Getting Started with Maya Tutorials:

Introduction

Lesson 1: Maya Interface (already been through with the Maya built in tutorial).

Lesson 2: Creating, Manipulating and viewing objects.

In this lesson, you learn how to:

■ Create 3D primitive objects.

■ Select objects for manipulation and editing purposes.

■ Move and rotate objects using your mouse.

■ Move, rotate, and scale objects using numeric input.

■ Duplicate objects.

■ Change the viewing panels in Maya using a variety of methods so you can

view your objects from different points of view.

■ Undo actions when you need to undo a particular task or step.

Lesson 3: Viewing the Maya 3D scene.

In this lesson you learn how to:

■ Understand the difference between moving objects in the scene and moving

the point of view on the scene.

■ Use the dolly, track, and tumble camera tools to change the view of your

scene in both the orthographic and perspective views.

■ Rotate objects using the transformation tools in the Toolbox.

■ Select objects using a variety of techniques.

■ Group objects together so they can be transformed as a unit.

■ Display objects in both wireframe and shaded modes.

■ Use additional primitive objects and options.

Lesson 4: Components and Attributes.

In this lesson you learn how to:

■ Template objects in the scene.

■ Understand the difference between objects and components.

■ Edit objects at their component level.

■ Assign surface material attributes

■ Access the Attribute editor

Polygon Modeling

Lesson 1: Modelling a polygon mesh.

In this lesson you’ll be introduced to some of the polygon modeling tools

Maya provides by learning how to:

■ Use 2D image planes as a reference for constructing 3D models

■ Use 3D primitives as the basis for creating more complex models

■ Work with the components of a polygon mesh (faces, edges, and vertices)

■ Smooth a polygon mesh

■ Select the faces, edges, and vertices of polygonal meshes

■ Create polygon faces by placing vertices

■ Scale and extrude faces on a polygon mesh

■ Move and rotate extruded polygonal meshes

■ Split vertices and subdivide polygonal faces

■ Combine separate meshes into one mesh

■ Bridge between meshes

■ Add faces to an existing mesh

■ Use Snap to Grid

■ Preview a smoothed high resolution version of a polygon mesh

■ Harden and soften polygon edges

Beginning to create the outer shell:

The final render:

The helmet on the left is the final render. The one to the right was its original outline. These two were linked which ment if i edited the right one to make more define edges, the left one would change appropriately and allow for a more smoother render.

Lesson 2: Sculpting a polygon mesh.

In this lesson you’ll be introduced to some of the polygon modeling options

Maya provides by learning how to:

■ Use reflection to perform symmetrical transformations to your model

■ Use Soft Select to transform components with falloff

■ Modify the falloff area and shape

■ Create a custom falloff shape

■ Select components using Marquee select and Drag select

■ Use Camera based selection to limit the components you select

■ Use the Split Edge Tool to separate edge rings

This was a tutorial that supplied the model of a head. The tasks were then designed to turn it into a Goblin.

I have a few software issues with this task. Several times when trying to use the soft modification tool, maya would completely shut down.