Datasheet

An Introduction
to Maya
W
hat is Maya? Where did it come from? Where is it
going? What is it used for? And who is using it?
These basic questions, and many more, are addressed in this
introductory chapter.
What Is Maya?
Maya is a 3D modeling animation and rendering software
package, used by artists to make 3D models and animations.
In fact, many of the world’s leading films, TV programs, and
commercials feature Maya-created 3D animations. For
instance, hardly an hour passes without a Maya-created
element appearing on a major television network.
As a computer graphic artist, I prefer to classify Maya as a
program that creates moving artwork, such as that shown in
Figure 1-1. In essence, Maya is a moving canvas on which to
paint. And eventually, the Maya canvas is rendered with light-
ing, cameras, and dynamic effects. Now, even voxel space is
painted using textures in XYZ space, such as a thick moving
canvas.
3D software is perceived as simulating the real world.
Perhaps, it’s because of its depth. Or maybe, it’s because it
creates such believable 3D animation, using the real-world ele-
ments of gravity, collision, and light. But from an artist’s per-
spective, working with 3D is as if you’re painting on a
wireframe and voxel canvas, which is then moved over time.
In Maya, 3D is quickly becoming more than simulating the
“real”; it is real. And Maya offers a wide assortment of artist-
friendly tools to create this 3D animation.
1
1
CHAPTER
✦✦✦✦
In This Chapter
Defining Maya
Painting a moving
picture in a 3D world
Artwork and
the computer
Maya’s role in an
animation production
pipeline
✦✦✦✦
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