Hot Maya Posts
How To: Animate parameters in Autodesk Maya 2010
In this clip, you'll learn how to go about automating basic parameters within Autodesk Maya 2010. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Maya 3D 2010 workflow, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, and to get started using this trick yourself, watch this free video guide.
How To: Create mattes with garbage masks in Autodesk Maya 2010
In this clip, you'll learn how to create garbage mattess in Autodesk Maya 2010. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Maya 3D 2010 workflow, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, and to get started using this trick yourself, watch this free video guide.
How To: Composite footage in Maya 2010 with MatchMover, Toxik & Backburner
In this clip, you'll learn how to get started compositing digital footage within Autodesk Maya 2010. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Maya 3D 2010 workflow, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, and to get started using this trick yourself, watch this free video guide.
How To: Import a MatchMover scene into Autodesk Maya 2010
In this clip, you'll learn how to import MatchMover secenes into Autodesk Maya 2010. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Maya 3D 2010 workflow, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, and to get started using this trick yourself, watch this free video guide.
How To: Use automatic matching in Autodesk Maya 3D 2010
In this clip, you'll learn how to use automatic matching in Autodesk Maya 2010. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Maya 3D 2010 workflow, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, and to get started using this trick yourself, watch this free video guide.
How To: Create more organic looking polygons on your models
In this fantastic, quick video, John takes a different approach to fixing the tail on his Dolphin model by adding a more organic look and feel to the polygons in the actual model. He takes his time, showing you everything that he's doing as he goes along with some great commentary!
How To: Use render passes when working in Maya 2011
Learn how to use render passes in your Maya 2011 projects. 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 more information, and to get started using render passes yourself, watch this free video guide.
How To: Use render layers when working in Maya 2011
Learn how to use and work with render layers in your Maya 2011 projects. 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 more information, and to get started using render layers in your own Maya 2011 projects, watch this free video guide.
How To: Use global illumination in Maya 2011
Learn how to create global illumination effects in Maya 2011. 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 more information, and to get started creating GI effects in your own Maya 2011 projects, watch this free video guide.
How To: Create global illumination photons in Maya 2011
Learn how to create global illumination photons when working within Maya 2011. 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 more information, and to get started using GI photons in your own Maya projects, watch this free video guide.
How To: Create depth map shadows in Maya 2011
Learn how to create depth map shadows when working within Maya 2011. 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 more information, and to get started making depth map shadows in your own Maya projects, watch this free video guide.
How To: Preview lighting and shadows in Maya 2011
Learn how to preview lighting and shadows when working in Maya 2011. 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 more information, and to get started previewing lighting and shadows in your own Maya projects, watch this free video guide.
How To: Work with different CG light types in Maya 2011
Learn about Maya 2011's various CG light types. 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 more information, and to get started using CG light types in Maya 2011 yourself, watch this free video guide.
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: Paint 3D objects with Maya's 3D Paint Tool
Want to learn how to quickly and easily paint directly on 3D objects? With Maya's 3D paint tool, it's a cinch. And this guide will show you how. 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: Model realistic 3D eyeballs in Maya 7 or later
Interested in making some eyeballs? Here's a quick and easy way to make them using textures readily available on Highend 3d and a NURBS sphere. And this guide will show you how. 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: Create and use influence objects in Maya 7 or later
Learn how to use influence objects in a smooth bind to help ease your blendshape woes...or if you like blendshapes, use them to help get that extra little tweak you always wished you could have. And this guide will show you how. 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, ...
How To: Create and use background shaders in Maya 7 or later
Want to incorporate your 3D objects into real photos? 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: Use Paint Effects in Maya 7
Paint Effects are a great tool that help us fill out scenes and do all sorts of things quickly and easily. Learn how to find the brushes and use them, as well as some of the up sides and down sides of using them. 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 ...
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: Create a 3D model of a knurl using Maya
For those who aren't familiar with them, knurls (can also be a verb: knurling) are the textured parts on the end of screws and other metal pieces that make them easier to grab. This video will teach you how to use Maya to create 3D models of knurls. You probably won't need too many knurls in your 3D art, unless you work in industry, but the lessons learned here can be applied to all sorts of other 3D modeling projects.
How To: 3D model a suspension rig using Maya
Pretty much every efficient type of modern vehicle features some sort of suspension to cushion its landings and smooth its ride. This means that modeling a suspension accurately is an important part of creating 3D models of vehicles. This four-part video will teach you how to create a 3D model of a suspension rig using Maya. Specifically, you will be creating a piston with an automated damping spring from an airplane's landing gear.
How To: 3D model a tire tread using Maya
Tire treads may not seem like a terribly important thing to model properly, but they are intricate and learning how to do it is a valuable experience. This video will walk you through creating a 3D model of a tire tread using Maya, specifically brutalizing a bend deformer.
How To: 3D model a skeleton torso using Maya
The human skeleton may not be that artistically satisfying by itself, but a good realistic model of one is the basis of much of the most anatomically correct and natural-looking art. This three-part video will teach you how to 3D model a skeleton using Maya, starting with the vertebrae, then the spine, then the ribcage. If you can create this, you are well on your way to 3D modeling all sorts of natural human forms.
How To: Create, align, and sync 3D image planes in Maya
This video from accredited Maya 3D instructor Andrew Klein is a part of his wonderful series of videos covering different aspects of 3D digital art. It covers how to use Photoshop and Maya together to create, align, and sync image planes properly. Take some pictures of your cell phone and get started!
How To: Create a 3D UV of shoelaces in Maya
Creating good UVs with Maya can be tough, and get tougher depending on what type of object you are trying to unwrap. This short video tutorial covers how to create accurate UVs for long objects like rope or, in this case, shoelaces. This is a simple technique, but one that should enable you to model much more smoothly and accurately in the future, especially if you often find yourself creating 3D models of shoes.
How To: Model a head in 3D using Maya edge extrusion method
Modeling a face using Maya or any other 3D art program is tough to do without having the result end up looking like a zombie. See the film Final Fantasy: The Spirit Within if you don't know what I'm talking about. This six-part video will help you avoid this problem in your own 3D models by teaching you how to 3D model a face using the head extrusion method in Maya. You'll need a photo to start with (the creator does not supply the one he used here) but once you have that you should be able t...
How To: Drive a joint chain dynamically in 3D using Maya
This video from accredited Maya instructor Andrew Klein of the Art Institute of San Francisco will teach you how to use just one of the innumerable powerful features of Autodesk's Maya 3D modeling software. It covers how to use a spline IK and a dynamic hair curve to drive a joint chain and geometry for wiggly objects like hairs and antennae. Hair is a really tough thing to model well, so watch this video and master the art.
How To: Use LOD (level of detail) groups in Maya
This video, from accredited 3D art instructor Andrew Klein, will teach you how to use one of the many powerful features in Maya to manipulate you 3D models. Specifically, it will teach you how to use the LOD (level of detail) tool in order to control how much of your model loads at any time, making it animate more smoothly in games and other applications.
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: Use the UV unwrap tool in Maya
Maya 2009 introduced a lot of cool new UV tools to the already-powerful Maya 3D modeling software. This two-part video will teach you how to use some of these features to cut apart a 3D model of a hand by its UV edges. This technique is perfect for very fast organic UV unwraps, and should improve your skills and speed of modeling dramatically.
How To: Unwrap a head using UV enhancements in Maya
Maya 2009, when it was released in 2008, made the process of working with UVs a lot easier. This video will teach you how to use the UV enhancement tools in Maya to unwrap a model of a head, removing some of its distortion.
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: Master Maya's basics by 3D modeling a hand
If you've found this video, chances are that you are looking to improve your skills using Maya, the 3D modeling software. You've come to the right place. This video will teach you how to create a polygonal model of a hand, one of the most challenging and important parts of the body to model correctly. Watch and learn!
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: Learn the Maya modeling basics by making a toy
Mastering the intricacies of 3D modeling in Maya can take a lifetime, or as close to a lifetime as anyone has had since Maya came out in. This video for Maya beginners will teach you the basics of modeling by walking you through modeling a toy rooster. The model doesn't look that great by the end, but you have to start somewhere, and we have more advanced tutorials available on the site if this seemed too easy for you, you Maya magnate you.
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: Model a 3D foot using Maya
Modeling the human body in any medium is tough. In Maya, the premiere 3D art software, some say that most difficult parts of the whole body to model are the feet and the ears. This seven-part video will help you model the former in great detail. Watch this video on how to model the head, and you will have mastered the two trickiest parts of modeling the body using Maya! Congratulations!
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: 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!