Savvy—n. Practical know-how. Maya, the premier high-end 3D application, is so powerful that no one masters it without help. Maya 5 Savvy—a thorough update to Maya 4.5 Savvy—is written for the Maya user looking to boost their skills to the next level. Running throughout this book is a completely new, cohesive, expertly organized animation project that teaches specific Maya skills and, at the same time, gives you valuable hands-on exposure to the entire animation production process. Staged support files mean that you can begin and end work on this project anywhere you like—which in turn means you can read this book cover to cover or use it as a reference, dipping in wherever you need information on or practice with specific modeling, animation, and rendering techniques. Everywhere you turn,you'll find expert advice on the latest Maya features, time-saving shortcuts, and advanced capabilities. Coverage includes: Core Maya: interface briefing, plus planning, writing, and storyboarding your animation. Modeling: NURBS, polygons and subdivision surfaces, character modeling. Animation: paths and bones, deformers, binding, Trax, rigid body dynamics, MEL scripting, particle animation, expression-driven animation. Output: rendering architecture, rendering, shading and texturing, lighting, special light effects. Advanced Tools and Techniques: Paint Effects, ramps and volumes, soft body dynamics, Fluid Effects, Fur, Cloth. Note:CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Alias Wavefront's Maya is the premier tool for 3D modeling, animation, and rendering. It is used by such film houses as Industrial, Light & Magic, Pixar, and Disney for creating 3D animation and special effects. This Maya Press title—a cooperative publication between Sybex and Alias Wavefront—is the perfect introduction to 3D and Maya. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Featuring completely original material from a new team of Maya know-it-alls, this second edition of an award-winning book is sure to inform and inspire even the most seasoned Maya user. In this distinctive Maya Press title, a cadre of professionals led by two acclaimed Maya pros, reveal the precious secrets they’ve learned using Maya on high-profile CG projects such as The Matrix, Shrek 2, and X-Men. In nine unique and compelling chapters, you’ll get detailed and sophisticated instruction on how to: Enhance fluidity and realism by generating complex motion with Maya Cloth Apply non-photorealistic rendering styles that mimic the look of comic books and impressionist paintings Emulate real-world camera motion, from dolly-and-pan movement to varying levels of camera shake Produce natural lighting effects using global illumination and image based lighting Ensure smooth and accurate transfer of character data from modeling to rigging to animation to lighting Control IK chains, deformers, and surfaces with Maya Hair's dynamic curves Use dynamics effectively to create flexible objects and add secondary effects to enhance your animation Use Maya’s built-in noise function to produce powerful effects similar to those used in “The Matrix” trilogy Create a human face from a conceptual sketch using subdivision surfaces

Get the Inside Track to Landing an Enviable Job in Computer Graphics Breaking into the wildly creative and fiery 3D/Effects industry is a tough proposition. With so many talented people competing for each alluring job, it's imperative that candidates grasp what employers look for and make every attempt to stand out. Maya Press, a joint publishing effort between Sybex and industry leader Alias, brings you this definitive and practical guide to help you land that first job or advance your current job in the computer graphics industry. Getting a Job in CG: Real Advice from Reel People is rich with candid strategies and priceless insights straight from industry and academic leaders, job recruiters, and employers. Through interviews, case studies, and sample demo reels on the CD, this book teaches you how to: Discover the myriad job possibilities from the obvious to the obscure Identify precisely what tools, skills, and knowledge employers seek Determine your best training options: college, art school, or do-it-yourself Recognize what staffing agencies and in-house recruiters are looking for Build an extraordinary resume that gets noticed Find out where to go to meet the right people and tap into networking opportunities Acquire the know-how to ace the job interview Produce an exceptional and applicable demo reel that will help you land the job Emulate the career paths of successful artists This book's companion website, www.3djobs.com , serves as a research hub packed with supplementary information and links to vital sources. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Take your Maya skills to new levels with the sophisticated coverage in this authoritative Autodesk Maya Press reference and tutorial. From key basics through advanced techniques, a team of Maya experts provides you with the very latest professional-level instruction on Maya Complete and Maya Unlimited through tutorials and hands-on practice. Whether a novice or an advanced user of Maya, you’ll find everything from key basics through advanced techniques. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Provides information on the Maya interface, covering such topics as modeling, texturing and rendering, and rigging and animation.

"If you're just beginning to dive into the world of 3D, this is the book for you." —Animation Magazine Alias' Academy Award winning Maya 3D animation and effects software leads the industry in technological innovation. Film and video artists, computer game developers, and design professionals rely on Maya to create brilliant digital imagery, animation, and visual effects. Now you can enter this exciting, imaginative world and learn to build, render, and animate your own digital characters and scenes. Brought to you by Maya Press, a publishing partnership between Sybex and Alias, Introducing Maya 6: 3D for Beginners is the ideal initiation to 3D and Maya. Written explicitly for the Maya novice, the easy-to-grasp text offers a practical and fun approach to learning Maya's core features. Clear-cut, engaging lessons let you try out these features using working files provided on the CD. You'll also find an abundance of instructional and inspirational art on the CD and full-color insert. Enter a New Dimension Get a solid grasp of the core Maya and 3D Learn to navigate the new Maya 6 interface Experiment with Maya modeling Explore the basics of NURBS, polygons, and subdivision surfaces Discover the nuances of shading and texturing Try your hand at animation Get a feel for Maya lighting, rendering, and dynamics Find out how to use Maya and Photoshop in unison Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.