MEL Scripting for Maya Animators

MEL Scripting for Maya Animators PDF Author: Mark R. Wilkins
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 9780080470719
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 552

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Book Description
Trying to learn Maya programming from the documentation can be daunting whether or not you are a programmer. The first edition of MEL Scripting for Maya Animators earned the reputation as the best introductory book on MEL, Maya’s scripting language. Now fully revised and updated, the second edition also includes new features, such as a discussion of global procedures, new chapters on fixing programming bottlenecks, advanced user interface techniques, and optimizing character rigs. New chapters on utility nodes and Maya's Web Panel feature provide new ideas on how to use MEL in applications. This new edition has kept the popular style of the first edition that offered very clear explanations of programming concepts to those without programming experience. A generous collection of code examples and Maya scene files is included on the companion Web site. This is a book for animators, artists, game developers, visual effects developers, and technical directors who want to learn the fundamentals of Maya, how to automate tasks, personalize user interfaces, build custom tools, and solve problems with MEL. Fully updated with several new chapters. Profusely illustrated and includes a companion Web site with numerous code examples and scene files. The authors bring their extensive experience in professional production studios to provide expert guidance.

MEL Scripting for Maya Animators

MEL Scripting for Maya Animators PDF Author: Mark R. Wilkins
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 9780080470719
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 552

Get Book

Book Description
Trying to learn Maya programming from the documentation can be daunting whether or not you are a programmer. The first edition of MEL Scripting for Maya Animators earned the reputation as the best introductory book on MEL, Maya’s scripting language. Now fully revised and updated, the second edition also includes new features, such as a discussion of global procedures, new chapters on fixing programming bottlenecks, advanced user interface techniques, and optimizing character rigs. New chapters on utility nodes and Maya's Web Panel feature provide new ideas on how to use MEL in applications. This new edition has kept the popular style of the first edition that offered very clear explanations of programming concepts to those without programming experience. A generous collection of code examples and Maya scene files is included on the companion Web site. This is a book for animators, artists, game developers, visual effects developers, and technical directors who want to learn the fundamentals of Maya, how to automate tasks, personalize user interfaces, build custom tools, and solve problems with MEL. Fully updated with several new chapters. Profusely illustrated and includes a companion Web site with numerous code examples and scene files. The authors bring their extensive experience in professional production studios to provide expert guidance.

MEL Scripting a Character Rig in Maya

MEL Scripting a Character Rig in Maya PDF Author: Chris Maraffi
Publisher: Peachpit Press
ISBN: 0132104180
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 369

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Book Description
Whether for big budget films and game productions or lower budget TV and Internet content, creating flexible and believable character rigs is an essential skill required to bring any 3D animation to life. As the leading software used for cutting-edge animation, Maya has an established rigging toolset for creating realistic character controls. Traditionally, however, the process of manually building custom rigs in the software interface has been time-consuming and expensive for those who want to produce high-quality 3D characters. Now for the first time and from the author of the best-seller, Maya Character Creation, comes an in-depth guide on how the pros are using MEL (Maya Embedded Language) scripting to streamline and automate the rigging process. With MEL Scripting a Character Rig in Maya, you’ll learn how you can build custom character rigs in a matter of seconds, as opposed to days or weeks. In this detailed guide, you’ll learn: • The techniques used to build a complex character rig in the software interface, followed by instructions for writing the equivalent MEL code for scripting the entire process. • Fundamental concepts of creating animation controls in Maya, from the basics of creating, editing, and binding skeletons, to more complex rigs with controls that employ spline IK and channel connections. • Important coding techniques such as using conditional statements, loops, variables, and procedures. • How to create a character animation GUI (Graphical User Interface) that makes animating the character easy and fast. • Important skills for building rigs using numerous hands-on exercises, all code examples and Maya files available on the companion Web site.

Complete Maya Programming

Complete Maya Programming PDF Author: David Gould
Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann
ISBN: 9781558608351
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 532

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Book Description
"David Gould is an expert at using, programming, and teaching Maya, and it shows. People who need to program Maya will find this book essential. Even Maya users who don't intend to do extensive programming should read this book for a better understanding of what's going on under the hood. Compact yet thorough, it covers both MEL and the C++ API, and is written to be informative for both novice and expert programmers. Highly recommended!" -Larry Gritz, Exluna/NVIDIA, co-author of Advanced RenderMan: Creating CGI for Motion Pictures "This book should be required reading for all Maya programmers, novice and expert alike. For the novice, it provides a thorough and wonderfully well thought-out hands-on tutorial and introduction to Maya. The book's greatest contribution, however, is that in it David shares his deep understanding of Maya's fundamental concepts and architecture, so that even the expert can learn to more effectively exploit Maya's rich and powerful programming interfaces." -Philip J. Schneider, Disney Feature Animation, co-author of Geometric Tools for Computer Graphics "Having provided a technical review of David Gould's Complete Maya Programming, I must say that this book is the definitive text for scripting and plug-in development for Maya. Never before has there been such a concise and clearly written guide to programming for Maya. Any user smart enough to pick up this book would be better off for it." -Chris Rock, a Technical Director at "a Large Animation Studio in Northern California" "If you ever wanted to open the Maya toolbox, this is your guide. With clear step-by-step instructions, you will soon be able to customize and improve the application, as well as create your own extensions, either through the MEL scripting language or the full C++ API." -Christophe Hery, Industrial Light & Magic Learning Maya, the world's leading 3D animation and effects package, is a challenge, especially for those who want to master Maya's versatile programming features in addition to its built-in tools. Finally, here is a practical, step-by-step guide that shows how to use Maya to its fullest potential, beginning with the basics. Readers of Complete Maya Programming will first gain a thorough understanding of Maya's inner workings, and then learn how to customize and extend Maya with scripts and plugins that take control and productivity to new levels. Users new to programming can apply Maya's easy scripting language MEL (Maya Embedded Language), while more advanced users can work with the C++ API (Application Progamming Interface). Both a fundamental tutorial for Maya beginners and a solid reference for experienced developers, Complete Maya Programming is every user's guide to Maya mastery. FEATURES: *Demonstrates how to use MEL to control Maya, customize its interface, automate procedures, and more *Details how to use the C++ API to modify Maya functionality and develop tools and features to meet any need *Explains when to use MEL, when to use the C++ API, and how to use them together *Provides a multitude of real-world examples illustrating applications of Maya programming *Ideal for technical directors, developers, or anyone wishing to master Maya *Provides a storehouse of MEL scripts and C++ source code, glossary, and list of resources, available at www.davidgould.com

Maya 5 Savvy

Maya 5 Savvy PDF Author: John Kundert-Gibbs
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0782151191
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 973

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Book Description
Savvy—n. Practical know-how. Maya, the premier high-end 3D application, is so powerful that no one masters it without help. Maya 5 Savvy—a thorough update to Maya 4.5 Savvy—is written for the Maya user looking to boost their skills to the next level. Running throughout this book is a completely new, cohesive, expertly organized animation project that teaches specific Maya skills and, at the same time, gives you valuable hands-on exposure to the entire animation production process. Staged support files mean that you can begin and end work on this project anywhere you like—which in turn means you can read this book cover to cover or use it as a reference, dipping in wherever you need information on or practice with specific modeling, animation, and rendering techniques. Everywhere you turn,you'll find expert advice on the latest Maya features, time-saving shortcuts, and advanced capabilities. Coverage includes: Core Maya: interface briefing, plus planning, writing, and storyboarding your animation. Modeling: NURBS, polygons and subdivision surfaces, character modeling. Animation: paths and bones, deformers, binding, Trax, rigid body dynamics, MEL scripting, particle animation, expression-driven animation. Output: rendering architecture, rendering, shading and texturing, lighting, special light effects. Advanced Tools and Techniques: Paint Effects, ramps and volumes, soft body dynamics, Fluid Effects, Fur, Cloth. Note:CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Rig it Right! Maya Animation Rigging Concepts, 2nd edition

Rig it Right! Maya Animation Rigging Concepts, 2nd edition PDF Author: Tina O'Hailey
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 0429866755
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
Rig it Right! breaks down rigging so that you can achieve a fundamental understanding of the concept. The author will get you up and rigging with step-by-step tutorials covering multiple animation control types, connection methods, interactive skinning, BlendShapes, edgeloops, and joint placement, to name a few. The concept of a bi-ped is explored as a human compared to a bird character allowing you to see that a bi-ped is a bi-ped and how to problem solve for the limbs at hand. Rig it Right! will take you to a more advanced level where you will learn how to create stretchy rigs with invisible control systems and use that to create your own types of rigs. Key Features Hone your skills every step of the way with short tutorials and editable rigs that accompany each chapter. (17+ rigs!!). Read "Tina’s 10 Rules of Rigging" and build the foundational knowledge needed to successfully rig your characters. Visit the companion website and expand your newfound knowledge with editable rigs, exercises, and videos that elaborate on techniques covered in the book. Companion data filled with example files at http://routledgetextbooks.com/textbooks/_author/ohailey/ AR(Augmented Reality) enabled images throughout the book! Coffee is not required – but encouraged.

Rig it Right! Maya Animation Rigging Concepts

Rig it Right! Maya Animation Rigging Concepts PDF Author: Tina O'Hailey
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1136146857
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 304

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Book Description
Rigging a character can be a complicated undertaking. Move from a bi-pedal character to a quad- or poly-pedal and, well, things just got real. Where do you begin? Unlike all of those button-pushing manuals out there, Rig it Right! breaks down rigging so that you can achieve a fundamental understanding of the concept, allowing you to rig more intuitively in your own work. Veteran animation professor Tina O’Hailey will get you up and rigging in a matter of hours with step-by-step tutorials covering multiple animation control types, connection methods, interactive skinning, BlendShapes, edgeloops, and joint placement, to name a few. The concept of a bi-ped is explored as a human compared to a bird character allowing you to see that a bi-ped is a bi-ped and how to problem solve for the limbs at hand. After you have moved beyond basic bi-pedal characters, Rig it Right! will take you to a more advanced level where you will learn how to create stretchy rigs with invisible control systems and use that to create your own types of rigs. Hone your skills every step of the way with short tutorials and editable rigs that accompany each chapter. (17+ rigs!!) Read "Tina’s 10 Rules of Rigging" and build the foundational knowledge needed to successfully rig your characters. Visit the companion website (www.focalpress.com/cw/ohailey) and expand your newfound knowledge with editable rigs, exercises, and videos that elaborate on techniques covered in the book Coffee is not required – but encouraged.

Computer Animation Complete

Computer Animation Complete PDF Author: Rick Parent
Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann
ISBN: 9780123785640
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 544

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Book Description
A compilation of key chapters from the top MK computer animation books available today - in the areas of motion capture, facial features, solid spaces, fluids, gases, biology, point-based graphics, and Maya. The chapters provide CG Animators with an excellent sampling of essential techniques that every 3D artist needs to create stunning and versatile images. Animators will be able to master myriad modeling, rendering, and texturing procedures with advice from MK's best and brightest authors. Divided into five parts (Introduction to Computer Animation and Technical Background, Motion Capture Techniques, Animating Substances, Alternate Methods, and Animating with MEL for MAYA), each one focusing on specific substances, tools, topics, and languages, this is a MUST-HAVE book for artists interested in proficiency with the top technology available today! Whether you're a programmer developing new animation functionality or an animator trying to get the most out of your current animation software, Computer Animation Complete: will help you work more efficiently and achieve better results. For programmers, this book provides a solid theoretical orientation and extensive practical instruction information you can put to work in any development or customization project. For animators, it provides crystal-clear guidance on determining which of your concepts can be realized using commercially available products, which demand custom programming, and what development strategies are likely to bring you the greatest success. Expert instruction from a variety of pace-setting computer graphics researchers. Provides in-depth coverage of established and emerging animation algorithms. For readers who lack a strong scientific background, introduces the necessary concepts from mathematics, biology, and physics. A variety of individual languages and substances are addressed, but addressed separately - enhancing your grasp of the field as a whole while providing you with the ability to identify and implement solutions by category.

Maya 8 at a Glance

Maya 8 at a Glance PDF Author: George Maestri
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 9780470106563
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 243

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Book Description
The Visual Key to Maya One look and you'll see that this Maya book is different from all the others. It presents the core Maya features visually, using pages packed with striking graphics and loaded with concise explanations of the Maya interface. This expanded edition includes more tutorials; updated material on modeling, animation, rendering and dynamics; and new coverage of Toon Shaders, along with other exciting Maya tools. Engaging step-by-step lessons provide hands-on reinforcement as you learn. Start your adventures in Maya with this full-colour, visual guide—the perfect introduction to Maya 8. Use Paint Effects to create images from scratch or add painterly qualities to existing images. Learn how Maya's MEL scripts can help with tasks, such as connecting a curve's CVs to joints to pre-visualize a skeleton. The enclosed CD includes the Maya Personal Learning Edition and all the files you need to complete the tutorials.

Complete Maya Programming

Complete Maya Programming PDF Author: David Gould
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : C++ (Computer program language)
Languages : en
Pages : 528

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Book Description
Learning Maya, the world's leading 3D animation and effects package, is a challenge, especially for those who want to master Maya's versatile programming features in addition to its built-in tools. Finally, here is a practical, step-by-step guide that shows how to use Maya to its fullest potential, beginning with the basics. Readers of Complete Maya Programming will first gain a thorough understanding of Maya's inner workings, and then learn how to customize and extend Maya with scripts and plugins that take control and productivity to new levels. Users new to programming can apply Maya's easy scripting language MEL (Maya Embedded Language), while more advanced users can work with the C++ API (Application Progamming Interface). Both a fundamental tutorial for Maya beginners and a solid reference for experienced developers, Complete Maya Programming is every user's guide to Maya mastery. * Provides a multitude of real-world examples illustrating applications of Maya programming. * Demonstrates how to use MEL to control Maya, customize its interface, automate procedures, and more * Details how to use the C++ API to modify Maya functionality and develop tools and features to meet any need * Explains when to use MEL, when to use the C++ API, and how to use them together * Ideal for technical directors, developers, or anyone wishing to to master Maya * Provides a storehouse of MEL scripts and C++ source code, glossary, and list of resources, available at www.davidgould.com.

Computer Animation

Computer Animation PDF Author: Rick Parent
Publisher: Newnes
ISBN: 0124158420
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 542

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Book Description
Updated to include the most current techniques of computer animation, along with the theory and high-level computation that makes this book the best technically oriented animation resource.