What will you learn in Learn Maya – A Beginners guide to Creating Realistic Scenes Course
Navigate Maya’s interface: view panels, outliner, attribute editor, and custom layouts
Model 3D assets using polygon and NURBS workflows: extrusion, edge loops, and subdivision surfaces
Apply UV mapping and texture assignment using Maya’s UV Editor and Hypershade
Rig characters with joints, skinning, and control curves for basic animation
Light scenes with Arnold: standard lights, HDRI setups, and render settings for photoreal output
Program Overview
Module 1: Introduction & Maya Setup
⏳ 45 minutes
Topics: Installing Maya, workspace customization, navigation hotkeys
Hands-on: Configure your first project, set preferences, and organize assets
Module 2: Polygon Modeling Basics
⏳ 1.5 hours
Topics: Primitives, component selection, extrude, bevel, merge, and quad modeling
Hands-on: Model a simple asset (e.g., coffee mug) using efficient topology practices
Module 3: NURBS & Advanced Surface Modeling
⏳ 1 hour
Topics: NURBS curves, lofting, revolve, stitching, and conversion to polygons
Hands-on: Create a sleek bottle shape with precise NURBS operations
Module 4: UV Mapping & Texturing
⏳ 1 hour
Topics: UV seams, automatic and manual unwrapping, checker-map validation
Hands-on: Unwrap your polygon model and assign a basic texture in Hypershade
Module 5: Rigging Fundamentals
⏳ 1.5 hours
Topics: Joint placement, skeleton creation, skinCluster binding, weight painting
Hands-on: Rig a simple biped armature and test deformations with basic poses
Module 6: Animation Basics
⏳ 1 hour
Topics: Keyframing, graph editor, playback options, simple walk cycle overview
- Hands-on: Animate your rigged model through a basic two-pose cycle
Module 7: Lighting & Arnold Rendering
⏳ 1 hour
Topics: Area and directional lights, HDRI setup, Arnold render settings, AOVs
Hands-on: Light a product shot scene and render a beauty pass with Arnold
Module 8: Project Organization & Export
⏳ 30 minutes
Topics: Naming conventions, namespaces, referencing, FBX export for game engines
Hands-on: Prepare and export your final model and animation for Unity or Unreal
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Job Outlook
Maya skills are essential for roles like 3D Modeler, Character Rigger, and Technical Animator
Widely used in film, TV VFX, and game development; entry-level salaries start around $50,000, rising to $80,000+ with experience
Mastery of Maya’s core toolset opens pathways into animation studios, visualization firms, and indie game teams
Specification: Learn Maya – A Beginners guide to Creating Realistic Scenes
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