Project Setup and Rocket Modeling in Autodesk Maya! In this Maya class, the instructor teaches how to create a new project and use references correctly. They demonstrate how to create a project, import references, align them in different views, lock the references, and save the progress. Then they proceed to create a rocket model using various shapes like spheres, cylinders, and cubes, adjusting their position and scaling as needed.
Watch the YouTube Video here CLICK ME
The tools 👇🏻
- Creating a New Project
Before you start working on your Maya project you first need to set it up by opening up the Project Window.
- Project Window
From there another window will appear in the middle of your screen where you can name your new project and direct where you want the new project to be saved.
- Setting up References
Once you create a new project you need to go inside the project files and look for the “sourceimages” file. Inside this folder, you will add your references.
- Free Image Planes:
Once we’ve added our images we can go back inside Maya and set them up using Free Image Plane.
Once you’ve created a Free Image Plane a blank square will appear in the center of your grid.
- Attribute Editor
To add our image, we need to click on the folder icon inside of the Image Name inside of the Attribute Editor and add our reference from the “sourceimages” folder.
The reference will appear on the transparent square and we can lay them out in our scene by using the move, rotate, and scale tools.
Laying out the reference images is important to make sure we are modeling every side of the rocket correctly.
You know your images have been placed correctly when you can see them on all 3 sides when we open up the other viewports.
- Xray Mode
X-ray mode will allow us to look through any object we place inside our scene.
- Wire Frame Mode
Wire Frame mode lets us see the topology of our model.
- Select Faces/Edges/Vertecies
While in the desired mode (in this case in face mode) we can select multiple faces by holding down Left Shift and Let Clicking on the other faces.
- Extrude Shortcut
Holding Left Shift (while having faces/edges selected) while using the Moove Tool and dragging down by holding down Left Click, will allow you to extrude the faces/edges.
- Grouping
To group multiple objects together, you first need to select them all either in the Outliner Tab or Left Shift + Left Mouse Button on them in the workspace then click Ctrl + G on your keyboard.
- Adding Materials and Color
You can add different materials to your object by holding the Right Mouse Button on a selected object and Assigning a Favorite Material to the mesh.
To change the color of the material you need to go inside the Attribute Editor and select the new material you added.
Once selected a few options will pop up inside the Editor, one being the Color Option.
Click on the gray colored bar and choose a different color.
- Duplicating with Ctrl + D / Left Shift + D
You can duplicate objects by holding down Ctrl and clicking the D key on your keyboard.
You can also change the position of the next duplicate by moving or rotating into your desired spot then by holding down your Left Shift and clicking on the D key, the new duplicate will rotate or move the same distance as the previous one.
- Blue Pencil
The Blue Pencil tool is used in Maya to draw out the animation inside of your viewport.
- Animating / putting down keyframes / Combining
To animate in Maya you need to add keyframes in the timeline below your viewport.
Make sure your 3D model is fully combined.
To do this you need to select each piece of your model, Left Shift and Right Clicking together will open up new options then select the Combine Option.
To add keyframes you first need to select the object you want to animate then click S on your keyboard. This will add a red line in the time timeline showing you where you’ve added your keyframe.
By using the drawn-out line in our viewport, we can correctly place the rocket in each keyframe to make our animation.
To play your animation press the play button at the end of the timeline.
Watch the YouTube Video here CLICK ME
⚫️If you want to learn more about Maya, check out our Self Pace Programs.⚫️
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