Category Archives: Maya 3D

Maya 3D, Video

Connecting joints in Maya

This video tutorial explains how to connect joints in Maya when working with skeletons, and also how to add bones between joints. The video also gives an introduction to the parent-child relationship in Maya. If you haven’t already watched the video on creating skeletons, then click here to watch it first.

After connecting one joint to another joint in Maya, you will notice the parent-child relationship (hierarchy) update when viewing the list of different joints in the Outliner (click on Windows > Outliner).

Joint parent-child relationship in Outliner view.
Joint parent-child relationship in Outliner view.
Maya 3D, Video

How to create a basic skeleton for an object in Maya

This video explains how to create a basic skeleton for an object in Maya. When you create a skeleton, it is made up of bones and joints as shown below. The skeleton can be placed inside an object and you can then bind to skin (bind the skeleton to the object).

A basic skeleton setup.
A basic skeleton setup.

Watch the video below to find out how to set up a basic skeleton and attach it to an object (bind to skin).

Maya 3D, Video

Animate a skeleton on a motion path in Maya

This video explains how to animate an object’s skeleton to a motion path in Maya. When you animate a object with its skeleton attached to a motion path, the object can bend along the curve. This is useful if you are trying to animate the movement of something like a fish or a snake.

An object with its skeleton attached to a motion path.
An object with its skeleton attached to a motion path.

Watch the video to find out how to animate a skeleton to a motion path.

Note: It is important to follow the step where you rotate the object so that it is facing straight towards you when viewing from the right-side view. If you don’t do this then the motion path animation will be a bit buggy. It is also important to remember to click on Modify and Centre Pivot before attaching the object to the motion path.

Maya 3D, Video

Creating and animating 3D text in Maya

This video explains how to add text to a scene and then animate it in Maya. You can manipulate text in the same way you manipulate many other 3D objects in Maya – you can move (translate), rotate, scale, set keyframes or even animate along a path.

Watch the video below to find out how to create and animate 3D text in Maya.

Maya 3D, Video

Extruding along a curve

This video explains how to extrude a circle along a curve and then animate an extrusion. When we ‘extrude’ a 2D shape such as a circle, it means that we will push that shape out. By using a curved line, we can push the shape out so that it follows the line.

An extruded circle along a curve
An extruded circle along a curve

Watch the video below to see how to do this in Maya.

Tip: When selecting the circle and CV curve, select the circle first and then hold down Shift key to select the CV curve. Make sure you select the curve last.

Maya 3D, Video

How to use an image file as a texture in Maya

This video explains how to use an image file (eg. a JPEG) as a texture for an object in Maya. You can use an image to texture an entire shape or plane, or just selected faces of a shape. Watch the video to find out how. You can also download printed instructions from here.

Note: To apply a texture to just selected faces of a shape rather than the entire shape, right-click the shape and click on Face to enter Face Mode. You should then be able to select individual faces and right-click to assign a material to selected faces. This allows you to use different textures for different sides of a shape.

Maya 3D, Video

Basic lighting and emitting light from objects in Maya

This tutorial explains how to use lights in Maya and also how to emit light from an object such as the Sun or a light bulb (so that it glows). Please note that this video is a basic overview to get you started with some of the many lights and lighting effects you can use in Maya. You can also download printed instructions here.

Adding light decay

You can download the instructions from here if you would like light in your project to lose its intensity or reach over a distance.

Maya 3D, Video

Boolean modeling in Maya

In this tutorial, you will learn how to use boolean modeling in Maya to take an object and subtract, add or intersect the geometry of the object with another object.

There are three different boolean operations in Maya:

  • Union – this will merge both selected objects together and will remove any geometry between the two objects. The two objects will essentially become one object.
    merge
  • Difference – this will ‘subtract’ or take away the last selected object from the first selected object. What this means is that one object will be used to “take a bite out” of another object.
    difference
  • Intersection – this will keep the geometry between the two objects and remove the rest.
    intersection

To access the boolean modeling tools, make sure the Modeling menu set is being used first.

The Modeling menu set
The Modeling menu set

Now select both objects and click on Mesh > Booleans. You will be able to choose from the Union, Difference, and Intersection boolean operations.

The boolean operations menu.
The booleans menu.

Watch the video below to see how to use these boolean modeling tools.

Maya 3D, Video

Keyframe animation in Maya

This tutorial video explains how to animate a shape in Maya using keyframe animation on the timeline.

Tip: To change the frame rate (frames per second) of your animation go to Maya > Preferences > Settings. Under ‘Working units‘, you can change the frame rate in the drop-down box next to Time. The default frame rate is Film (24fps).