Maya: Advanced Modeling

Learn about advanced techniques and tools that can help you approach modeling nearly any shape in Maya with confidence.

Introduction

• Welcome
• What you should know
• Using the exercise files

1. Get Ready to Model

• References, references, references
• Who or what is the project for?
• Scale of objects
• Modeling workflows

2. Modeling Basics

• Types of geometry
• Modeling tools: Polygons
• Modeling tools: NURBS
• Geometry conversion
• Deformers
• Challenge: Complex shapes with deformers
• Solution: Complex shapes with deformers

3. Smaller Room Objects

• Walls and floor
• Vase blocking
• Vase detailing
• Books blocking
• Books detailing
• Bookshelf blocking
• Add bookshelf trim
• Bookshelf detailing
• Challenge: Picture frames
• Solution: Picture frames

4. Side Table

• Model the top
• Model the middle base
• Model the floor base
• Leg blocking
• Leg detail
• Challenge: Side table medallion
• Solution: Side table medallion

5. Leather Chair

• Blocking chair shapes in Maya
• Retopology for shaping in Mudbox
• Retopology in Mudbox for Maya
• Fix retopology
• Normal map creation in Mudbox and Maya
• Chair details

6. All Together Now

• Clean up all model files
• File management and import
• Set dressing
• Final camera's render settings for show

Conclusion

• Next steps