Welcome to DT-116, Introduction 3d Modeling, Texturing, and Animation using Maya.
Maya is a technical tool designed for creative people.
Many of the tools in Maya "feel" like real world construction/FX/filmmaking techniques.
Making mistakes is the only way to learn anything, so keep practicing and you will become better and faster!
Work in maya is saved in scene files, called maya binary (.mb) files.
It's up to you to manage your scene files and bring them with you to class!
By default, Maya will save scenes in documents/maya/projects/default/scenes.
Saving strategies:
Save often - at least every 15 mins.
Save a new version of your file (flower_v1.mb, flower_v2.mb, etc...) each time you make a major change.
Always store your work somewhere safe. Flash drive, drop box, etc all good options.
Getting around:
spacebar (tap) - toggle between fullscreen of current camera and modular view
spacebar (hold) - hotbox menu (allows you to access all of Maya's menus)
apple or alt key + left mouse button - orbit camera
apple or alt key + middle mouse button - move camera
apple or alt key + right mouse button OR mousewheel - zoom/track camera
Z key- undo
A key - zoom to frame the whole scene
F key - zoom to frame the currently selected object
Once you have an object, click in the empty workspace to de-select it. Click on it again to re-select it.
Q key - normal "select" cursor
W key - move tool
E key - rotate tool
R key - scale tool
You can still "select objects" when you have the move/rotate/scale manipulator active, but using the Q key can make selection easier because you won't accidentally click on one of the manipulator handles and adjust it unintentionally.
When you want to select multiple objects, you can either drag a box around them in the workspace, or add them to the selection one at a time:
Shift+select - add to selection
Ctrl+ select - remove from selection
Shading and Lighting
Create>lights
I recommend using the directional, point and spot lights for now. You can really get everything you need out of these three lights to make amazing lighting.
directional lights - these create a "wave" of light rays that all travel parallel. They fill the whole scene, but only from one direction. Orientation is important when using directional lights, position is not.
point lights - sort of like a lightbulb that radiates in 360 degrees. Position is important when using point lights, orientation is not.
spot lights - they have a starting point, and travel in a cone in the direction you aim them.
Postion and orientation are both important here.
