Still Lacking in Knowledge

[Zac256]

The biggest source of knowledge I've had is experimentation, besides college anyway. The real times you learn in Maya are going to be the times you just sit down and work on whatever project. Look up things as you go, ask specific questions here, use the help docs, and pull from any friends you might have who are working in the industry. Be sure to get good critiques for your work as you go along. (Not from your mom, that doesn't count unless she works in the industry.) Just kidding.
Seriously though, if you are a modeller study anatomy. Study edgelooping techniques. If you are a lighting TD get some books on theatre lighting, and maybe a MR or PRMan book. It's usually not so much tricks like Photoshop, but more of what you understand in the real world and how you can mimic it.
As always, google is a good friend too.
I guess you could get some of those tricks at the Master Classes. I hear they can be pretty good depending on the one you attend. There you will be able to watch first hand how a pro works.

-Zac

[dudders]

definately check out digital tutors and gnomon, I've found that learning from video is much more productive than reading books as you see them work and sometimes its the little things they do that really help. There's a new robot woman sub-d video just out on digital tutors.

The best things is as Zac256 said and just work away and look things up as you go.

Set yourself projects and finish them through to the end so that you've got a result to go back to that you can compare with your latest work. Also you will have work to add to your portfolio! Sounds silly but I have tons of work that is incomplete and cant show anybody.

Books like learning maya should give you a basic knowledge but once you've read one they get samey and won't really offer anything new.

Although, the 'killer tips' books are great and offer some really handy information in subsections like rendering, modelling, animation etc, check those out too.

And most importantly ask about stuff here, almost everybody is helpful, as they were in the same boat once.

Good luck

[Fess]

Seriously though, if you are a modeller study anatomy. Study edgelooping techniques. If you are a lighting TD get some books on theatre lighting, and maybe a MR or PRMan book.

Hey, thanks. They mentioned some of the same advice in M4F book. Regarding the 'Master Classes', I'll look for upcoming events in my area.



definately check out digital tutors and gnomon, I've found that learning from video is much more productive than reading books as you see them work and sometimes its the little things they do that really help. There's a new robot woman sub-d video just out on digital tutors.

Think that is where I'm headed. This program's learning curve is almost vertical when learning alone. The 'watching' will help more than the reading at this point IMO.

I heard about the "Killer Tips" for Maya 6. When I upgrade I'll buy that book for sure.


:thumbsup:
Thanks guys
Fess

[BrockSamson]

One thing I would recommend is that its better to do a lot of small projects at first. When your first starting out you'll be learning stuff so fast that you don't want to get bogged down in a giant project. Model small things like toasters or guns or whatever. In school I all to often saw beginning students trying to make the next Star Wars. Be patient and take small bites.

[Fess]

One thing I would recommend is that its better to do a lot of small projects at first

Yes, I'm agreeable there. I've found (for example) the tutorials over at alias (http://www.alias.com/eng/community/tutorials/tutorial.jhtml?id=140&_requestid=172027) teach me alot with out being "bogged" down. (learned the MJpolytool from the tennis ball tut)
I wish they would make some more for bronze members.

I've learned that if you don't practice with a program after you've studied it, your skills fade.

Being a NAPP member for Photoshop user magazine, I find that getting the magazine each month helps me to keep sharp.

This bring me to MAYA. Is there a "Maya" magazine out there, or what magazines do you guys read to learn from the pros?


Thank you
Fess

[pleaseluggage]

I would definately agree with the above advice, except to put it a little more bluntly:

Do some work and create challenges yourself because knowing May forwards and back proves nothing if you don't have anything to show for it. Just work on a project you made up (or even better, sucker someone to pay you for a job) and you'll learn AND have something to show for it proving yourt skillz to employers along the way. You can say it all day long, but theyt won't hire you till they see it. As a matter of fact, they usually don't care how you did it.

[Fess]

What about magazines?:shrug:

I'd like to take a subscription out for a monthly mag that provides tips, what's new, tutorials etc.

Please suggest.....

Thanks
Fess

[mindful108]

I don't know if there is an exclusively Maya mag out there but there are at least two that are relevant, and maybe more.

First there is 3D World. It usually has at least one Maya tutorial along with one for Max, XSI, C4D & Lightwave, along with lots of industry news, interviews and product reviews. It also comes with a DVD (CD?) that has a variety of stuff that changes for each issue, like Models, Textures, Animations and Software demos.
http://www.3dworldmag.com/

Another is a mag called HDRI 3D, which is a combination of the old Highend mag and Keyframe, which was Lightwave only. It's not as slick as 3D World but there is some decent stuff in there. Although it is still Lightwave heavy, lots of the material is general and can be applied to any app.
http://www.hdri3d.com/

I prefer 3D World but if you can check out an issue of HDRI 3D first, you can decide if you like it (I used to use Lightwave and had a subscription to Keyframe which changed to HDRI...)

There is also Computer Arts magazine that has some 3D stuff sometimes but not as dedicated or as advanced. A big bookstore like Borders or Barnes & Noble will have 3D World and others to browse.

Good luck.

[Dialector]

You will want to know how Maya works under the hood. My favorite source on that is "Complete Maya Programming: An Extensive Guide to MEL and C++ API" Dont worry if you dont want to use mel script. The first chapter on how Maya works is worth the price alone. Although I not sure why anyone would want to use Maya without MEL. If you want a nice way to focus on learning Maya, learn MEL.

[mindful108]

You will want to know how Maya works under the hood. My favorite source on that is "Complete Maya Programming: An Extensive Guide to MEL and C++ API" Dont worry if you dont want to use mel script. The first chapter on how Maya works is worth the price alone. Although I not sure why anyone would want to use Maya without MEL. If you want a nice way to focus on learning Maya, learn MEL.

Sounds good to me, so I checked it out and found this...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0120884828/ref%3Dnosim/addallbooksearch/002-4370710-4695214

More goodness to come...

[Fess]

mindful108, Dialector

Thanks. I did not get any email update for this thread. Better late than never....

Regards
Fess

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