Learning Maya 7 The Special Effects Handbook: A Hands-on Introduction to Key Tools and Techniques in Maya Software Based on the Academy Award -Winning The ChubbChubbs!

Description:

* This spectacular full-color guide takes a brand-new approach to Maya special effects, using characters and effects from the Oscar-winning short film The ChubbChubbs to teach rendering and dynamics
* Covers the whole range of special effects topics, including lighting, camera rigging, effects, particles, and rigid bodies
* Allows animators to compare effects they create with the effects found in the final film
* Packed with great content from Alias, creators of Maya
* The DVD includes instructor-led tutorials on Quicktime video as well as scene files, artist interviews, and Maya Personal Learning Edition

 

Table of Contents:

Create materials and textures.

Set up lights and cameras.

Work with shadows and raytracing.

Learn to control your renders.

Understand rendering for special effects and compositing.

Explore hardware rendering and vector rendering.

Create Caustics and Global Illumination effects.

Understand Final Gather and HDRI techniques.

Create Maya and mental ray Shaders.

Create and animate Rigid Body objects.

Create and animate particles using fields, goals, ramps and expressions.

Render particles with hardware graphics and software techniques.

Dynamically animate NURBs and polygonal surfaces using Soft Bodies.

Utilize Artisan functionality in conjunction with Maya Dynamics tools.

Instance geometry with particle motion.

Use Dynamic Constraints including Rigid Body constraints and soft body springs.

Optimize and troubleshoot dynamics scenes.