Study Task 5 - Maya Modelling

This week, I was inducted into Maya and I've really enjoyed it. After getting to grips with the tools, we were assisted in creating a lorry.

I came across many issues. The point-snapping tool and shadow-rendering were problematic (seen below).


The hardest part was adding a proportionally-correct background to the lorry, without it pixelating. I solved this by adding an HDRI-image to the skydome.

I then made a chair.

What Went Well

• Looks similar to reference
• Texturing differentiates materials

Improvements

• Learn how to edit gloss/transparency
• Shadows are grainy
• Too boxy

Maya is useful in assisting 2D work. I made a moon base, which could be reference for a 2D-animation, to insure perspectives are correctly drawn.

I then animated in Maya. I'm pleased with my animation of a character bouncing up stairs. It flows well with motion-blur. This was good practice in considering secondary-action. 

The MooM rig was very complicated at first (eg. switching between IK/FK). Putting the figure into poses became easier with practice.