If you?re just beginning to dive into the world of 3D, this is the book for you."
—Animation Magazine

The Academy Award® winning Maya® 3D animation and effects software is the first choice of film and video artists, game developers, and 3D design professionals. Discover how to build, render, and animate your own digital models and scenes, and begin to develop professional?level Maya skills with the latest edition of this popular bestseller.

Starting with the basics, the book builds from the ground up, combining straightforward text with practical examples that make it fun and easy to learn Maya?s core features while introducing new Maya 8 elements such as improved polygon tools and enhanced rendering with mental ray. Clear?cut, engaging lessons let you experiment using the wealth of files provided on the CD?ROM. You?ll also find an abundance of instructional and inspirational Maya creations in the full?color insert.

The accompanying CD?ROMs images, movies, and scene files let you view material from the book right on your own computer. Tackle all?new rendering and dynamics tutorials and much more. The CD includes Maya Personal Learning Edition software.

If you?re just beginning to dive into the world of 3D, this is the book for you."
?Animation Magazine

The Academy Award® winning Maya® 3D animation and effects software is the first choice of film and video artists, game developers, and 3D design professionals. Discover how to build, render, and animate your own digital models and scenes, and begin to develop professional?level Maya skills with Introducing Maya 8: 3D for Beginners.

The latest edition of this popular bestseller is the ideal initiation to 3D and Maya. Starting with the basics, it builds from the ground up, combining straightforward text with practical examples that make it fun and easy to learn Maya?s core features while introducing new Maya 8 elements such as improved polygon tools and enhanced rendering with mental ray. Clear?cut, engaging lessons let you experiment using the wealth of files provided on the CD. You?ll also find an abundance of instructional and inspirational Maya creations in the full?color insert.

The enclosed CD features images, movies, and scene files that let you view material from the book right on your own computer. Tackle all?new rendering and dynamics tutorials and much more. The CD includes Maya Personal Learning Edition software.

Enter a New Dimension

• Get a solid grasp of core 3D and Computer Graphics concepts
• Learn to navigate the Maya 8 interface
• Experiment with modeling by creating a hand, an axe, and a locomotive
• Explore the basics of NURBS, polygons, and subdivision surfaces
• Discover the nuances of shading and texturing
• Rig a locomotive model for automated animation
• Create more natural lighting with mental ray soft shadow maps
• Use Maya?s Render Layers and an Ambient Occlusion pass for greater reality

Learn how to create an IK walk cycle.

Dariush Derakhshani is a Digital Effects Supervisor, writer, and educator in Los Angeles, California. Previously using Autdoesk?s AutoCAD software in his architecture days, Dariush migrated to using 3D programs when his firm?s principal architects needed to show their clients design work on the computer. Starting with Alias PowerAnimator version 6 when he enrolled in USC Film School?s Animation program, Dariush has been using Alias animation software for the past 11 years. From USC Film School, he received an M.F.A. in Film, Video, and Computer Animation in 1997. Dariush also holds a B.A. in Architecture and Theatre from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and worked at a New Jersey architecture firm before moving to L.A. for film school. He has worked on feature films, music videos, and countless commercials as a 3D animator, CG supervisor, and sometimes compositor. Dariush also serves as Editor in Chief of HDRI3d, a professional CG magazine from DMG Publishing.

If you’re just beginning to dive into the world of 3D, this is the book for you."
Animation Magazine

The Academy Award® winning Maya® 3D animation and effects software is the first choice of film and video artists, game developers, and 3D design professionals. Discover how to build, render, and animate your own digital models and scenes, and begin to develop professional-level Maya skills with the latest edition of this popular bestseller.

Starting with the basics, the book builds from the ground up, combining straightforward text with practical examples that make it fun and easy to learn Maya’s core features while introducing new Maya 8 elements such as improved polygon tools and enhanced rendering with mental ray. Clear-cut, engaging lessons let you experiment using the wealth of files provided on the CD-ROM. You’ll also find an abundance of instructional and inspirational Maya creations in the full-color insert.

The accompanying CD-ROMs images, movies, and scene files let you view material from the book right on your own computer. Tackle all-new rendering and dynamics tutorials and much more. The CD includes Maya Personal Learning Edition software.

If you’re just beginning to dive into the world of 3D, this is the book for you."
Animation Magazine

The Academy Award® winning Maya® 3D animation and effects software is the first choice of film and video artists, game developers, and 3D design professionals. Discover how to build, render, and animate your own digital models and scenes, and begin to develop professional-level Maya skills with the latest edition of this popular bestseller.

Starting with the basics, the book builds from the ground up, combining straightforward text with practical examples that make it fun and easy to learn Maya’s core features while introducing new Maya 8 elements such as improved polygon tools and enhanced rendering with mental ray. Clear-cut, engaging lessons let you experiment using the wealth of files provided on the CD-ROM. You’ll also find an abundance of instructional and inspirational Maya creations in the full-color insert.

The accompanying CD-ROMs images, movies, and scene files let you view material from the book right on your own computer. Tackle all-new rendering and dynamics tutorials and much more. The CD includes Maya Personal Learning Edition software.

If you’re just beginning to dive into the world of 3D, this is the book for you."
—Animation Magazine

The Academy Award® winning Maya® 3D animation and effects software is the first choice of film and video artists, game developers, and 3D design professionals. Discover how to build, render, and animate your own digital models and scenes, and begin to develop professional-level Maya skills with the latest edition of this popular bestseller.

Starting with the basics, the book builds from the ground up, combining straightforward text with practical examples that make it fun and easy to learn Maya’s core features while introducing new Maya 8 elements such as improved polygon tools and enhanced rendering with mental ray. Clear-cut, engaging lessons let you experiment using the wealth of files provided on the CD-ROM. You’ll also find an abundance of instructional and inspirational Maya creations in the full-color insert.

The accompanying CD-ROMs images, movies, and scene files let you view material from the book right on your own computer. Tackle all-new rendering and dynamics tutorials and much more. The CD includes Maya Personal Learning Edition software.

If you’re just beginning to dive into the world of 3D, this is the book for you."
—Animation Magazine

The Academy Award® winning Maya® 3D animation and effects software is the first choice of film and video artists, game developers, and 3D design professionals. Discover how to build, render, and animate your own digital models and scenes, and begin to develop professional-level Maya skills with the latest edition of this popular bestseller.

Starting with the basics, the book builds from the ground up, combining straightforward text with practical examples that make it fun and easy to learn Maya’s core features while introducing new Maya 8 elements such as improved polygon tools and enhanced rendering with mental ray. Clear-cut, engaging lessons let you experiment using the wealth of files provided on the CD-ROM. You’ll also find an abundance of instructional and inspirational Maya creations in the full-color insert.

The accompanying CD-ROMs images, movies, and scene files let you view material from the book right on your own computer. Tackle all-new rendering and dynamics tutorials and much more. The CD includes Maya Personal Learning Edition software.

If you’re just beginning to dive into the world of 3D, this is the book for you."
—Animation Magazine

The Academy Award® winning Maya® 3D animation and effects software is the first choice of film and video artists, game developers, and 3D design professionals. Discover how to build, render, and animate your own digital models and scenes, and begin to develop professional-level Maya skills with Introducing Maya 8: 3D for Beginners.

The latest edition of this popular bestseller is the ideal initiation to 3D and Maya. Starting with the basics, it builds from the ground up, combining straightforward text with practical examples that make it fun and easy to learn Maya’s core features while introducing new Maya 8 elements such as improved polygon tools and enhanced rendering with mental ray. Clear-cut, engaging lessons let you experiment using the wealth of files provided on the CD. You’ll also find an abundance of instructional and inspirational Maya creations in the full-color insert.

The enclosed CD features images, movies, and scene files that let you view material from the book right on your own computer. Tackle all-new rendering and dynamics tutorials and much more. The CD includes Maya Personal Learning Edition software.

Enter a New Dimension

• Get a solid grasp of core 3D and Computer Graphics concepts
• Learn to navigate the Maya 8 interface
• Experiment with modeling by creating a hand, an axe, and a locomotive
• Explore the basics of NURBS, polygons, and subdivision surfaces
• Discover the nuances of shading and texturing
• Rig a locomotive model for automated animation
• Create more natural lighting with mental ray soft shadow maps
• Use Maya’s Render Layers and an Ambient Occlusion pass for greater reality

Learn how to create an IK walk cycle.

If you’re just beginning to dive into the world of 3D, this is the book for you."
—Animation Magazine

The Academy Award® winning Maya® 3D animation and effects software is the first choice of film and video artists, game developers, and 3D design professionals. Discover how to build, render, and animate your own digital models and scenes, and begin to develop professional-level Maya skills with Introducing Maya 8: 3D for Beginners.

The latest edition of this popular bestseller is the ideal initiation to 3D and Maya. Starting with the basics, it builds from the ground up, combining straightforward text with practical examples that make it fun and easy to learn Maya’s core features while introducing new Maya 8 elements such as improved polygon tools and enhanced rendering with mental ray. Clear-cut, engaging lessons let you experiment using the wealth of files provided on the CD. You’ll also find an abundance of instructional and inspirational Maya creations in the full-color insert.

The enclosed CD features images, movies, and scene files that let you view material from the book right on your own computer. Tackle all-new rendering and dynamics tutorials and much more. The CD includes Maya Personal Learning Edition software.

Enter a New Dimension

• Get a solid grasp of core 3D and Computer Graphics concepts
• Learn to navigate the Maya 8 interface
• Experiment with modeling by creating a hand, an axe, and a locomotive
• Explore the basics of NURBS, polygons, and subdivision surfaces
• Discover the nuances of shading and texturing
• Rig a locomotive model for automated animation
• Create more natural lighting with mental ray soft shadow maps
• Use Maya’s Render Layers and an Ambient Occlusion pass for greater reality

Learn how to create an IK walk cycle.

If you’re just beginning to dive into the world of 3D, this is the book for you."
—Animation Magazine

The Academy Award® winning Maya® 3D animation and effects software is the first choice of film and video artists, game developers, and 3D design professionals. Discover how to build, render, and animate your own digital models and scenes, and begin to develop

professional-level Maya skills with Introducing Maya 8: 3D for Beginners.

The latest edition of this popular bestseller is the ideal initiation to 3D and Maya. Starting with the basics, it builds from the ground up, combining straightforward text with practical examples that make it fun and easy to learn Maya’s core features while introducing new Maya 8 elements such as improved polygon tools and enhanced rendering with mental ray. Clear-cut, engaging lessons let you experiment using the wealth of files provided on the CD. You’ll also find an abundance of instructional and inspirational Maya creations in the full-color insert.

The enclosed CD features images, movies, and scene files that let you view material from the book right on your own computer. Tackle all-new rendering and dynamics tutorials and much more. The CD includes Maya Personal Learning Edition software.

Enter a New Dimension

• Get a solid grasp of core 3D and Computer Graphics concepts
• Learn to navigate the Maya 8 interface
• Experiment with modeling by creating a hand, an axe, and a locomotive
• Explore the basics of NURBS, polygons, and subdivision surfaces
• Discover the nuances of shading and texturing
• Rig a locomotive model for automated animation
• Create more natural lighting with mental ray soft shadow maps
• Use Maya’s Render Layers and an Ambient Occlusion pass for greater reality

Learn how to create an IK walk cycle.

If you’re just beginning to dive into the world of 3D, this is the book for you."
—Animation Magazine

The Academy Award® winning Maya® 3D animation and effects software is the first choice of film and video artists, game developers, and 3D design professionals. Discover how to build, render, and animate your own digital models and scenes, and begin to develop

professional-level Maya skills with Introducing Maya 8: 3D for Beginners.

The latest edition of this popular bestseller is the ideal initiation to 3D and Maya. Starting with the basics, it builds from the ground up, combining straightforward text with practical examples that make it fun and easy to learn Maya’s core features while introducing new Maya 8 elements such as improved polygon tools and enhanced rendering with mental ray. Clear-cut, engaging lessons let you experiment using the wealth of files provided on the CD. You’ll also find an abundance of instructional and inspirational Maya creations in the full-color insert.

The enclosed CD features images, movies, and scene files that let you view material from the book right on your own computer. Tackle all-new rendering and dynamics tutorials and much more. The CD includes Maya Personal Learning Edition software.

Enter a New Dimension

• Get a solid grasp of core 3D and Computer Graphics concepts
• Learn to navigate the Maya 8 interface
• Experiment with modeling by creating a hand, an axe, and a locomotive
• Explore the basics of NURBS, polygons, and subdivision surfaces
• Discover the nuances of shading and texturing
• Rig a locomotive model for automated animation
• Create more natural lighting with mental ray soft shadow maps
• Use Maya’s Render Layers and an Ambient Occlusion pass for greater reality

Learn how to create an IK walk cycle.

• This new version of the perennial bestseller covers the latest features of Maya and includes new tutorials and art, making it a necessity for beginners. Maya professional Dariush Derakhshani teaches the Maya interface and the basics of modeling, texturing, animating, and visual effects and provides readers with what they need in order to understand the intricacies of 3D and Maya
• Features new tutorials with clear explanations that offer realistic challenges for those new to 3D
• Leads readers through the nuances of this complex software without over-explaining or over-simplifying
• A color insert provides real-world examples from talented beginning Maya users to attract readers who aspire to learn the software
• Features a free version of the Maya Personal Learning Edition software on its companion CD-ROM

Introducing Maya 7: 3D for Beginners, Next Edition updates the best-selling Maya book on the market today. It features new tutorials, new art, and other enhancements for the latest version of Maya. This Maya Press title -- a cooperative publication between Sybex and Alias -- teaches the Maya interface and the basics of modeling, texturing, animating, and visual effects. The expository text is reinforced with excellent tutorials, and the CD includes tutorial files as well as the Maya Personal Learning Edition software. Maya professional and instructor Dariush Derakhshani leads readers through the nuances of the complex software without over-explaining or over-simplifying. The tutorials offer realistic, professional challenges for those new to 3D, and to those coming from another 3D application.

Did anyone edit this book?

There are several sections in this book that were clearly not revised for version 8.0 of Maya. This includes both visual examples and the writing. Turn to page 252: "You can select the specific attribute and zoom in on its curve to see it better, or now with Maya 7, you can normalize the. . ." Inexcusable.

Additionally, it would really help if some of the instructional examples were in color, particularly those showing wireframe models. It’s difficult to tell what’s going on when what would normally be highlighted on the wireframe is grey like the rest of the model.

Otherwise, the author writes pretty well. I appreciated the sense of humor, too.

Not the best Maya book, and here’s why..

This isn’t a great beginner’s book. If you want a better beginner’s book, get the Maya foundation book. It costs more, but it’s worth it.
Here’s why this book doesn’t work for a beginner. First it gives you way too many pages of overview at the beginning. Not that it’s bad stuff, but you don’t want (or need) to read for two or three hours when you are ready to start using the program. If you do get this book here is my honest recommendation of how to go about using this book. Start on Chapter 2 and read all about the basic tools. But then on page 53 when you get to the heading "Outliner/Hypergraph", skip directly to Chapter 4. Eventually you will want to come back and read the rest of Chapter 2, but reading about the node structure and all the editor systems for a beginner is dumb. It’s good stuff mind you, but not what you want or need yet, so don’t forget about it. Notice that I said skip to chapter 4. Personally I wouldn’t read chapter 3 at all. Why start animating when you don’t even know how to model yet? This book isn’t bad, it’s just poorly organized. If you follow the directions listed above, I think you’ll feel much more satisfied not only with this book, but with Maya in general.

Great Book!

I am new to using Maya, and this book is very informative. The only problem is that the Personal Learning Edition (PLE) included with this book is version 7.0. I wish they would have included version 8. For those of you folks who would still like to install the 7.0 version on your computer, the software key number is: 20617691

Great Info, easy to follow, just what the begginner needs!

Great follow through from beggining to end.Lots of examples and very easy to understand. Just what a NEWBY to 3d or MaYa needs!

The ULTIMATE guide to Maya

To be totally honest I hadn’t the slightest clue about how to use this program; not even a notion of how to navigate the grid, or what half the features were. Although, I was so eager to learn it seeing I’m an E-Media student and need all the graphical knowledge I can get! It just wasn’t happening. So I bought this book and waow. This book has taught me so much already and I’ve only been using it for a day! It’s well layed out, and tutorials are given in very simple English, step-by-step, enough that even total idiots can understand. No pre-computer knowledge required.

Overall, I’m going to give this book 5 Stars, because I am extremely pleased it and it will stay with me forever. I totally and wholeheartedly reccommend this to anyone interested in learning Maya, or even just touching up on the fundamentals. For the price tag, this product simply is a steal. Buy it now!

The Madness Of Maya

The first thing you should know before buying this book is that it might say Introducing Maya 8 on the cover but on the CD you get Maya 7.0 PLE.
When you try to install Maya 7.0 PLE it will ask you for a software key. You’re then told to go to the website and register before you will get the key yo unlock the software. When you do this you’ll find out that you’ll have to download the new Maya 8.5 PLE and the software code for this does not work for 7.0. A lot of people on the Maya website have been asking how they get 7.0 PLE to work. Well now I can reveal all. The Software key for Maya 7.0 is 20617691. It also tells you on the Maya website that the software will only run in Windows XP Professional. Wrong!!! I have Maya 8.5 PLE plus Maya 7.0 PLE working in Windows XP Home Edition. You don’t even need an expensive Graphics Card. I have it working on my 5 year old ATI All-in-Wonder Radeon 7500 graphics card. I hope that this information helps people who are planning on buying this book and people also people who are just looking to get started in 3D animation but are put off by thinking that they need all sorts of fancy software and graphics cards to get the thing going (Of course having a state of the art machine does help). Introducing Maya 8 is still an excellent book and is recommened for those people wanting to delve into the there first 3D animation package. Enjoy!!!!

Maya for the beginner

Excellent Book. I highly recommend it. I am extremely knowledgeable with Photoshop Illustrator and other graphic art software, but had no knowledge or understanding of Maya. The book is easy to follow and explains the layers and menus very well. I did find some hic-ups in the directions, but it was easy to figure out and continue the step-by-step direction. This is a bible for anyone who is interested in gaining knowledge with this program.

Very Meh.

I am trying to get off the ground with maya 7 PLE, and puchased 2 books: Intro maya 7: 3d for beginners, and Learning maya 7: Foundation.

This book is definately inferior to foundation as it is very vague around some areas. For instance in one section it shows you a picture of a train carrage roof and just simply says "match yours with the one shown" and does not actually give exact specifications. This is only one of the books weak points however, and is not a good starting point for absolute beginners like myself who have never learnt a 3d package before (I have just turned 14 2 days ago). When I recieved my two books I could see straight away that the "Foundation" book was around twice the sie, in full colour and was much much better for value.

If you truly want to learn how to use maya 7 and utilize it to its maximum potential try the maya "Foundation" book. Saying that, this book does have some instructions on how to use some features that arent in "Foundation". I do like to use a combination of both so squeeze the good stuff from introducing maya and work through the entire "Foundation" book as well.

Dont buy this book without a backup is pretty much my conclusion.

Book purchased and real name is my mother’s.

Not for beginners!

As a 3D artist using another program, I should have had few problems picking this up. But the instructions are written for version 8, which is not the version supplied on the accompanying CD. You’ll search for hours for the menus and commands that simply aren’t there because you’re using Maya PLE version 7! (Luckily I found an earlier book version that uses the correct menu commands.) Don’t buy THIS book until you can get your hands on Maya PLE version 8. It’s not inside.

Introducing Maya 8

I’ve been toying with Maya for several years but never abie to get my head around it. That is until I discovered Introducing Maya 8. Lucid, Logical and even Entertaining. Dariush Derakshani’s macabre sense of humor makes it a great read as well as a valualble learning experience. The tutorial projects are easy to follow and immediately present practical application which is lacking in most of the books I’ve tried to read on Maya. I was actually excited to move through the chapters with a growing confidence in my beginning mastery over Maya. I come from Painting and 2D compositing and was able to readily grasp the "nodal" approach which had eluded me with other dry Maya texts. Finally, a book which allows a 2D brain a transplant into 3D. If you want to quickly move into 3D with a fun and witty teacher..get Introducing Maya 8.

great book for learning 3D

This book is by far the most user-friendly beginner’s guide to Maya I’ve come across. It begins assuming no knowledge of 3D apps, and works it’s way into some pretty sophisticated stuff concerning texturing, anmimation, modeling, etc. I think the key to it is the writing, which is peppered with smart humor which is well-timed. It reads like taking a class with an engaging young teacher, totally knowledgable yet fun. Highly recommend.

A Good Start for learning Maya

Learning 3d is not easy but this book helps and gives you some guidance on where to start and encourages you to learn beyond the Maya fundementals he covers. I know some 3d and After Effects work, but I’m new to Maya. The exercises teach good techniques, and though I found myself trying some of the exercises a few times, I learned how things in Maya come together. It can be hard sometimes, but I find the book is a good guide for starting out, and I like how the book is laid out to show you a little bit of everything in Maya and especially why some things are done the way they are. Other books don’t get into why sometimes so you end up learning the motions but not much more. This book goes deeper and helps you understand things better. This is a good book to start with for sure.

Avoid this book

I have had many problems with this book. Firstly, it takes 60-70 pages to actually get to the first tutorial. The author tells you all kinds of things that you don’t need to know at that stage and just overloads you with information.

I have also had problems where the author says "just make it look like the one in the diagram" and the diagram is not clear at all. Sometimes it will be drawn in white ink on a light grey background (very difficult to see) and the author will refer to certain colours (obviously when he wrote it he could see the images in colour). I then have to guess at what the author means, only to find 5 or 6 pages later that he meant something else. I then have to go all the way back to fix it.

There is also an inconsistency in his writing. At times he will over-simplify things and at others, he will not give enough details. One such example was the second tutorial, where you assemble a train. Sometimes he would give the exact dimensions of certain parts and at other times he would not. You would not know that you got the length wrong until 4 or 5 pages later. It would seem that after giving us the basics, he expected us to be experts.

I gave up on the third tutorial, in which you build an axe. He vaguely said "move the CVs inwards" on the second curve but did not say on which axis to move them. I discovered a few pages later that I had moved them in on the wrong axis, so I had to go back and re-adjust them. It then gave me vague directions on detaching curves which did not work. I will now be buying a different book.

Stay away

If you’re learning to use Maya, this is NOT the book for you. from the get-go, the instructions are NOT clear on what they want you to do. The Solar System was a few pages and it took me 3 weeks to do it because I had so much trouble. They tell you to rotate things but they don’t say by how much or what direction. and they leave you in the cold. Stay away. Now I may be hasty because I’m learning maya myself, but this book is NOT helping.

very good, but incompatible

this is an excellent maya book, but there are some differences in programs. it was made specifically for the maya personal learning edition, as a maya unlimited user, i had quite a few troubles, as some options are different in the unlimited edition.

A must read for anyone wanting to be productive with Maya.

I haven’t really read a maya book for several years. Some of the past books from Alias|Wavefront (now Alias) like "Learning Maya: Character Rigging and Animation 2002" soured me a bit on Alias publishing.
This book, however, from the first glance begs to be opened and explored. It’s print and publishing quality is leap years ahead of its outdated siblings.
Partnering with Sybex has proved to be hugely advantageous for the entire Alias library. This book is durable and should live up to the rigors of tutorial-based reading.
The first half of this book is focused on interface and modeling.
The chapters on interface may be overkill for most renders, since many of the tools in Maya are described in the Help line. Still, it is an all-encompassing and meticulous reference and should prove useful as a companion down the road; and even the author suggests moving forward at your own speed.
The chapters on Modeling are quite comprehensive, and in most cases should convert thorough readers into intermediate modelers.
The rest of the book is divided into shading, animation, dynamics, lighting...and these sections are covered with enough depth and direction to help the reader navigate through many of the obstacles that can derail and befuddle the Maya user.