Maya 8 for Windows and Macintosh : Visual Quickstart Guide (07 Edition)

Adding sophisticated new tools that give modelers even more control over polygons, an already cool program just got even cooler. Here to take budding 3D artists from 0 to 60 fast in Maya 8 is the eagerly anticipated update to everybody's favorite Maya tome: Maya 8 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide! In these pages, best-selling authors Morgan Robinson and Nathaniel Stein use a combination of task-based instruction and strong visual aids to take readers step by step through all of Maya's essentials: navigating the interface, modeling elementary and complex objects, unsurpassed character rigging and posing, mastering deformers, shaders, and renderers, and more. Both beginning users, who want a thorough introduction to the topic, and more advanced users, who are looking for a convenient reference, will find what they need here in straightforward language and through readily accessible examples, peppered with tons of timesaving tips and tricks. 

With a wealth of b&w screenshot illustrations accompanying clear instructions, this practical guide helps beginning- to intermediate-level users get up-and-running with Maya 8. Compatible with both Windows and Macintosh operating systems, this high-end 3D graphics program is widely used in the film, television, and game industries. Although prior 3D knowledge is not required, it is assumed that the reader is familiar with graphics software packages. The authors are animators at Anzovin Studio. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Morgan Robinson is an animator at Anzovin Studio. She created The Setup Machine 2.0, an animated character setup and weighting tool for Maya.

Nathaniel Stein has taught courses on modeling at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He is currently an animator and modeling supervisor at Anzovin Studio and has worked on games such as Sid Meier's Railroads and Halo 2, as well as a variety of films and shorts.