Maya 7 for Windows & Macintosh [Paperback]

Danny Riddell (Author), Morgan Robinson (Author), Nathaniel Stein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 22, 2006

Adding tools that allow users to realize the 2D Toon look of comic books, cartoons, manga and anime; create spectacular clothing, fur or long hair for characters; and move data quickly back and forth between Maya and Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, an already cool program just got even cooler. Here to take budding animators and modelers from 0 to 60 fast in Maya 7 is the eagerly anticipated update to everybody's favorite Maya tome: Maya 7: Visual QuickStart Guide! In these pages, best-selling authors Danny Riddell and Steve Anzovin use a combination of task-based instruction and strong visual aids to take readers step by step through all of Maya's essentials: unsurpassed character rigging and posing, integration with essential production tolls such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash and more. Both beginning users, who want a thorough introduction to the topic, and more advanced users, who are looking for a convenient reference, will find what they need here in straightforward language and through readily accessible examples, peppered with tons of timesaving tips and tricks. By the end of the volume, users will be creating their own alternate universes in Maya 7!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Adding tools that allow users to realize the 2D Toon look of comic books, cartoons, manga and anime; create spectacular clothing, fur or long hair for characters; and move data quickly back and forth between Maya and Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, an already cool program just got even cooler. Here to take budding animators and modelers from 0 to 60 fast in Maya 7 is the eagerly anticipated update to everybody's favorite Maya tome: Maya 7: Visual QuickStart Guide! In these pages, best-selling authors Danny Riddell and Steve Anzovin use a combination of task-based instruction and strong visual aids to take readers step by step through all of Maya's essentials: unsurpassed character rigging and posing, integration with essential production tolls such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash and more. Both beginning users, who want a thorough introduction to the topic, and more advanced users, who are looking for a convenient reference, will find what they need here in straightforward language and through readily accessible examples, peppered with tons of timesaving tips and tricks. By the end of the volume, users will be creating their own alternate universes in Maya 7!

About the Author

Danny Riddell teaches Maya and Macromedia Flash in both corporate and college environments. He founded and served as director of the Web Design and Development department at Ex'pression Center for New Media in Emeryville, California. Danny is the author of the previous editions of this guide.

Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Peachpit Press (April 22, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321348990
• ISBN-13: 978-0321348999
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,845,694 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Just Like Reading the manual, May 12, 2007

By 

John N. Denne (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Maya 7 for Windows & Macintosh (Paperback)

I wouldn't call this much of a "QuickStart" guide, because after you read it, you are still wondering how to proceed. It is more of an overview of a lot of the functions contained in Maya, not a "HowTo" guide or tutorial. Most of the Peachpit books have been good to get you up and running quickly, but this one....not so much.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good quick reference book, November 22, 2006

By 

J. Wagner - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Maya 7 for Windows & Macintosh (Paperback)

This book is more for those that are somewhat familiar with the Maya menus or the intermediate user who needs a quick reminder of where something is or how to get started.

This book is a fantastic quick reference tool on how to get some of the Maya features working. Everything from setting up marking menus, changing the interface, overviews of basic and advanced tools, and even an overview on some of the more advanced features like dynamics and fur. If you want to get started on something quick or learn what tools are available and how they can be used, this is the book for you. There are no "tutorials" per se, but it does have little "Try this..." opportunities at many of the feature explanations that get you right into doing something.

The only drawback to this book is that the feature overviews only skim the surface of the program's capabilities. If you want a detailed, deep exploration of something like texturing, modeling or some other feature, this book falls short; but you'd need a half-dozen books to cover that anyway.