Introducing Maya 6: 3D for Beginners (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Throughout this book you'll learn how to work with the tools and techniques that Maya software offers..." (more)
Key Phrases: polygon catapult, axe using nurbs, screen roadmap, Attribute Editor, Graph Editor, Auto Keyframe (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Brought to you from Maya Press, a publishing partnership between Sybex and Alias, this intro book is fully updated for the newest release of Maya. Here is the ideal initiation to 3D and Maya--an accessible and affordable tutorial that offers you a practical approach to learning Maya's core features. The full-color insert illustrates real examples created by Maya professionals. The CD includes 3D rendering and animation project demos, plug-ins, links to animation resources, and your own copy of Maya Personal Learning Edition software.

From the Author

Learning 3D software like Maya is a difficult task, so Introducing Maya 6: 3D for Beginners is written to be a _primer_ for anyone young and old to begin learning 3D and Maya. Using explanations as well as examples and tutorials, this book is written to be a launching pad to explore Maya from. All the major facets of Maya are introduced and explored to give the reader a headstart; as a beginning point to help build a solid foundation to move on from. It is best used as the first step of learning tools, and as such is perfect for 3D teachers to build a course outline around.

I hope you will consider this book as a good place to *start* learning--or teaching--Maya and 3D.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Sybex; Pap/Chrt/C edition (July 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0782143539
• ISBN-13: 978-0782143539
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #755,284 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have, September 15, 2004

By	David Conlon (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am a graduate student at USC in the Animation Division and am a teaching assistant for s visual FX, and intermediate Maya class. I just started this semester using this book as a teaching aid for my students, and it was been 100x more helpful than any intro book Alias has put out. This book starts from the ground up, and gives a very clear and readable foundation on not only the digital image, but 3d in general. If anyone is serious about really learning Maya and 3d graphics, not just knowing where the buttons are, you need this book. Practical, informative, easy to understand, and is laid out in a logical fashion.


David Conlon
USC Cinema Television
Division of Animation and Digital Arts

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good starting point, November 22, 2004

By	G. Bush "G" (So Cal) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book seems to me to be a great starting point for a new Maya user. I had previously tried to go through the Foundation book and got lost many times. After several months I tried this book and was pleased with the clarity of the information presented. I was able to work through all the lessons without much difficultly and feel as though I have a much better understanding of the program and how it works. I read every word of the book though. I you just do the lessons and skip the introductions it would be difficult to learn anything. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. I use a Mac and did not have any trouble follwoing along (the only trick was pressing the "home" key instead of the insert key to switch to pivot mode)

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good primer, January 27, 2005

By	Adobe User "AU" - See all my reviews

I found this book to be a useful Maya primer, combining both practical lessons with a broad explanation of some of the theory behind using one tool or method over another.

Note that this book is a very general introduction and does not go into any one area in particular depth (I recommend the other dedicated Alias publications for that).

There are a few errors and places where the author seems to have skipped a step but nothing drastic. Perhaps the biggest issue I have with this book is that the illustrations are black and white (actually, more grey and white). Whilst I understand that this keeps the cost down, given that the default Maya interface is largely grey'ish in colour, it can make figuring out what has been "selected" on an object, particularly vertices or CVs, a little difficult. Perhaps in future Sybex could place color illustrations on the accompanying DVD.

Overall a good book and one that has certainly whetted my appetite for some of the more advanced features, such as dynamics and particles. I recommened reading this before moving on to the specialist books on modelling, rigging etc.