Hot Maya How-Tos


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: 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: 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: 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 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 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: Apply normal maps when creating textures and shaders in Maya 2011
In this tutorial, we learn how to work with normal maps 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, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this video guide.

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: 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: 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.

How To: Create objects from polygons in Maya
In this clip, learn how to create cool new objects from polygons using the computer program, Maya. This tutorial will give you a step by step walkthrough of the entire process to make sure you get it right every time.

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: 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 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: Revolve, extrude and loft nurbs curves in Maya
Learn how to manipulate NURBS surfaces using the Revolve, Extrude and Loft methods in Autodesk's Maya 3D modeling and animating software.

How To: Texture an object in Maya and export to Unreal Engine
This tutorial explains how to use the Maya uv editor to set up an object to be imported into the Unreal Engine so you can shoot at the object.

How To: Render glass in Maya's Mental Ray renderer
Have some glass that needs rendering in Maya? With Mental Ray, it's easily done. Mental Ray (trademarked mental ray) is a rendering application by mental images that's integrated into Maya, and in this video you'll learn about two of the major glasses within it, plus how to render them. It's a very detailed explanation for rendering glass in Mental Ray, so be prepared for a lot of knowledge!

How To: Model a mech robot in Maya
Jason Welsh shows you how to model a mech robot in Maya.

How To: Check to see if a window exists in Maya
Learn how to check and see if a window exists in memory in Maya using MEL scripting.

How To: Use the reflect operation on the move tool in Maya
This tutorial shows you how to reflect component transformations to the opposite side of a symmetrical model in Maya. This sounds complicated, but it really just allows you to mirror your transformations from one side to another.

How To: Convert from a Y up world to a Z up world in Maya
This quick Maya tutorial shows you how to convert the normal Y axis up world to a Z axis up world.

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: 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: 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: 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: Create an Eye Shader in Autodesk Maya
In this New section We are going to learn about the texturing in Autodesk Maya. In this tutorial we will learn how to make an eye texture without using any external image or any kind of digital painting. Still we will manage to creat not so realistic but very convincing and customizable eye shader with the help of ramp in Autodesk Maya. Hope this technique will help you to create the same with very little expense. Eye Texture in Maya | Maya Texturing | Maya Shader | Texturing In Autodesk Maya...

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: Make a Website Out of Chocolate
Sorry guys, despite the headline, this one isn't an actual How To. But the process behind the creation of Portuguese brewer Sagres' chocolate crafted website is fascinating, and we would gladly welcome any lengthy step-by-step tutorial. Created in promotion of the brewery's new chocolate flavored stout, the company's ad agency—Grand Union Portugal—gave Victor Nunes, world famous chocolatier and artistic director of Óbidos International Chocolate Festival, the task of creating a site completel...

How To: UV map a human head in Autodesk Maya
These videos will show you how to create a UV map in Autodesk Maya. Using the proper software and this human head model you will be able to follow the step-by-step instructions in this series of three videos and learn what UV mapping is and how it works.

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: 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: Make a rock with Maya
If you're an Autodesk Maya user and you're looking to create rocks, boulders or rock walls, check out this excellent 7 part tutorial and learn how it's done. Maya is a massive 3D creation tool with so many aspects it's really mind blowing. This tutorial will help you improve your skills for your game building or just for you own art.

How To: Create a Motion Trail in Maya 2011
Motion trails in Autodesk Maya can be very handy at times when animating your scene. Keying a bone/joint or other object every so many frames can take up quite a bit of time and can sometimes be a big hassle, too. I have found many times when I could have really used one. I also don't like to search the Internet with a question and not find an answer (at least, without paying for it). So in this how-to article, I will demonstrate going about creating a simple (or complex) motion trail to make...

How To: Use the Extrude tool in Autodesk Maya 2011
In this video tutorial, we learn how to use the Extrude tool within Autodesk 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 3ds Max 2011 workflow, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more information, and to get started using the lessons imparted by this free video software tutorial yourself, watch this free video guide.

How To: Create creases and hard edges when modeling in Autodesk Maya 2011
In this video tutorial, we learn how to create creases and hard edges 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 using the lessons imparted by this free video software tutorial yourself, watch this free video guide.

How To: Use ramp textures in Autodesk Maya 2011
In this tutorial, we learn how to work with ramp textures 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, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this video guide.

How To: Use the mia_material material shader in Maya 2011
In this tutorial, we learn how to work with the mia_material shader tool 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, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this video guide.

How To: Use diffuse reflections when creating textures and shaders in Maya 2011
In this tutorial, we learn how to work with diffuse reflections when creating textures and shaders 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, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this video guide.

How To: Create a mental ray area light in Autodesk Maya 2011
In this clip, you'll learn how to create a mental ray area light within Autodesk Maya 2011. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Maya 2011 and its various features and functions, you're sure to enjoy this free video software tutorial. For more information, including complete instructions, watch this 3D modeler's guide.