Maya 2018 Essential Training

Get the essential training you need to create high-quality 3D models and animations in Maya 2018. Learn core Maya skills such as modeling, texturing, rendering, and animation.

Introduction

• Welcome
• System requirements
• How to use the exercise files

1. The Maya Interface

• Overview of the Maya interface
• Work with files and Maya projects
• Navigating in Maya
• Configuring viewports
• Using the hotbox and marking menus
• Customizing the interface
• Using Maya workspaces

2. Select and Manipulate Objects

• Select objects
• Use the Move tool
• Rotate and scale
• Manipulate pivots
• Understanding the Channel Box
• Work with the Attribute Editor
• Reset and freeze transformations
• Snap objects
• Duplicate objects

3. Organize Maya Scenes

• Work with the Outliner
• Create hierarchies
• Group objects
• Understanding the Hypergraph
• Hide and show objects
• Create layers
• Work with selection masks

4. Create Polygonal Models

• Differences between NURBS and polygons
• Create polygonal objects
• Select polygonal components
• Using Soft Selection and Symmetry
• Combine and separate
• Boolean tools
• Using brush tools to sculpt meshes

5. Model Polygonal Meshes

• Set up reference
• Model against reference
• Work with edge loops
• Use the Extrude tool
• Mirror and merge components
• Use the Bevel tool
• Extrude along a path
• Use the Polygon Bridge tool
• Understanding Quad Draw

6. Refine Polygonal Meshes

• Use the Modeling Toolkit
• Smooth models and manage detail
• Work with subdivision surfaces
• Create creases in smooth surfaces
• Use Edge Flow to smooth geometry
• Manage object history

7. NURBS Modeling Techniques

• Understanding NURBS components
• NURBS primitives
• Use the NURBS curve tools
• Create radial surfaces with Revolve
• Use the NURBS Loft tool
• Open and close curves and surfaces
• Create shapes with the NURBS Planar action
• Use the NURBS Extrude tool

8. Refine NURBS Models

• Use isoparms to refine NURBS surfaces
• Extract NURBS curves from surfaces
• Create curves on a surface
• Project curves on surfaces
• Trim NURBS surfaces
• Convert NURBS to polygons

9. Create Materials

• Overview of Maya renderering
• Understanding the basic shader types
• Work with Arnold materials
• Opacity and refraction in Arnold
• Create and apply maps
• Use bitmaps as texture
• Work with the Hypershade window
• Create materials in Hypershade

10. Apply Materials and Textures

• Apply multiple materials to objects
• UV map polygonal objects
• Understanding the UV Editor
• Project textures on NURBS surfaces
• 3D painting
• UV mapping complex objects
• Maintain UV scale

11. Render in Maya

• Render Settings menu
• Use Render View
• Maya lights and lighting types
• Understanding cameras
• Use the Light Editor
• Batch render animation
• Understanding Render Setup
• Use overrides in Render Setup

12. Render in Arnold

• Arnold render settings
• Arnold Render View
• Using Maya lights in Arnold
• Use Arnold area lights
• Use objects as lights
• Image-based lighting and skydomes
• Add depth of field in Arnold
• Create motion blur in Arnold
• Render animation in Arnold

13. Animate in Maya

• Understanding the animation interface
• Animate objects using Set Key
• Modify keys in the Graph Editor
• Modify keys in the Dope Sheet
• Create breakdown keys
• Animate objects along spline paths
• Visualize animation
• Use the Grease Pencil tool
• Create animation cycles
• Animation playback using Playblast
• Work with the Time Editor
• Create animations clips

Conclusion

• Next steps