3D Graphics, Graphics & Multimedia, Web Design, Reference & Test Preparation 

Learning Maya 4 takes you through over twenty project-focused lessons that offer hands-on experience with Maya’s key tools and techniques. The tutorials and workflows in the book have been optimized for version 4.0 and provide step-by-step instructions for utilizing the powerful tools that are available in Maya. This full color book gives you hands-on experience and includes five project-based lessons that demonstrate how to model, animate, texture map, add visual effects, and render. This book introduces you to the following topics: * The Maya user interface * Working in 3D space * NURBS (Spline) Modeling * Polygonal Modeling * Keyframes and Motion Paths * Trax Non-linear animation * Forward and Inverse Kinematics * Surface Deformations * Camera and lights * Shaders and Textures * Rendering Techniques * Particles and Dynamics * MEL (Maya Embedded Language) Learning Maya 4 includes a helpful CD-ROM of support files, tutorial movies and how-to lessons. The CD-ROM includes lesson files compatible with Maya Complete 4.0 and Maya Unlimited 4.0. This is the perfect companion book to The Art of Maya, also published by Alias|Wavefront. - from Amzon