Learning Maya | Dynamics

by Alias Wavefront

Learning Maya | Dynamics will allow you to make the most of Maya's Dynamics Tools. This book will teach you what you need to know about Dynamics from an introductory level and will also allow you to explore advanced concepts in a comfortable format. Explore rigid and soft body dynamics, particle animation and rendering, in both theory and practice. Each chapter includes a theoretical discussion to help you understand the concepts at play, as well as easy to follow step-by-step tutorials so that you can start working right away. The book also includes an accompanying CD-ROM featuring chapter-by-chapter overviews offered by the book's writer, John Patton, an Alias|Wavefront Certified Instructor. Gain additional insight and assistance from these valuable bonus discussions.

With this book you will:

· 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.

What you need to use this book:

· Maya Complete 4.0, Maya Unlimited 4.0, or Maya Personal Learning Edition for Windows
· A CD-ROM drive and Netscape Navigator 4.0 or Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher.
· QuickTime 5.0.1

316 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002