This tutorial requires familiarity with Maya Interface.

• Select ‘Dynamics‘ from the drop down menu in the module bar to display the menu
• In the top menu select ‘Particles‘, click ‘Particle Tool‘ and click & drag to draw out some particles on the grid, click Enter.
• Open the Hypershade. In the ‘Create‘ Tab open Volumetric and click on ‘Particle Cloud‘.
• Assign the new ‘Particle Cloud‘ to the particles.
• Select the newly created Particle Cloud, Lambert1 and in the perspective view Particles.
• In the Hypershade create a Lambert Material and MMB click and drag over to ‘ParticleCloud2SG‘ Node; In the drop down menu choose ‘Default‘. Disconnect ‘Lambert1‘ from its connected Node(s).
• Select the ‘ParticleShape1‘ Node you just created and open the Attribute Editor
• Scroll down to ‘Render Attributes‘. In ‘Particle Render Type‘ select ‘Cloud [s/w]‘.
• Click on ‘Current Render Type‘, then increase the newly generated Radius slider to a value of ’2′(approx.)
• In the Hypershade select ‘ParticleCloud2‘, in ‘Common Material Attributes‘ load into the Transparency channel ‘Cloud’(3D Textures)‘. Then select ‘place3dTexture1‘ Node, click ‘Fit to group box‘ button and change the colour to white.
• Back in ‘ParticleCloud2‘ Tab under ‘Transparency‘ reduce Density to 0.255.Hit Render to view.
• In the Render viewport marquee select a region of the cloud.
• In the ‘Cloud1‘ Attributes under ‘Cloud Attributes‘ reduce Edge Thresh to 0.4 and increase Amplitude to 1.5(approx.).
• Right click over marquee region in the Render View,under Render choose ‘Render Region‘

This method would be best used to render out a static cloud scene,then composited as a background,therefore the black background would be transparent if saved with an alpha channel i.e. as a Tiff file.

From here on by adjusting the parametres you’ve just edited and scaling the place3dTexture1 Node, then checking the changes in the Render View using Render Region you can change the characteristic of your cloud from thick/heavy to light and wispy. This quick tutorial requires you to act intuitively as possible with the proceedure and as there are multiple parameters for the connected nodes I’ve only touched on a very few; therefore it’s left to you to experiment further and if it all goes wrong just start again.

Animation – Inverse & Forward Kinematics

Inverse & Forward Kinematics

The tutorial relates common principles to 3D modeling. Although written prior to the AutoDesk version of Maya, the tools and techniques are still applicable, however some of the functions have been renamed and the drop down menus stripped down and simplified from the Alias version.

Mayas Blend Shape modifier, commonly termed Morpher or Morph Tool in other 3D applications, is a quick, easy and flexible way to create morphing effects. This tutorial introudces this technique on a simple shape.

Morphing (Blend Shape)

The tutorial relates common principles to 3D modeling. Although written prior to the AutoDesk version of Maya, the tools and techniques are still applicable, however some of the functions have been renamed and the drop down menus stripped down and simplified from the Alias version.

A tutorial introducing Motion Paths which are common to all 3D applications and used to control the directional movement of objects.

Animation – attaching to Motion Path

The tutorial relates common principles to 3D modeling. Although written prior to the AutoDesk version of Maya, the tools and techniques are still applicable, however some of the functions have been renamed and the drop down menus stripped down and simplified from the Alias version.

Animating the Bouncing Ball

The tutorial relates common principles to 3D modeling. Although written prior to the AutoDesk version of Maya, the tools and techniques are still applicable, however some of the functions have been renamed and the drop down menus stripped down and simplified from the Alias version.

Create an eye

The tutorial relates common principles to 3D modeling. Although written prior to the AutoDesk version of Maya, the tools and techniques are still applicable, however some of the functions have been renamed and the drop down menus stripped down and simplified from the Alias version.

This tutorial introduces another way of creating models which is much more intuitive : “Box Modelling” using Polygons.

“Box Modelling” using Polygons

The tutorial relates common principles to 3D modeling. Although written prior to the AutoDesk version of Maya, the tools and techniques are still applicable, however some of the functions have been renamed and the drop down menus stripped down and simplified from the Alias version.

modelling the queen

The tutorial relates common principles to 3D modeling. Although written prior to the AutoDesk version of Maya, the tools and techniques are still applicable, however some of the functions have been renamed and the drop down menus stripped down and simplified from the Alias version.

introduction to Maya’s UI (user interface) and step-by-step tutorial to model a simple chess piece.

modelling a pawn [1]
modelling a pawn [2]

The tutorial relates common principles to 3D modeling. Although written prior to the AutoDesk version of Maya, the tools and techniques are still applicable, however some of the functions have been renamed and the drop down menus stripped down and simplified from the Alias version.