9780470056578 Instructor Materials

Sample Syllabi

12 week course

Week 1: Maya Interface

In class exercise: Explore the Maya interface and navigation

Reading Assignment Chapter 1

Working Assignment: Continue Exploring the Maya interface and navigation

Week 2: NURBS Modeling

In class exercise: Show how curves work and how to create/edit surfaces

Reading Assignment: Chapter 2

Working Assignment: Build the NURBS car

Midterm Assignments

Week 3: Polygonal Modeling

In class exercise: Show how polys work and how to create/edit them

Reading Assignment: Chapter 3

Working Assignment: Create a cartoon character

Week 4: Subdiv Proxy and Subdivision Modeling

In Class exercise: Model the mug using subdiv proxy

Working Assignment: Model the SubD boat

Week 5: Creating Textures

In class exercise: Demo the hypershade and various shader types; explain UV mapping

Reading assignment Chapter 4

Working Assignment: Texture the cartoon car

Week 6: Lighting

In class Exercise: Demonstrate the various different lighting techniques Maya offers

Reading Assignment Chapter 5

Working Assignment: Light the tutorial in your own way to evoke a particular mood

Midterm projects due

Final Project Assignments

Week 7: Rendering

In class Exercise: Demonstrate basic render settings and mental ray

Reading Assignment: 6

Working Assignment: Render a room using global illumination

Week 8: Paint Effects

In class Exercise: Build a tree using paint effects

Reading Assignment: Chapter 7

Working Assignment: Make your own scene using primarily paint effects

Week 9: Deformation and Rigging

In Class Exercise: Demo deformers, blend shapes and basics of joints

Reading Assignment: Chapter 8

Working Assignment: Rig a cartoon character

Week 10: Animation

In Class Exercise: Demo all the kinds of animation

Reading Exercise: Chapter 9

Working Assignment: Create a walk cycle on your rigged character

Week 11: Special Effects

In class exercise: Demonstrate particles, rigid bodies and soft bodies

Reading exercise: 10

Working Assignment: Create a rocket exhaust

Week 12: MEL and Final projects review

In class review cloth; final projects review

Final Projects due

Final Exam