Started learning Maya.

(I didn't know whether to put this in here, or in the Art section, but I decided that Maya is more technology based.)

I started learning Maya yesterday. My long term goal is to be a game animator or modeller, and in September I will begin studying Computer Animation in September. I wanted to get a bit of a head start from everyone!

I bought a foundation Maya book and it's really good.
Here is a room I made:






Any comments or critiques on that would be great!

Also, I was wondering if there is anyone advanced in Maya that could show me some of their work? Or even if your a beginner like me, I'd love to see it!

I also made a Hello Kitty!




My long term goal is to create characters from my pieces of artwork, for example:




I think she'd make a good character, a simplyfied version. I'm not experienced enough yet, though.

So anyway, I just wanted some tips on Maya, maybe if you have some vital tips or something that you always use when creating something in Maya, please share it with me!

Thank you~

I am terrible at 3D modelling, but you seem to be making a really good start. Your Hello Kitty one is particularly good. Have you checked out some tutorials on YouTube and the like? Watching someone better than you at work is almost guaranteed to give you a few tricks to use.

What you might want is to invest in a bigger monitor than 1024x768 - I'd recommend a 24" one or dual 22" ones. It helps massively when working with 3d models - especially once you need more views and so.

And it's especially helpful if you're using an image as a reference. Having something on the screen next to you that you can flick to quickly and easily by just moving your eyes helps make your work so much more accurate.

I think this might be better suited to Graphics Design, so I'll move it here.

Originally Posted by Jodd

I am terrible at 3D modelling, but you seem to be making a really good start. Your Hello Kitty one is particularly good. Have you checked out some tutorials on YouTube and the like? Watching someone better than you at work is almost guaranteed to give you a few tricks to use.

Thanks! Yeah, I'm planning to build a collection of some really good youtube videos as reference.

What you might want is to invest in a bigger monitor than 1024x768 - I'd recommend a 24" one or dual 22" ones. It helps massively when working with 3d models - especially once you need more views and so.

Ah yeah, I'm already finding it quite difficult. I need a new computer, I've had this one for years now. So I'm buying a brand new one with more memory and a really awesome graphics card and so on, in preperation for University. I'll take your advice and get a better monitor, but I'll also keep this one and link it up so then I have two. Much easier to work with two monitors on Maya I think

And it's especially helpful if you're using an image as a reference. Having something on the screen next to you that you can flick to quickly and easily by just moving your eyes helps make your work so much more accurate.

Yeah that's what I did with Hello Kitty this time. I did Hello Kitty on 3DSMax a year ago, with no reference, and the difference between the old one and this one is quite striking. So yeah, I'll definitely keep a collection of reference pictures.

I think this might be better suited to Graphics Design, so I'll move it here.

Okay fair enough, that's fine

Originally Posted by Misa Misa

Ah yeah, I'm already finding it quite difficult. I need a new computer, I've had this one for years now. So I'm buying a brand new one with more memory and a really awesome graphics card and so on, in preperation for University. I'll take your advice and get a better monitor, but I'll also keep this one and link it up so then I have two. Much easier to work with two monitors on Maya I think

For 3d modeling, the graphics card is almost not used at all. It's 95% processor and RAM and 5% graphics.

Originally Posted by fratey

For 3d modeling, the graphics card is almost not used at all. It's 95% processor and RAM and 5% graphics.

Ah, is that so?

Admittedly, my computer knowledge is limited. I have someone who knows a lot though, and they are building a computer for me.

It wouldn't hurt to have a graphics card for other things though. There are certain things I can't do on Maya at the moment because I don't have a graphics card at all, so it tells me I cannot render some things how I'd like to.

Thanks for the info!

Originally Posted by Misa Misa

Ah, is that so?

Admittedly, my computer knowledge is limited. I have someone who knows a lot though, and they are building a computer for me.

It wouldn't hurt to have a graphics card for other things though. There are certain things I can't do on Maya at the moment because I don't have a graphics card at all, so it tells me I cannot render some things how I'd like to.

Thanks for the info!

High budget rig:
Intel Core i7
fitting motherboard
3x2GB (or 6x2GB) RAM
some random graphics card, I'd recommend a Radeon HD4770 or so
Dual 22" monitors
all the other stuff you need

Medium budget rig:
AMD Phenom II X4 940 @ 3.0ghz
fitting motherboard
2x2GB RAM
some random graphics card, again I'd recommend Radeon HD4770
A 24" monitor
all the other stuff you need

That's the best deals right now. ;3

Originally Posted by fratey

High budget rig:
Intel Core i7
fitting motherboard
3x2GB (or 6x2GB) RAM
some random graphics card, I'd recommend a Radeon HD4770 or so
Dual 22" monitors
all the other stuff you need

Medium budget rig:
AMD Phenom II X4 940 @ 3.0ghz
fitting motherboard
2x2GB RAM
some random graphics card, again I'd recommend Radeon HD4770
A 24" monitor
all the other stuff you need

That's the best deals right now. ;3

Yay thank you so much for that! <3

I have around £450 to spend on the new computer. My Dad kindly said he'd buy it for me since it's for University.

450£... Then you might want an AMD Phenom II X4 920 instead as processor. A bit cheaper. Still good render times.
Plus, you might want an even cheaper graphics card - the cheapest thing that can handle high resolutions or dual monitors.

Originally Posted by fratey

450£... Then you might want an AMD Phenom II X4 920 instead as processor. A bit cheaper. Still good render times.
Plus, you might want an even cheaper graphics card - the cheapest thing that can handle high resolutions or dual monitors.

Okay then, cool. I can stretch a bit more and put in my own cash if I need to. I'll see anyway.

Thanks a lot

Been working with maya for 6 years or something like that. Could help you out with criticism and stuff if you want.

As for the things I've done, I got some of them on my DA account.

Originally Posted by maccollo

Been working with maya for 6 years or something like that. Could help you out with criticism and stuff if you want.

As for the things I've done, I got some of them on my DA account.

Ah yeah, that'd be great. I just saw the thread you made, so I'm going to take a look now.

You seem to be pretty good. The first pic looks like something from the Wind Waker.
Good luck!

Sorry that I don't have any advice that hasn't already been posted, though.

BTW graphic cards are important to. While it doesn't matter when it comes to the actuall rendering, it does make your life easier if you're working on heavy scenes.

I improved my original work of the room. Here are the new pictures:





Can't decide which render is better~

I been learning some stuff about 3-D since it is what I want to do as a career.
All I can get my hands on is just some demos of crappy 3-D engines.
All I've been able to do it cartoonish stuff like you'd see in some Mario game

But your work is way better that mine. Great work

lol, this is the best I can do: