REU Modeling Course Day 1 - Iowa State University

REU Modeling Course - Part 1

AutoDesk Maya

Program Introduction

Workshop Workflow

Compare/introduce CAD programs and purposes

Maya Interface review

Creating/Experimenting with Polygonal Models

Today’s mini goal

CAD Programs Mini GoalMaya Interface Polygonal Models

Today’s Mini Goal Inspiration


VRAC Computer Aided Design (CAD) “Flavors”

Digital Product Design (DPD)

Concept Design

Marketing

Engineering

Manufacturing

Free-Form ModelingDesign and Modeling

Rendering and Animation

OtherVisualization

Format

Exchange/Conversion

Post Processing

VRAC


Free-form Design & Modeling CAD

๏ Free-Form Modeling CAD

- Design and Modeling (only)

- Scene Rendering and Animation

- Examples:

- Cinema 4D

- 3DS Max

- Blender

- Rhinoceros 3D

DPD

Other

Free-

Form


“Other” Free-form modeling

DPDFree-

Form

Other

๏ Conceptual Design: ASDS, SpaceClaim, Fusion 360

๏ Visualization: OpenSceneGraph, Unity

๏ Sculpting: MudBox, zBrush, Form Z

๏ Mesh Edit/Repair: Materialise Magics, Rhino 3D

๏ Data Translation: SAP Visual Enterprise


Let’s Jump in to Maya


Autodesk Maya Interface: Component Map

Today’s Interface components focus:

A. Menu Bar

B. Status Line

C. Shelf

D. Channel Box

E. Toolbox

F. Workspace

G. Help Hints

ABC

D

E

F

G


Project File / Menu Bar

๏Saving projects: Make sure to create an empty folder to save your stuff in your desktop (we want to make sure to keep everything from that project together)

๏On the top: The items such as: File, edit, create, select, modify, display, window. NEVER CHANGE.

๏Everything else in that line will change according to the menu set (under file/edit, dropdown box)

๏ Menu sets include: Modeling, rigging, animation, FX, rendering, customize

๏ Use MODELING menu set for all of today’s workshop.

๏ Next to it we also have icons that allow us to: create new scene, undo, redo, file, save


Menu Sets


๏ In the Perspective Viewport we can tumble/rotate around the scene by pressing alt/cmd + left mouse button.

๏ Alt + left mouse click = orbit around scene

๏ Alt + middle mouse button = pan/dolly scene

๏ Alt + right mouse click/ Alt + scroll wheel = camera truck: move away or towards

๏ Press F = frames selected object in scene

๏ Press A = frames all objects in scene

Moving around in Maya


๏ Polygon Primitives include: Sphere, cube, cylinder, cone, plane,

torus(donut), prism, pyramid, pipe, helix, soccer ball, platonic solids.

๏ To create primitives go to Create > select desired primitive.

๏ Automatically dropped in the origin (X = 0, Y = 0, Z= 0)

๏ Can be also dragged and created

๏Check out Interactive Creation at the bottom of primitive creation

menu – step by step visual creation

Polygon Models: Primitive Types


๏ NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline Surface)

๏ Has a lot less details for the same amount of curvature due to it’s patch-based modeling system

๏ It’s Composed of curves rather than straight lines

๏ Less flexible when it comes to modeling

๏ POLYGONS

๏ Can create objects much quicker and easier

๏ Larger tool availability in Maya

๏ Used more frequent than NURBS

Difference between NURBS & Polygons


The Toolbar & Functions

๏Select (Q)

๏Move (W)

๏Rotate (E)

๏Scale (R)

๏Delete Key or Edit < Delete


๏ Select = Hotkey Q or Left click

๏ Left click outside the object to de-select

๏ Select multiple objects

๏ left click + shift

๏ left click and drag (marquee box)

๏ Lasso select

๏ De-select: click object again

๏ Last object is a different selection color

Selecting Objects


๏Move = Hotkey W

๏Manipulator/Handles will appear, these let you

translate on a single axis (X,Y,Z)

๏ The different boxes will move 2 axis it is

standing between.

๏We can move various objects at the same time

Moving Objects


Polygon Primitives: Progress


Scaling Objects

๏ Scale = Hotkey R

๏ Only works around the object’s pivot point

๏Manipulator/Handles will appear, these let you

translate on a single axis (X,Y,Z)

๏ The different boxes will scale 2 axis it is standing

between.

๏We can scale various objects at the same time

๏ Specific proportions can be specified in the

channel box, where the object’s properties are


Scaling Objects


Rotating Objects

๏ Rotate = Hotkey E

๏ Only works around the object’s pivot

point

๏Manipulator/Handles will appear, these let

you translate/scale on a single axis (X,Y,Z)

๏ The different boxes will scale 2 axis it is

standing between.

๏We can rotate various objects at the same

time


Rotating Objects


๏ To the right of the screen: The Channel Box/Layer Editor will

appear

๏ Let’s you know you have created a primitive (ex: pCube1)

๏ Provides all of the properties for that object

๏ Can change the object’s subdivision, radius, etc.

๏Hints:

๏ Select 2 or more property boxes + enter value = updates all

๏ Select property box + hover mouse until you see slider icon

arrows + hold & move mouse = changes value with a slider

Polygon Models: Channel Box Editor


๏ Duplicate = ctrl + D OR Edit > Duplicate

๏Manipulator/Handles will appear, these let

you translate on a single axis (X,Y,Z)

๏New duplicate is its own object (rename it)

๏We can duplicate various objects at the same

time by selecting multiple objects

๏ Edit > Duplicate transform: performs

duplication of last object with the transform that

followed

๏ Edit > Duplicate special: create an array with

properties to mass duplicate

Duplicating Objects


Duplicating Objects: Progress


Snapping Objects

๏ Positions objects precisely in relation to other objects/options

๏ Selected objects will:

๏ Snap to grid

๏ Snap to curves (NURBS function)

๏ Snap to points (vertices or points in another object)

๏ Snap to projected center

๏ Snap to view planes (will need to create arbitrary planes)


Snapping Objects



Resetting Transformation

๏ Resets or brings back an object to its original position without affecting other objects

๏Neutral state = (x = 0, y = 0, z = 0)

๏ It will NOT undo what you have done up until that point

๏ Reset transformations on the selected object back to zero (return to first or last “frozen” position).

๏ select object > Modify > Reset transformation


Freezing Transformation

๏ Controls which types of transformations (translate, rotate,

scale or join orient) are frozen

๏ Re-defines origin to zero in the new

transformation. Freeze transforms

sets all values back to zero without

physically moving the object back to

origin.

๏ select object > Modify > Freeze transformation


๏ Viewport can be changed by hitting

the spacebar.

๏ The views are orthographic (display

scene elements without perspective)

๏ Top, Right Side, Front

๏ If we put the mouse over one of the

views and press the spacebar again, it

will fullscreen that option.

Maya Viewports


๏ Provides one entry for every object in the scene (objects, cameras, lights, etc.)

๏ Found in: Windows > Outliner or Panels

> Outliner or on the side panel

๏ Allows you to select and arrange objects

around.

๏ Shift click for all and in-between

๏ Control click for single-multiple objects

Working with the Outliner


๏Hold spacebar down = Hotbox shortcut menu

๏ + click & hold ‘MAYA’ + drag mouse to view choice

๏ + click & hold ‘Recent Commands’

๏ Select object + right click & hold = Marking menu

๏ Changes depending on selected item

๏ Access to components of the object (ex: vertex, face, edge)

๏Window > Settings/Preferences > Preferences

= Customize the interface menus

Additional Interface Features


all of these tools can be used on: points(vertices),

faces, & edges


Select Polygonal Components

๏Mark menu to get into vertex, edge, or face components

๏ Select component + shift + double click component on same axis = Select in between two locations

๏ Select edge + double click same edge = Selects edge loop

๏ Select vertex/face + double click adjacent unity = Selects vertices/face loop

๏ Select multiple components + < or > = Grow or shrink selection size


Let’s get abstract!

๏ Mini Activity: 10 - 15 minutes

๏ Explore how tools affect vertices, faces & edges

๏ Start with 3 shapes and edit them until you can no longer recognize the original shape

๏ Turn into an abstract shape or a different object

๏ Test different scenarios

๏ What happens if a face is deleted?

๏ Can you add a face back in to complete the object?

๏ Showcase to everyone at the end of the activity


Today’s Mini Goal

Good: Create 3 objects: a small house, tool shed, or barn house with a

landscape or “floor” to rest on + a fence + a single object that could move

(ex: animal, tumble weed, wagon)

Use most of the tools you learned in class today.

Better: Add 4 or 5 more smaller elements = rocks, bench, bush, picnic table,

bench, chairs, table, chimney, stepping stones, etc.

Even Better: have 6 or more different elements in your scene that complement

each other in the scene (example: tool shed, stepping stones, toolbox, garden box,

fountain, etc).


Today’s Mini Goal Inspirations

References/More on…

- lynda.com Provides a video playlist under “MAYA 2019 Essential Training”

- Youtube

- autodesk.com

- https://www.youtube.com/user/MayaHowTos

- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYffAx5Cja9hoRVSXilO_vI16Z_ZEUnFF

- Google Search Terms, write “Maya” + :

- Menu Bar, Menu Sets

- NURBS vs Polygons

- Polygon Primitives

- Channel Box Editor

- Toolbar

- Viewports

- vertices, faces, edges

- resetting transformations

- freezing transformations

- Snapping objects

http://lynda.com

http://autodesk.com

https://www.youtube.com/user/MayaHowTos

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYffAx5Cja9hoRVSXilO_vI16Z_ZEUnFF

REU Modeling Course Day 1 - Iowa State University

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