Master the Art of 3D Creativity: Advanced Maya Design & Animation Course

Module 1: Introduction to 3D Design & Maya Basics (Weeks 1–4)

Topics Covered:

1. Introduction to 3D Design Concepts:

- Overview of 3D design industries: Film, gaming, architecture, and more.

- Basics of 3D geometry: Points, edges, faces, polygons, and meshes.

2. Getting Started with Maya:

- Installing Autodesk Maya and navigating its interface.

- Setting up projects and organizing assets.

3. Fundamental Tools and Operations:

- Transformation tools: Move, rotate, scale, and pivot adjustments.

- Object creation using primitives: Cubes, spheres, cones, and torus.

- Object hierarchy and grouping.

4. Short Projects: Create a simple 3D scene (e.g., a table with objects).

Outcome: Understand the Maya interface, tools, and create basic 3D objects.

Module 2: Advanced Modeling Techniques (Weeks 5–8)

Topics Covered:

1. Polygon Modeling:

- Creating complex shapes using extrusion, beveling, and bridging.

- Techniques for low-poly and high-poly modeling.

2. NURBS Modeling:

- Working with curves to create smooth, organic surfaces.

- Lofting, revolving, and using NURBS for precision modeling.

3. Hard Surface and Organic Modeling:

- Modeling mechanical objects and structures.

- Creating realistic organic models like trees or animals.

4. Topology Optimization:

- Techniques for clean topology to support rigging and animation.

Outcome: Create detailed objects, characters, and environments with optimized topology.

Module 3: Texturing, Materials & Shading (Weeks 9–12)

Topics Covered:

1. UV Mapping:

- Proper unwrapping techniques for different objects.

- Advanced UV mapping tools and layouts.

2. Texturing Techniques:

- Using Adobe Photoshop for texture creation.

- Integration of Substance Painter for detailed, procedural texturing.

3. Material Creation:

- Exploring Maya’s Hypershade editor.

- Applying bump, normal, and displacement maps.

4. Shaders and Rendering Textures:

- Building PBR materials for photorealistic rendering.

Outcome: Develop skills to create realistic textures and shaders for high-quality models.

Module 4: Rigging & Advanced Character Setup (Weeks 13–18)

Topics Covered:

1. Rigging Basics:

- Creating skeletons and joints for characters and objects.

- Binding skins to rigs with weight painting.

2. Advanced Rigging Techniques:

- IK/FK setups for dynamic and precise movement.

- Setting up rig controllers for animators.

3. Facial Rigging:

- Creating controllers for lip sync and facial expressions.

- Blend shapes for morph targets.

4. Muscle Simulations:

- Setting up deformations for realistic muscle movements.

Outcome: Create advanced rigs suitable for realistic animations.

Module 5: Animation Mastery (Weeks 19–24)

Topics Covered:

1. Key Animation Principles:

- Timing, spacing, squash and stretch, and anticipation.

- Principles of weight and follow-through in animation.

2. Animating Characters:

- Animating walk cycles, run cycles, and poses.

- Animating interaction with props and other objects.

3. Dynamic Animation:

- Simulating natural phenomena like wind and gravity.

- Adding secondary motion to enhance realism.

4. Graph Editor and Refinement:

- Editing animation curves for smooth transitions.

Outcome: Animate objects and characters with lifelike movements and interactions.

Module 6: Lighting & Advanced Rendering (Weeks 25–28)

Topics Covered:

1. Lighting Principles:

- Types of lights in Maya: Point, spot, directional, and area lights.

- Techniques for 3-point lighting setups.

2. Advanced Lighting:

- Simulating natural and artificial lighting scenarios.

- Using Arnold lights for photorealistic scenes.

3. Rendering Techniques:

- Setting up render layers and passes.

- Post-rendering compositing basics.

Outcome: Deliver fully lit and rendered 3D scenes that are photorealistic and visually stunning.

Module 7: Visual Effects (VFX) Basics (Weeks 29–34)

Topics Covered:

1. Introduction to Maya Dynamics:

- Particle systems: Emission, gravity, and collisions.

- Fluid dynamics for creating water, fire, and smoke.

2. Cloth Simulations:

- Working with nCloth for realistic fabric simulations.

3. Integration with Houdini:

- Basic workflows for advanced VFX production.

4. Compositing:

- Combining renders with live-action footage using Nuke or After Effects.

Outcome: Create impactful visual effects suitable for film or gaming projects.

Module 8: Python Scripting & Automation in Maya (Weeks 35–38)

Topics Covered:

1. Python Basics:

- Scripting fundamentals for Maya users.

- Writing Python commands to manipulate objects and tools.

2. Automation:

- Automating repetitive rigging or modeling tasks.

- Customizing workflows with scripts.

3. Custom Tool Development:

- Building user-friendly tools for team collaboration.

Outcome: Enhance efficiency with Python scripting and create custom tools.

Module 9: Crowd Simulation & Motion Capture (Weeks 39–42)

Topics Covered:

1. Crowd Simulation Basics:

- Using MASH to simulate crowd behavior.

- Assigning unique animations to crowd agents.

2. Motion Capture:

- Importing and editing mocap data in Maya.

- Enhancing animations with naturalistic movement.

Outcome: Create large-scale scenes with believable crowd animations.

Module 10: Advanced Dynamics and Simulation (Weeks 43–46)

Topics Covered:

1. Deep Dive into Dynamics:

- Advanced particle and fluid effects.

- Combining rigid and soft body simulations.

2. Physics-Based Simulations:

- Creating realistic interactions between objects.

- Simulating destruction effects (e.g., breaking walls).

Outcome: Master dynamics and simulations for high-quality visual storytelling.

Module 11: Final Capstone Project & Portfolio Development (Weeks 47–48)

Topics Covered:

1. Planning and Execution:

- Develop a project using all the skills learned in the course.

- Emphasis on storytelling and technical execution.

2. Portfolio Assembly:

- Organizing work into a professional-quality portfolio.

- Creating demo reels and presentation materials.

Outcome: Produce a standout portfolio and capstone project for career advancement.