The essentials of Maya 4, including workflow and best practices to give students an understanding of the application. This book takes the user from a review of 3D fundamentals to a working knowledge of creating content in Maya 4. Written by Maya beta testers and experienced trainers for a concise guide to the application.

Maya 4 Fundamentals will takeyou from a review of 3D fundamentals to a working knowledge of creating content in Maya 4. Topics covered include the interface and primary tools, modeling with NURBS and polygons, applying materials and textures, lighting, using modifiers and deformers, animating scenes, using cameras, rendering stills and animations, and using particle systems, dynamics, and paint effects. Special appendices also cover making the change from other software like 3ds max or LightWave to Maya. Video-captured movies on the accompanying CD supplement the tutorial foundation of the book.