Mastering Maya 7

The Ultimate Maya 7 Resource
 

Get complete, expert, and in-depth coverage of Maya 7, the world's premier 3D software tool for modeling, animation, and rendering. This authoritative Maya Press reference and tutorial quickly transitions from Maya basics to advanced topics and techniques to help users of all abilities sharpen their skills and techniques.
 
Beginning with a "Quick Start" overview of Maya's interface, workflow, and node structure, Mastering Maya 7 gets you right into the nitty-gritty of using Maya. You'll find detailed instruction on the Maya interface and all modeling, texturing, animation, and special effects tools. This complete reference features hands-on tutorials created by a diverse team of experts to reinforce your understanding of the lessons and techniques. Focusing on all of Maya's latest features, this definitive book even includes chapters on Maya Unlimited topics such as hair, cloth, fur, and fluid dynamics. Coverage includes:
 
Modeling: NURBS, polygons, subdivision surfaces, and such advanced modeling techniques as using blend shapes with deformers
 
Rigging and Animation: IK and FK, skeletons, joint and lattice deformers, weighting characters, keyframe and nonlinear animation techniques
 
Texturing and Rendering: light types, effects, and techniques; the Hypershade; shading and texturing attributes; software rendering; detailed mental ray coverage including HDRI, Final Gather, and Global Illumination techniques
 
Advanced Maya: Maya Embedded Language (MEL); Paint Effects; particles; fluid effects; rigid body dynamics; Maya hair, fur, cloth, and Toon shader
 
The enclosed CD features tutorial files, images, and scene files that let you complete the hands-on exercises and compare your work to the pros. It also includes the latest Maya Personal Learning Edition software.
 
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