Introduction to Basic Animation Model Building

1
Introduction to BasicAnimation Model Building
Using

• By
• Paul Roberts

2
The Maya Interface

• Autodesk has made the interface very easy to use
  for basic shapes.
• The main viewpoint is this a plane grid where
  you can make your shapes.
• To begin, select polygons tab and select a
  shape, such as a cube, cone, or sphere.

3
Modifying your Shape

• There are ways to select your object or just
  parts of it.
• Hold the right mouse button while your mouse is
  over the object. This will bring up the selection
  tool.
• Now parts of the object can be modified. You can
  change an entire object, or just its faces,
  edges, or vertices.

4
More Modifying

• Shapes can be changed in 3 basic ways
  Translating Rotating and Scaling
• Once a (Face/Edge/Vertex) is selected, any of the
  above tool can be used, for some of the shown
  effects.
• Just drag the arrow, box, or circular axis to
  change the shape.

5
Modifying Further

• Another one of the easiest ways to modify shapes
  is the EXTRUDE TOOL. Located in the Edit Mesh
  drop down menu. There is also a tab to extrude
  the selection.
• The extrude tool is used along with the modifying
  tools weve learned so far.
• Simply start as you would to move or change a
  (face/edge/vertex), but first click the extrude
  tool pull out, scale, or rotate what you have
  selected.

6
More more more Modifying

• Once a (face, Edge, or vertex) is extruded, it
  may be manipulated by any of the tools.
• The meaning of the tool is to pull more of a
  shape out from a point while allowing the object
  that is already there to retain its shape.
• The possibilities are endless!