Hot Maya How-Tos
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 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: 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: Use nurbs curves in Maya
This three part tutorial shows you how to work with curves in Maya. Start by learning the basics, then learn to use the curve system with polygons, then learn how to use advanced curves.
How To: Set up image planes in Maya
If you plan to do a lot of modeling in Maya, you will find it is easier if you set up reference images on image planes. This tutorial shows you how to create and set up image planes in Maya.
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.
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: Model a basic polygonal house in Maya
New to Maya (AKA Autodesk Maya)? Not to worry. This tutorial will save your day! Not only will you learn how to use all the basic tools in the graphic design software, but you will also create your first impressive 3D model - a house made from polygon shapes.
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: Work an Advanced Rig for character animation in Maya
Character rigging is important. Advanced Rigging makes it easier to animate your character. View joints and nerves so that you may easily select parts of the character.
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 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: 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: 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: Use the split polygon tool in Maya
This 3D modeling software tutorial shows you how to use the split polygon modeling tool in Maya. Learn how to use the split polygon tool to get full control over adding detail to your polygon object in Maya.
How To: Mirror geometry in Maya the new school way
So we got half a Maya model...now what? We mirror it over and merge the vertices, all with one command, to get us a solid object. We use the dolphin from our organic polygon modeling series, but the technique can be applied to any polygon model. Watch and learn how to mirror geometry the new school way in Maya (with the mirror geometry tool!) NOTE: there are often problems with this method of mirroring, but don't worry, they're covered.
How To: Create a half-tone print effect in Maya
In this video tutorial from CreativeCOW leader Alvaro Castaneda, we will create a nice looking effect in Maya that emulates the half-tone print effect. This tutorial shows that Maya can create looks not traditionally associated with 3D rendering applications. Create a half-tone print effect in Maya.
How To: Create and apply textures in Maya
This lesson will show how to create and apply textures to objects in Maya.
How To: Curve snap in Maya
This tutorial shows you how to use curve snapping in Maya. It allows you to snap to snap to nurbs curves, isoparms or polygonal edges or anything that's a curve!
How To: Extrude Adobe Illustrator text in Maya
This tutorial is using text imported from Illustrator, but the ideas will work for any text curves or curves that you want to extrude into 3 dimensional objects. Learning how to extrude is a must for Maya beginners. Extrude Adobe Illustrator text in Maya.
How To: Create rigid bodies in Maya dynamics
In this tutorial your learn how to
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: Point snap in Maya
Learn how to point snap in Maya in this tutorial. Point snapping allows you to point to any vertex, particle or point.
How To: Morph characters like Mystique in Maya
The sampler deformer tool is a great way to blend or "morph" characters or objects. In this tutorial you'll see how to use this tool with an example from X-Men and the character Mystique. Morph characters like Mystique in Maya.
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: Create intricate tree leaves in Maya
Creating realistic trees in Maya is hard enough without the leaves, but when you add the lively green leaves onto the branches, the difficulty level doubles. An animated leaf needs to mimic a real life, living leaf, which is intricate, to say the least. So, if you've been having problems with making tree leaves in Maya, this two-part video tutorial will show you the tricks to success. But it's only the beginning of what you can accomplish in Maya.
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: 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: 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: Use the bend deformer tool in Maya 7 or later
Learn how to use the bend deformer to make your models a little more dynamic without having to learn all that bothersome animation stuff! 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: 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: 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: 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: Test Photoshop-made textures in Maya 7
This Maya 7 video tutorial teaches you how to test Photoshop-made textures in Maya 7 from Autodesk. This video is from the "Tiling Textures" course.
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: 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: Smooth shade (Gouraud) objects in Maya
Smooth shading and make all the difference in the quality of your graphics - this is especially true with the increasingly popular HD video and computer formats. If you would like to know how to use Maya to smooth and shade your objects, follow along with this video. You will get a step by step walkthrough.
How To: Use the Soft Select feature in Autodesk Maya 2011
Want to know how to do proportional modeling when working in Maya 2011? This clip will you how to do just that using the program's Soft Select tool. 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.
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