Maya 4.5 Fundamentals

A combination of art and technology goes into 3D animation. At this point, you have learned the basics of computer graphics terminology and are ready to start working with Maya. You can explore these topics in more depth with other books if you want to.

• 2D and 3D computer graphics terms A common language to start with.

• Still image composition What appears where in your frame.

• Lighting and directing Thinking like a movie-maker!

• File formats for bitmap images The pros and cons of each format.

Don't feel like you need to be an expert in every subject of technology and art. Learn the basics and, just as important, learn what else there is to learn. If you know the range of possibilities in a discipline, you can explore more deeply in specific areas to solve problems as they come up.