Learning Autodesk Maya 8|Foundation +DVD (Paperback)

~ Autodesk Maya Press (Author)
Key Phrases: paint effects, render settings, dependency graph, Channel Box, Attribute Editor, Select Create (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

This full-color guide for beginners to all versions of Maya 8 (Complete, Unlimited, and Personal Learning Edition) features real-world images and examples from Open Season, a Sony Pictures Animation Inc. film. Its DVD contains Autodesk Sketchbook Pro, project files, an excerpt and interviews from the film, and instructor-led project overviews. Its web site contains updates. Heavily illustrated step-by-step instructions make this a good self-study choice and a good purchase for all medium and larger libraries. (Library Journal, January 15, 2007)

Product Description

This exceptional, full-colour Autodesk Maya Press title - produced by Autodesk, the software's creators - uses Sony's full-length animated "Open Season" for the book's all-new hands-on tutorials for Maya 8. By following the step-by-step tutorials, readers will learn the Maya interface and the basics of modeling, texturing, animating, and visual effects using real-world production files from a full-length feature film. The DVD provides further reinforcement with instructor-led tutorial videos and other resources for extended learning.

With this book readers will:

• Become familiar with the Maya User Interface
• Work in 3D space
• Model with NURBS (Spline)
• Model with Polygons
• Set Keyframes and Motion Paths
• Learn to use Trax Non-linear animation
• Apply Forward and Inverse Kinematics
• Deform surfaces
• Set cameras and lights
• Create Shaders and Textures
• Discover rendering techniques
• Explore particles and Dynamics
• Begin to use MEL (Maya Embedded Language)

Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Sybex; Pap/DVD edition (August 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 189717733X
• ISBN-13: 978-1897177334
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #338,755 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book, December 3, 2006

By	S. Umamaheswarampillai (High Wycome, UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a fairly good book. Among all the books I checked this is the only one that gives a decent introduction to Maya 8.(Hence the five stars!) This is a proper tutorial. You need to sit in front of the computer and work along as you read. And as long as you follow the instructions real carefully and don't skip anything, you will be fine. I was able to impress all my friends with the very first exercise! (A garage with a door-opening animation)

I would like to point out a very serious error in one of the other reviews. The one titled 'Many wrong directions'. When I first read that review I almost decided not to buy this book! But finally I did buy it. And when I reached page 51 - the one that 'Truth Teller Tiger' was complaining about - I realized he was simply wrong. When the books directions says '...In the Polygons menu set..' It means just that - Select 'Polygons' Menu set out of the list of 'Animations, Polygons,Surfaces' etc. It doesn't say you should look for 'Display -> Polygons -> Normals'(That "Display -> Polygons ->" option was used in the previous step - and that was clearly marked as a different step). I am surprised this reviewer has 'spent hours and hours' trying to figure this out- which took me not even 30 seconds - and I am completely new to Maya! So I wouldn't blame the books directions as yet. I feel 'Truth Teller Tiger's review is very misleading for this reason. I just thought other readers considering this book may find this information useful. I wanted to warn people about this misleading review.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly Good Tutorials, February 21, 2007

By	Nikolaus Mcnerney (Albuquerque, NM USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This text is required for my Maya class. Before purchasing this book I had been of the perspective that "tutorial" books were relatively useless because their focus on a particular project necessarily meant that they were not ideal as reference tools. While I still believe this to be true, to a certain extent, I have also learned far more from this book than all of my others combined.

I have seen several other reviews for this book that point out "errors" in the instructions. While at times I have run across various sections that appear, at first, to have incorrect directions (as have many of my fellow students), in EVERY SINGLE CASE it was due to not reading the material carefully enough. I have successfully completed both sections listed by the other reviewers (and, indeed, about half the book) without any real difficulty.

The material itself is very well done. Although the book moves somewhat quickly from introductory stuff (background, interface, etc) to some relatively complex modeling, rigging and animation it nevertheless manages to stay quite easy to read, understand and follow.

Before reading this book both 'skinning' and 'rigging' were strange words that described even stranger processes which were as mystifying to me as they were intimidating. Now I am eager and ready to jump off and create my own characters. With this book I am confidant that I can take the process from beginning to end; from modeling to skinning, rigging, texturing, animation and rendering.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Durn Good, September 20, 2006

By	Thomas Kuo (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What a great start! I knew very little about Maya. Was even fearful that this would've been a book that would overwhelm me. But I took the chance and I've been pleased. It is very clearly laid out and with great instructions. They do occasionally gloss over basic instructions (maybe it's because it may be too basic). A guy, like me, appreciates the holding the pencil as I work approach, but with this book I was even able to navigate through using the Maya 7.0PLE with a MAC! (this takes a bit o' trial n' error). But it is a very useful start off point. The video included are so helpful you can watch each individual movie to remind yourself where you're at with the tools.

I have to admit, some of my models are clunky (think the first clay ashtray you made for your folks, y'get the picture). But I made them. And I can only get better, now with the tools I was given.

I actually knew Combustion, so I can only skip over that. I don't know what they may have improved from 7 (because I heard a lot of complaining) but I've had no problems. Recommended.
Good job.