Maya 2026 Essentials Training

Course details

Discover how to create high-quality 3D models and animations in Maya 2026. 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, smoothing, working with curves, and more. Discover how to create and apply materials to surfaces—adding color, texture, and reflectivity—as well as integrate cameras, lighting, and depth-of-field effects using the Arnold for Maya renderer. Last but not least, instructor George Maestri shows you how to add movement and life to your work with the built-in Maya animation tools.

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome
02 - Using the exercise files
03 - Configuring Maya

1. The Maya Interface

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

2. Selecting and Manipulating Objects

11 - Selecting objects
12 - Using the move tool
13 - Rotating and scaling
14 - Understanding the channel box
15 - Manipulating pivots
16 - Maintain accuracy with snapping

3. Organizing Maya Scenes

17 - Working with the outliner
18 - Duplicating objects
19 - Creating hierarchies
20 - Grouping objects
21 - Creating layers
22 - Hiding and showing objects
23 - Working with the attribute editor

4. Creating Polygonal Models

24 - Creating polygonal objects
25 - Selecting polygonal components
26 - Using the modeling toolkit
27 - Component tags
28 - Using brush tools to sculpt meshes

5. Modeling Polygonal Meshes

29 - Smoothing and subdivision surfaces
30 - Working with edge loops
31 - Using the extrude tools
32 - Smart extrude
33 - Bevel tools
34 - Object history

6. Additional Modeling Techniques

35 - Lattice deformers
36 - Nonlinear deformers
37 - Combine and separate
38 - Weld edges and vertices
39 - Bridging polygons
40 - Mirroring and merging components
41 - Boolean tools

7. Working with Curves and Surfaces

42 - Creating curves
43 - Creating NURBS surfaces
44 - Convert NURBS to polygons
45 - Extruding along a path

8. Creating Materials

46 - Arnold Render configuration
47 - PBR material types
48 - OpenPBR Surface materials
49 - Using bitmaps as texture
50 - Transmission and refraction
51 - Bumps and normal maps
52 - Use the hypershade window
53 - Use substance materials

9. Applying Materials and Textures

54 - Apply multiple materials to objects
55 - Projecting UV maps
56 - Understanding the UV editor
57 - Unwrap UVs in the UV editor

10. Rendering in Arnold

58 - Render settings
59 - Basic lighting
60 - Maya light types
61 - Image based lighting and skydomes
62 - Using objects as lights
63 - Adding cameras
64 - Adding depth of field in Arnold
65 - Creating motion blur in Arnold
66 - Render view and final output
67 - Rendering animation

11. Animating in Maya

68 - Understanding the animation interface
69 - Animating objects using set key
70 - Adjust keys on the timeline
71 - Modifying keys in the graph editor
72 - Using the dope sheet
73 - Animating objects along spline paths
74 - Creating animation cycles
75 - Time slider bookmarks

12. Working with External Data

76 - Working with standard formats
77 - Referencing system
78 - Setting Up USD stages
79 - Creating variations in USD

Conclusion

80 - Next steps