Maya 3D
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- drbyers
anybody here use it regularly? I'm finally serious about learning it (after nearly a year).
The learning curve for a 2D designer like me was horrendous, but it's finally making sense.
How long did it take any of you 3D experts to use it?
- ********0
Maya 3D? Is there a Maya 2D?
Well anyways, i tried to study 3d Animation by myself and would not consider myself a Pro.
It took me quiet a time to master the basics of Maya.
Not to speak of Mental Ray.
Its hard to say how long exactly it'll take though, because it depends on how smart one is and how much time you be able to spend. I didnt had much time to learn maya, so it took me like 1 Year just to cover the basics of Modelling and rendering.
One has to realize that using a 3D package isnt a cake walk.
You cant just throw some shapes into a scene and thats it.
I think many beginners underestimate the time it takes to complete a scene.
Beginning with conceptual sketches, modelling, texturing (painting and skinning), rendering and what not.
Animation is a whole Chapter on its own i think.
Personally i'm into it, except for keyframe animation.
Its said that Maya's learning curve is a bit tricky but once you got a hang out of its basic handling you'll start to love the tools and features of it.
- drbyers0
yeah. i wasn't into it at first. until I saw Star Wars and Finding Nemo, both of which used Maya.
I started playing around with it again, and realized how powerful it is.
It does things unpossible in Illustrator or Freehand 3D.
- brandelec0
did you just say unpossible?
- unfittoprint0
I'm a 3d Studio MAX person myself. But I think the learning curve doesn't differ that much.
My advice is to start learning the different model techniques: basic primitives, coumpound primitives, lofts, and especially using NURBS.
Then the mesh modifiers.
proceed to scenes specifics: lights, atmospherics, motion blurs, etc...
Start using the Animation panels and understading bezier [and other] positions and hierarchy. IK [inverse kinematics] should be learned at this time.
Post production [either in Maya/MAX or AE/combustion] should be the 'last' stage.
'last' because you'll alway be learning something new.
good luck.