Maya 2023 Essential Training

Course details

Discover how to create high-quality 3D models and animations in Maya 2023. This course covers the core Maya skills—modeling, texturing, rendering, and animation—in a real-world, project-based workflow that translates equally well to film, motion graphics, and game design. Learn basics such as customizing the interface, selecting and manipulating objects, and organizing scenes. Next, review polygonal modeling, creating and refining meshes, sculpting, and NURBS modeling. Discover how to create and apply materials to surfaces—adding color, texture, and reflectivity. Then integrate cameras, lighting, and depth-of-field effects using the Arnold for Maya renderer. Last but not least, instructor George Maestri shows how to add movement and life to your work with the Maya animation tools.

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Create high-quality 3D models and animations with Maya
02 - Maya 2023 system requirements
03 - Make the most of the exercise files
04 - Configuring Maya

1. The Maya Interface

05 - Overview of the Maya interface
06 - Working with files and Maya projects
07 - Navigation in Maya
08 - Configuring viewports
09 - Using the hotbox and marking menus
10 - Configuring workspaces

2. Selecting and Manipulating Objects

11 - Selecting objects
12 - Using the Move tool
13 - Rotating and scaling
14 - Manipulating pivots
15 - Duplicating objects
16 - Understanding the Channel Box
17 - Working with the Attribute editor

3. Organizing Maya Scenes

18 - Working with the Outliner
19 - Creating hierarchies
20 - Grouping objects
21 - Creating layers
22 - Hiding and showing objects

4. Creating Polygonal Models

23 - Creating polygonal objects
24 - Selecting polygonal components
25 - Using the Modeling Toolkit
26 - Component tags
27 - Using brush tools to sculpt meshes

5. Modeling Polygonal Meshes

28 - Setting up reference
29 - Modeling against reference
30 - Using the Extrude tools
31 - Working with edge loops
32 - Combine and Separate
33 - Object History

6. Additional Modeling Techniques

34 - Object deformers
35 - Mirroring and merging components
36 - Smoothing surfaces
37 - Working with subdivision surfaces
38 - Boolean tools

7. Working with Curves

39 - Creating curves
40 - Modifying curves
41 - Extruding along a path

8. Creating Materials

42 - Basics of Maya rendering
43 - Standard surface materials
44 - Opacity and refraction
45 - Creating and applying maps
46 - Using bitmaps as texture
47 - Working with the Hypershade window

9. Applying Materials and Textures

48 - Apply multiple materials to objects
49 - UV mapping polygonal objects
50 - Understanding the UV Editor
51 - Fine tuning UVs

10. Rendering in Arnold

52 - Render settings
53 - Add and control light
54 - Arnold light types
55 - Image-based lightning and skydomes
56 - Using objects and lights
57 - Adding cameras
58 - Adding depth of field in Arnold
59 - Creating motion blur in Arnold
60 - Render view and final output

11. Animating in Maya

61 - Understanding the animation interface
62 - Animating objects using Set Key
63 - Modifying keys on the timeline
64 - Modifying keys in the Graph Editor
65 - Creating animation cycles
66 - Animating objects along spline paths
67 - Ghosting animation

Conclusion

68 - Conclusion