#maya tutorial

✨This is a BIG ONE✨

My start-to-finish game asset workflow tutorial is now public 🎊

How to model a 3D rock in maya 2020

Monday

Skills learnt;

Move (W)

Rotate (E)

Scale (R)

Selection modes (Right click + drag) > Edge > Vertex > Face > Object 

Multiple selection (Shift)

Extrude (Ctrl + E)

Insert Edge Loop 

Change perspective (Space)

The first lesson served as an introduction to the 3D modelling software, Maya. This is software I have had experience with, although very limited. We began by exploring the basic three tools; move, scale and rotate, using them to manipulate primitives into a model of a toy train.

We learnt the shortcuts for the move, rotate and scale commands (W, E and R) respectively. 

When we had a good grip on move, scale and rotate, we were introduced to the “Extrude” (ctrl+e)  and “Insert Edge Loop” tools. While we did not go into a lot of depth regarding the extrude tool, we used the insert edge loop tool to create windows in the carriages of our trains.

To create bumps in wheels and the half-cylinder of the engine, we also explored the use of perspectives, accessed with the space key, in order to select half of a shape easily. 

This lesson I feel went very well in terms of learning and understanding what I was being taught. I am pleased with the final product of the session, and I plan to practice the skills I have been taught in order to use them to their best potential. There’s always more to learn!

Tuesday

Skills learnt;

Insert Image Plane

Export to Unreal

In this session, we used a sketch made earlier in the day to create a collectible item of our own design. This was made possible thanks to being able to insert an image plane into our workspace. You do this by pressing space, and navigating to “Image Plane” in the “View” dropdown.

Importing an image of our earlier sketches allowed us to model our pickups against them. Using a combination of the tools we learnt from our first lesson, we created our models and exported them as FBX files in order to put them into Unreal. I found that using the image plane made the whole process of modelling a lot simpler! I did make a couple of mistakes (e.g. way too many polygons) but after tweaking, I had a workable model that I was happy with the look of! I can’t wait to get to texturing it.

Wednesday

Skills learnt;

Extrude

UV Editor

Assign New Material

Wednesday was the last day of the week for any 3D modelling work. The main goal of the session on Wednesday was to cement our knowledge in the extrude tool. We started with a singular box, then using the extrude tool we manipulated it into the shape of a spaceship. We took inspiration from games like F-Zero for the shape and low-poly feel. Within the extrude function we used the basic move, scale and rotate tools to truly create whatever shape we desired.

When we were happy with our knowledge of the extrude tool, we tried our hands at texturing. Using the UV editor and the “Assign New Material” option in the dropdown upon holding right-click, we played with using 512x512 textures to map onto boxes and barrels. The box was achieved with Planar mapping, but the barrel was done entirely by editing the UV Map.

(Texture borrowed from Christina Donald !)

Wednesday’s session really helped me to feel secure using the extrude tool. While I still have a lot to learn with texturing, and as I learn more i will cover it in more detail, I am happy with what I know and look forward to developing the skill.

TODAY WE MAKE FIRE!!!!!!!

This tutorial has been requested a lot! And so it is here! 

This is a new format that I am trying out to deliver quick and simple tutorials, so I could really use your feedback! Please let me know if this was helpful or if anything was unclear. I’m going to try and do more of these in the future so let me know what subjects you would like me to cover! Please message me or write a comment with your suggestions and questions!