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How To: Create realistic smoke and dust particles in Maya

The key to being able to animate realistic smoke or dust is being able to master the particle texture rate technique in Maya. Once you have gotten this down, you can create any sort of particle effect, such as sand or bubbles in addition to smoke and dust. This three part tutorial series goes in depth into the subtleties of Maya, showing you how to get the most out of working with particles to lend an extra layer of realism to your project.

How To: Rotate & revolve cameras in Maya

In this tutorial, we learn how to rotate and revolve cameras in Maya. First, go to create primitives on the menu at the top. Next, create a camera and pull it out onto the circle. Now, click the camera and then the circle, then hit the 'p' key on the keyboard. Now, you can rotate your circle around and it will rotate on the y axis. To set this, click on 50, then type in 360 on the 'y axis' space. After this, hit 's' an you will have a key frame. You can change the settings as you prefer, then...

How To: Model a human body in Maya

This tutorial series shows you how to model anatomy of the human body in Maya and gives specific tips on how to eventually be able to do it from memory. Part one starts with the head, part two the torso, part 3 the legs, part four the foot, part 5 the arm, part 6 attaching the parts and part 7 modeling hands.

How To: Insert joints in a joint chain in Maya

If you are working on characters or rigs, you are definitely working with joints. This video shows you how to insert a join in a joint chain if you need more or happened to miss one.

How To: Create a duplicate of an object in Autodesk Maya 2011

Want to create a perfect duplicate of a modeled object in Maya 2011? Let this clip show you how it's done. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Maya 2011 workflow, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For specifics, watch this free video guide.

How To: Animate a bouncing ball in Maya

The bouncing ball animation is a classic beginning point for animating in every 3D software package. This tutorial shows you how to do it in Maya. Part two will concentrate on keyframes. Part three will turn the bouncing ball into a character set. Part four will cover using the Trax editor when animating.

How To: Create lip sync animations in Maya

This tutorial explains how to create lip sync and facial animations in Maya on a figure. This is an important skill to have if you plan on becoming a character animator. Create lip sync animations in Maya.

How To: Master 3D modeling in Maya by modeling a chair

Maya is the most powerful 3D modeling tool that most people are likely to have access to. This video will teach you some basic techniques for creating 3D models in the program by teaching you how to make a chair from scratch. It's not a very exciting chair, sure, but you have to start somewhere, and making a chair is a lot easier than making an orc, so get to practicing!

How To: Turn a 3D Model in Maya into a 3D Print

When turning your 3D model into a 3D print, Maya requires some extra editing before you end up with a printable piece: the wall thickness needs to be checked, the model needs to be watertight, and your final printing size needs to be defined. To make your life easier, Autodesk Maya expert Russ Ogi has put together a step-by-step tutorial about how to make your Maya 3D model printable. See more at: 3D Printing with Maya: Step-by-Step Tutorial on How to Turn Your 3D Model into a 3D Print.

How To: Model with NURBS in Autodesk Maya 2011

Looking for a general introduction to NURBS-based modeling? This clip will get you started. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Maya 2011 workflow, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For specifics, watch this free video guide.

How To: Fill holes in polygons in Maya

Got a hole in your polygon object that the fill hole tool just can't fix? Check out this Maya video to learn how to quickly seal that object up. Learn how to not-so-magically fill polygonal holes in Maya.

How To: Use clusters in Maya 8.5

Need a little help with your Autodesk Maya 8.5? Are those 3D animated objects frustrating you? Is 3D modeling just a huge headache for you? Well, this video Maya tutorial might help a bit. You need to know what to constrain and what not to constrain. So, you'll learn here how to create clusters.

How To: Use the cloth effect in Maya

This tutorial explores how to create and utilize the cloth effects available in Maya. Specifically, it will go over draping cloth over an object. Use the cloth effect in Maya.

How To: Create a Helix-Shaped NURBS Curve in Maya

There are several ways you can go about creating your NURBS helix curve in Maya; I will demonstrate the two easiest ones.

How To: Model interiors using Maya

Maya is one of the most powerful 3D asset creation programs in the world. It is also fantastically difficult to use. This seven-part video will teach you how to model an interior environment using Maya. All this video covers is modeling, nothing on lighting or any of the other features in Maya, but it is very detailed and should have you modeling like a pro!

How To: Model an object using the CV Curve tool in Maya

3D modeling tool Mayafrom Autodesk is a monster of a program, able to do SO many things. One of the things you'll need to learn is how to use the CV Curve tool. This will allow you to create objects with curves of any shape or dimension you desire. Let's be honest, most of your models will require curves, so check out this tutorial and find out how to do it. Maya is used in everything from small animation to feature films like Spiderman. If you want to be in the biz, expand your skill set wit...

How To: Model a human hand with perfect edge flow in Maya

This tutorial shows the best way to model a human hand with perfect edge flow. Made in Maya but should work great in any package. This is an advanced tutorial so you should be familiar with the software and interface.

How To: Create a Simple Procedural Brick Texture in Maya

This is a guide to making a very simple procedural texture for Maya. As with all procedural textures, the basic texture can be refined and added to.

How To: Model a realistic house using Maya

Whether you're a Maya (AKA Autodesk Maya) beginner or seasoned veteran, modeling a realistic house using the 3D graphic design software is a great course on how to use your vectors and a variety of Maya tools. Whether you are an interior designer, architect or are just trying to get ahead in the game, this Maya tutorial will show you the way.

How To: Import an object from one scene to another in Maya 7

Learn how to import objects from one scene into another in Maya 7 or later. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with application and its workflow, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, including detailed instructions, watch this free video guide.

How To: Easily create a normal map in Maya

Creating beautiful 3D images in Maya is easier than doing so by hand, but not by much! This video will teach you how to use Maya to create a normal map form a high poly geometry easily using the render pass feature that came out in Maya 2009.

How To: Master Maya modeling by making a 3D airplane

Maya is arcane, complex, but incredibly powerful software. It is the industry standard for 3D modeling in games and film. This video for Maya beginners will teach you how to create a model of an airplane as a means of teaching you a lot of the basics of Maya. It is meant to be watched after the previous two tutorial series by the creator: modeling a chair and modeling a toy. It builds on the lessons therein, and watching the whole series will ensure that you learn more than you would have wat...

How To: Create a stain glass window in Maya

This tutorial series shows you how to work with lighting in Maya by creating a stain glass window with a candle in front of it. This is a great in-depth look at lighting. Part one sets up a 3 point lighting system within maya. so this is a general overview of many light properties. Part 2 makes the stain glass alpha for the lofting lesson using Zbrush. Part 3 covers how to cast light through a colored alpha within maya and make the illusion of stain glass. Part 4 is where you add the candle t...

How To: Control joint display size in Maya

Learn how to control and change the size joints are displayed in the Maya viewport.

How To: Show shadows in the Maya viewport

This tutorial shows you how to show shadows in the Maya viewport. This feature is hardware dependent and not all video cards allow it.

How To: Model a human ear in Maya

In our opinion, human body parts are some of the hardest things an artist can draw. When it comes to parts like hands and ears, we generally settle for a basic, rudimentary rendering because achieving a realistic portrayal seems so hard. If you're looking for quality, though, then Maya modeling software is an excellent way to achieve it.

How To: Render Wireframe in Maya Software Render

This is a very essential tutorial for Modelers to present their showreel. In this tutorial we are going to learn how to render a wire frame of a model. Wireframe render in Maya is bit tricky but easy also, just you have to know right button to press. This tutorial will cover the output in Autodesk Maya Software renderer. Later we will discuss through Mental Ray render engine. Hope you will enjoy.

How To: Produce a 3D house/building model using Maya

Autodesk Maya, affectionately known as just Maya to its users, is a 3D computer graphics software that makes it easy to create impressive, realistic models of real-life - or imagined - objects. Super useful for graphic designers, film makers and web designers, the program is one that you should study if you're looking to go into one of the fields above.

How To: 3D character model the female torso using Maya

The female torso is arguably the most popular thing to depict in the history of art. Go figure. This seven-part video will teach you how to create a 3D character model of a female torso using Maya. The creator uses a background image that we could not track down, but you can probably use an alternative female torso image (as we said, there are many) and follow along just fine.

How To: Use NURBS in Maya Modeling to Model a Chess Bishop

The bishop is widely regarded as the most powerful of chess pieces. This video by Andrew Klein will teach you how to make a 3D model of one using Maya. It is meant to help beginners learning the basics of Maya, and focuses on the use of NURBS as part of a 3D model.

How To: Model a human head using Maya

Maya can count itself among the most powerful and also most challenging programs in all of computing. It's 3D modeling potential is nearly limitless if you can master its intricacies. This video features a professional digital art teacher teaching you how to model a 3D head using Maya. You can download the skull he uses as a reference here.

How To: Texture with bitmaps in Autodesk Maya 2011

Interested in creating textures from bitmaps when working in Maya 2011? Allow this clip to show you how it's done. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Maya 2011 workflow, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For specifics, watch this free video guide.

How To: Construct a metal shader in Maya 7

This Maya 7 video tutorial teaches you how to construct a metal shader in Maya 7 from Autodesk. This video is from the "Game Lighting and Color" course.

How To: Set up a basic animation rig in Maya

In this tutorial you will learn how to setup a basic rig in Maya. Animation rigs are the bone and muscle structures used to animate and move characters and objects made in Maya. If you plan to make anything you model in Maya come to life, you will need to learn the basics of rigging. So watch this tutorial and get started building basic animation rigs in Maya.

How To: Create a water shader in Maya

In this tutorial you will learn how to create a pretty decent looking water shader in Maya without many nodes. Water materials are a great and fast way to get around creating real 3D water effects so watch this Maya tutorial and create your own water shader.