginners book to launch anyone into the world of Maya.