Learning Autodesk Maya 2008, (Official Autodesk Training Guide, includes DVD): The Modeling & Animation Handbook (Paperback)

~ Autodesk Maya Press (Author)
Key Phrases: curve tool, pole vector, polygon proxy mode, Select Edit, Channel Box, Select File (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Develop out of this world modeling and animation skills with Learning Autodesk Maya 2008 I The Modeling & Animation Handbook. Follow clear, step-by-step tutorials to understand the modeling and animation stages of production using artwork from the LAIKA short film Moongirl. Learn to build models with a variety of surface types and then make them move with a wide range of animation techniques directly from the makers of Autodesk Maya. You'll learn to make sound decisions from the beginning, to save yourself unnecessary challenges further down the pipeline. You'll learn how to model with polygons, NURBS and Subdivision Surfaces; understand skeletons and joint orientation; work with inverse kinematics, skin your characters; animate a complete scene including props, constraints, and characters; and much more. The bonus DVD includes free models from Turbo Squid, Autodesk Maya reference guides, and scene files to help you breathe life into your creations.

From the Back Cover

The Modeling & Animation Handbook.

Develop out of this world modeling and animation skills with Learning Autodesk Maya 2008 / The Modeling & Animation Handbook. Follow clear, step-by-step tutorials to understand the modeling and animation stages of production using artwork from the LAIKA short film Moongirl. Learn to build models with a variety of surface types an then make them move with a wide range of animation techniques directly from the makers of Autodesk® software. You'll learn to make sound decision from the beginning, to save yourself unnecessary challenges further down the pipeline.

With this book, you will:

• Model with polygons, NURBS and Subdivision Surfaces
• Understand skeletons and joint orientation
• Work with inverse kinematics
• Setup a leg, arm and spine
• Work with blendShapes
• Skin your characters
• Create constraints
• Create a walk cycle
• Animate a complete scene including props, constraints and characters

Bonus features included on DVD

• Free models from Turbo Squid
• Autodesk Maya reference guides
• support files

What you need to use this book

• Autodesk® Maya® Complete 2008 or Maya® Personal Learning Edition software
• DVD-ROM drive

Product Details

• Paperback: 608 pages
• Publisher: Sybex; Pap/Dvdr edition (September 24, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1897177380
• ISBN-13: 978-1897177389
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #69,872 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #27 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Graphic Design > 3D Graphics
  #47 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Programming > Game Programming

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Learning well will carry you for a lifetime!, September 30, 2008

By	Michael J. Valadez (Arizona) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Official Autodesk Training Guides are a superb investment and this book in particular, is terrific. If you have an intermediate-level of knowledge about Maya, you will find this book moves at a fairly quick pace. Also, if you have a good working knowledge of the Maya interface and its tools, but lack the discipline of a solid production workflow then book will enhance your skills and round out your education.

I am a beginner with only peripheral knowledge of the Maya interface but because the book is so well written I have been able to keep pace and have learned more in the last few weeks than I have gained in the hundreds of hours of parroting the video tutorials available online.

I've spent a small fortune in the last few months buying Maya video tutorials from a couple of different online sources and for the most part, they provide you with all the steps necessary to create the models you see in the videos and expose you to many aspects of the software, but what these videos don't do is explain the "why", which is necessary if you are to grow and take your creativity to the next level.

In all fairness to the authors of these videos, they are working with self-imposed limitations and the knowledge to be gleaned from the videos is only as good as the individual who wrote the lesson guide. Therefore, I decided before I get too far along in my Maya learning experience, I needed a good working knowledge of the fundamentals and who better to provide that than the "official" experts.

Breakout the videos if you want to build a good looking Mitsubishi car in twenty-hours time but buy this book if you plan to "design" the next Mitsubishi car. Therein lies the difference between their videos and this Autodesk series of books; not only do these books explain the "why", they provide the discipline necessary for a dependable production workflow, which is critical if you intend to work in this field.

By the time you finish this book you will know the key concepts and workflows of Maya. You will know the tools and their application. You will learn modeling and animation and understand how they relate to each other in a production pipeline.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource, May 21, 2008

By	B. Huff - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a really cool learning guide. It is geared a little more towards people who have a basic understanding of the Maya universe. If you have never used maya at all, it may be a little confusing. I suggest playing with the interface and going through the "Getting Started" lessons included with the Maya software before getting into this book.. The dvd contains support files for the lessons in the book. It would have been nice if it had some video reference. The pictures in the book aren't the best guides, so unless you understand the text, you may find yourself using more creative freedom to complete the models than actual tutoring. Still, it is a great reference and gives you all you need to create some complete models to practice building and animating. Hope this helps.

10 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great!!!, November 8, 2007

By	Dila Beksac "dilaress" (Berkeley, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

it is a great reference book!! I'm a student at animation major.. this is helping me all the time.. Also you can use this book for learning the software by yourself.. it is explaning and then give you assignments so you can understand the lesson well..

good luck!!