This is particularly important if you work in a multi-disciplinary team that will also need access to your file. When you are creating your 3D model you're best to keep everything as organised as possible. Use the Tool Box to select and manipulate what's in your scene. They are: select tool (Q), Move tool (W), Rotate tool (E), and Scale tool (R), as well as access the last tool used (Y) in the scene. To speed up your workflow I would highly recommended using keyboard shortcuts for these though. The Transformation includes move, rotate and scale. The selection tools include a straight select, a lasso as well as a paint selection. The Tool Box is a part of the user interface which contains all the tools for selection and transformation. Use the Workspace Selector to customise the interface based on the tasks you're currently completing. This is particular useful for artists who are both generalists because they can flip between interface setups as they move through the stages of a project. All of the options are contained within a handy dropdown list. Maya will basically customise the interface based on which workspace you have selected. If you would prefer Maya to decide what denotes an efficient set up of tools then you can use their handy 'Workspace Selector'. Simply drag and drop any of the panels until you're happy with the way your interface is set up.ĭrag and drop the panels till you're happy with the setup.
The interface is made up of a series of panels which you can resize and rearrange to ensure an efficient workflow.
Some pieces of software limit the customisation options but not Maya. The next thing to mention is that the interface is incredibly flexible.
This will help you avoid trawling through menus trying to find the tools you need. Use the shelf to group together common actions. This is really useful for ensuring an efficient workflow. You can also create bespoke shelves and insert your own buttons to it for your preferred common tasks. This is super helpful! However, it gets better. By default the Shelf holds buttons for common tasks which are laid out in tabs based on category. It is with regards to this that the Maya Shelf comes into its own. Step 3: ShelfĪs you get used to using Maya you'll realise that there are a load of common tasks that you have to perform over and over again. Menu sets enable you to customise what tools you see depending on what part of your workflow you're in. The first seven menus on the main menu are always available, and the remaining menus change depending on the menu set you choose. This will customise the available tools so that you only see what you need. If you're animating then you see the 'Animation' menu set appear. Think of these as context sensitive menus. Menu sets divide the type of menus available into categories: Modelling, Rigging, Animation, FX, and Rendering. Take some time to get familiar with what tools are contained within each menu item.
The menu setup will most likely be familiar to you. Open this by holding down the space bar in a view panel. You can also access the menus contained within the main menu by using the hotbox. As in most programs the main menu is at the top of the Maya window, and then there are also individual menus for the panels and option windows. If you've ever used a piece of software then you'll be used to menus! In Maya the menus contain both tools and actions for working in your scene. More of their models can be found on Turbosquid. I want to thank 'Fourth Way' for providing the 3D model of the robotic arm. But first things first let's dive into the interface and get comfortable with it. Throughout this series we're going to be getting to grips with some of the basic elements of the software, and hopefully it'll stand you in good stead for the future. It has been used in a huge variety of industries including on feature length films, so it really does pack a punch. This incredibly powerful piece of software gives you a whole host of modelling, animation and rendering tools right at your fingertips. Welcome to the first part of this beginner's guide to Maya 2017. In part one, get to grips with the interface. Just learning Maya 2017? Acquire a better knowledge of the basics with Paul Hatton.